Today I took a 1.2 mm sheet of stainless steel and hacked a simmer plate out of it. The results werent pretty but they would do for a test. The M1950 was set up outside: The simmer plate just fits neatly into the bottom of the large canister. The tank was half full so I gave it twenty pumps, six seconds of fuel to wet the preheater cup, a Zippo under the windshield, a minute of preheating and then LIGHT, and a few moments later, ON. Twenty more pumps brought the flame up to a healthy roar. The kettle was soon boiling: I put the simmer plate on. This is not easy, it often goes on off-center and falls onto the burner. You have to use a stick or similar to lift it up and maneuver it into the right position. The kettle went back on and was left for a few minutes to let things settle. You can see that the plate is at a different level to the kettle, the two are not in contact: Things were certainly a lot quieter inside. The actual level of simmer depended a lot on how strong the wind was, and whether the lid was on the kettle or not: This is what it looked like underneath: And with the flash. You can see how close to the edge the plate sits, which is why it is fiddly to put in place: In retrospect I would make the plate bigger, to fit inside the lid of the canister instead of the base. There is quite a size difference between the two: Overall, I would say it is okay but not great. It does moderate the heat transfer quite a bit but in terms of convenience its no substitute for a proper regulated burner. Dealing with a hot simmer plate is also an issue. If you want to remove it and go back to full heat you can flip it off with a stick, but wherever it lands is instantly scorched black and smokes alarmingly. In hot dry conditions this would be a serious fire risk. There might be one advantage to the plate in that a low simmering flame is much easier for gusts to blow out, this isnt likely with the burner on full power. Does anyone have an as-issued simmer plate? I have never seen one so I dont know if they ever existed officially.
Nice work! I use my leatherman (pilers/multi tool) to remove the simmering plate and rest it on the top pot or on some soil. The M-1950 never came with a simmer plate that I know of. The Coleman 530 did though. Some people use the small cast iron stove covers as a simmering plate. Cheers, Jeff
I did eventually retreat indoors for a pair of pliers to handle the simmer plate, a Leatherman tool would be perfect.
As you're in Goods own country id say 4" absolute max, and the thicker the better. That way it'll fit under the stove in the inner can.
The max. inner diameter of the large/bottom can of mine is 104mm and the max. inner diameter of the top is 106,75mm. In inches that translates to 4.095" and 4.2025". Do you really thing that 0.1075" in diameter is going to make a difference? But then again it's just my brand new SMP 1985 pot set.
Yes I do, because I have made and used a simmer plate and you havent It wont make any difference to the pot, but it will be easier to put it on top of the pot supports because its only just big enough as it is.
Thanks guys...I appreciate your knowledge. I hope to get to the level you are at soon. By the way, where are you guys finding brand new in the boz M-1950 stoves? I have search high and low and have been unsuccessful. Is it a right place at the right time thing?
I found an SMP nos at Omaha Surplus in the states. Just went on their web site and no longer see them. They also, at one time, had the Enders 9061.
Yikes! I dare say you can buy 3 stoves for that money. Little known fact about the M1950. The pump handle/knob is also a screwdriver. Jeff
Hey, Glocker21, Welcome to CCS! Yep, finding great buys on stoves is, most of the time, a "catch-as-catch-can" proposition. The more you look around, the more chances of stumbling onto one!! I once bought three stoves from a fellow from whom I'd bought many others over the years. One of them was a NIB M1950, without a scratch or mark on it! The other two were: a used, but good condition SVEA123 with it's Sigg Tourist cookset; and a NIB Optimus 111t, with all it's goodies!! The asking price, as he would only sell them to me if I bought all three, was $120 for all three of them!! That, was one fantastic buy, and all because I was in the right place, at the right time. He was happy, and probably thought he pulled one over on me, and I was happy to get those stoves for that inexpensive price and make him happy!!! Ahhhh, life is good! Look around often, and check back in places where you've already looked.... You never know when something great will pop up, for only a small amount of coin! Good luck, take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. Never had a Model 21, but I like my Model 27 very much!! 8)
