My adventures in stoves - Part 1: a working Optimus 8R

Discussion in 'Optimus No:8R' started by Smiffy, Nov 5, 2012.

  1. Smiffy

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    Hi guys.

    I'm 18 months late. Mostly 'cos I moves house about the time I discovered stove tinkering, and lost the gadget that take the pictures off the camera in the move. I have just now found the the widget and can now show you what I've been up to.

    With a view to actually using it while going camping or hiking (I've since discovered the quiet pleasure of fettling a fixer-upper), this was my first "previously enjoyed" stove that I've acquired.

    It's an 'in the box' - although it's a tatty and shelf-damaged or water-damaged box - Optimus 8r.

    I believe it had been fired at least once, rather than being totally virginal.

    Here's the pic the e[vil]bay vendor put up

    1352113315-8R_Ebay.jpg


    It arrived in April or May 2011, and I promptly
    had a go with it, even if I just made coffee.

    Here's my first test-fire

    1352113350-8R_1st_Action.jpg


    And three shots from the second test-run a couple of months later - I'm glad to say the flame is looking a lot bluer.

    1352113360-Run2_Shot1.jpg

    1352113367-Run2_Shot2.jpg

    1352113374-Run2_Shot3.jpg

    (And yes that is the wind-shield from a Primus 1-pinter in the background, but that's another story...)

    It's since been on a couple of camps with me and I can't fault it for stationary camping. The working parts rattle around the clam-shell if I go backpacking though, unless I carefully stuff my tea-towel into the casing. Other than that it's wonderfully rugged engineering of the sort that you just don't see anymore.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 26, 2015
  2. Rick b

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    Hi Smiffy. Your little 8r does look new and is burning very well. Thanks.
     
  3. Smiffy

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    Thanks - But I've mucked up the photo-insertion and will have to re-do it once I've figured out *how*.
     
  4. Spiritburner

    Spiritburner Admin SotM Winner Subscriber

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    So we don't loose the pics sometime in the future we don't allow 3rd party hosted pics in the reference sections (that's not why they aren't showing). I don't have time to save them locally & upload to the ccs server at the mo but will do so later today.
     
  5. shagratork

    shagratork United Kingdom Moderator, R.I.P. Subscriber

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    I've done it Ross.
     
  6. David Shouksmith

    David Shouksmith Subscriber

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    Good man! - you're retired; the rest of us have to work to earn a crust... ;) :lol:
     
  7. Spiritburner

    Spiritburner Admin SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Thanks Trevor. I moved it to the SRG - always good to see the original packing against the stove
     
  8. Smiffy

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    Thanks for your help with the pics, Trevor. I'll look up how to do it right before I try that again.

    Wow - I'm moved to the Reference gallery!? I'm moved!
     
  9. yonadav

    yonadav Subscriber

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    I wish I had an 8R like this. It's perfect!

    Yonadav