Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I figured I'd throw in my 2 cents. I have the exact same "oddball" stove mentioned previously. The colors are all exactly the same as well as some of the other minor details mentioned. I'm not sure how many of these stoves were sold so I figured I would mention the fact that I own one as well.
@ I wouldn't even bother manufacturing anything else but the Nova. Lpg, cng, propane, butane, etc are a joke. Good for amateurs on nice sunny 20 degrees C days with a BIC lighter in their hands... Real life saving stoves are liquid fuel ones, able to burn paraffin,kerosene or even straight pump diesel at minus 30 Celcius. And I'm still stuck thinking "how would a full cast copper Nova burner function at minus 30 degrees Celcius?"
I know they're brass,but I wonder how well will a full copper Nova work/burn. since copper has a thermal conductivity 3 times better/higher than brass( pure technical lab measured values). to me ,higher thermal conductivity equals faster and better/complete burn of longer carbon chain fuels(paraffin/kerosene or pump diesel fuel).
never tried it so don't know about "black flakes". ideea just came in my mind when playing with an oxi-acetylene welding torch. the tips are made of copper there too. brass body though...
The very very first prototype of the Nova burner valve house was made in copper, image below. It is true that copper has better heat conductivity compared to brass, but if I remember correctly brass was chosen for production since it is easier and more rational to machine and drill etc.
@Staffan Rönn if that image is really the first nova prototype I have to thank you! my suspicions were real and based on something real. Brass is for budget builds. I did had around about 18 kg of copper high purity 99,9% but to melt ,pour without defects and machine it into a burner was beyond me or my means.plus time... Another option would be to just design a burner using autocad 3 D ,some AI testing would be nice too taking into account copper properties. Do it right the first time ,not experiment pointelessly . Corrosion resistance is better in brass from what I understand... If you ask me, a new burner every 5 years would be ok ,if its copper fully.
Hi @Gabriel Lorin There is a problem in using pure copper in applications where temperatures can reach several hundreds of centigrade degrees. A relatively thick black oxide film soon forms on the copper, which flakes off as the item cools. This is repeated on every heating/cooling cycle and the black oxide flakes coat everything you touch! Obviously the copper part gets thinner with every cycle and can soon fail. Most stove fettlers find out about oxide film growth when using plumbers Copper parts in burner caps or similar applications. Best Regards, Keropile
