Headed out again this coming weekend with some classics I'm sure. I would like a Reactor too, but will wait a little. No rush in the AM to get a moving. Duane
Lanevitt: Is that what caused your sunk in sherpa face icon or avitar? LoL... Yah I know I really think people get so caught up on the "Whoopee" factor of some new type of tech that they become loose sight of things and forget to ask "Do I really need this?" and does it "Suit a purpose" Much like I think the whole touch screen thing on cell phones. Dont get me wrong I love all the features of the iphone and a large screen etc.. But I can not stand trying to type on any kind of touch screen or dialing on it. Yet everyone "THINKS" they need a touch screen phone as its the latest craze. I seriously miss my old blackberry keyboard. Lanevitt: seriously though were did you get that black and white photo of the sherpa with the squished face? That is hilarious!
Based on feedback, conferring with others, and further analysis, I've re-written the post. Basically, I think caution is still advised, but the consequences of a problem are likely to be limited to damage to the heat exchanger. Here's a link if you'd like to have a look: Titanium JetBoil Sol -- Caution -- REVISED. HJ
Hi Jim In your post you say... "I see no inordinate danger in the titanium JetBoil Sol at this time" In the real world some people will cook food in these despite what the instructions say. It is human nature to ignore instructions, push the limits of equipment, just to get things wrong some times. So if I have got this right, if you cook food in this stove, you may be rewarded with a meltdown. That seems like an dangerous product to me.
Yes, but what are the implications of a meltdown? Originally I thought there might be a good risk of an overheated canister based on that one account of 3 foot tall flames. But after conferring with others and examining things more, that incident might have just been the result of a boil over -- which could happen with any canister stove. I think if you did screw up and try to cook something that led to the heat exchanger overheating, you'd damage the heat exchanger but but that would be the extent of the damage. I can't establish that the canister would be impacted. HJ
Hmm... Super expensive stove that you can NOT cook food in and may meltdown... Hmmmm.... I think I will stick to another normal stove for far less money and more bang for my buck. Use that extra cash for more fun time outdoors or a nicer tent to enjoy those outdoors.
As with all things that burn fuel, you have to be careful. As much as folks try, nothing is idiot proof. Many a great product is no longer produced because of the id 10 t syndrome. Lawyers love boneheads who do stupid stuff like spill hot coffee on their crotches. Leave any aluminum pot on any stove long enough and it will melt. These stoves are specialized, expensive, and powerful. If you start you boil and go for a 30 minute dump, don't expect much to be left when you get back. Though in actuality, this one is SAFER than most since only the fins would melt. Just don't blame the manufacturer. Complacency kills. Mike
If one were to go off to take a (ahem) "bio break" while leaving a JetBoil on, then it's one's own fault what happens to the stove. However, if the penalty for merely burning food is a ruined heat exchanger, then that should be clearly spelled out in the instructions. Yes, with just about any pot one would want to avoid burning food, but with a JetBoil Sol Ti pot, the penalty for burning food might be a melted heat exchanger. I think that's a substantially greater penalty than with the average pot. HJ
I think high output (BTU) heat as in the design of Jetboil and MSR Reactor really requires you not to leave it unattended although others claim a simmer on it.......any stove for that matter. I wonder though if thats true with the alcohol stoves that runs only on 1 or 2 ounces of fuel Ron
When I used my Dragon Tamer equipped DragonFly a few weeks back, that thing ran perfect for an hour. I didn't have to stand around by it to adjust the volume every few minutes. From my distance, I could always see the steam rising from the simmering pot. The JB's and Reactors work so fast, I don't see how you would want to be distracted for very long when using them. As was pointed out, what's the hurry when out enjoying nature? Big btu's are nice for us stovies to brag about, but care needs to be exercised when in use. Duane
Morning, HJ, and All, Back when I had my own miscue with the Reactor, and returned to my camp to find my large canvas wedge tent filled completely with noxious, black smoke, after I ripped open the tent flaps, I saw huge flames roaring out of the top of the Reactors pot, where once the Lexan lid had been!!! The only thing I could think of at that time was to get that stove out of my tent. So, without thinking too much more about it, I immediately grabbed hold of the pot handle, which was hot, but not so it burned me, and carefully but quickly lifted the pot off the stove, and tossed it out the front door onto the grass, a trail of melting aluminum dripping to show the path it took!! Then, I returned to the tent to take hold of the canister and lift up the Reactor to get it outside, too. Guess what? The canister was stone cold!! NO heat whatsoever, and the stove had returned to working just as it always had!! I let it all cool off, then fired it up again, and it worked normally and perfectly, albeit with no pot to use on it! So, I used it as a small tent heater for the cold early mornings, the rest of that event, and cooked on another appliance, and my 18th century reproduction braziers (with lump charcoal). I did learn a very important lesson with the Reactor, though: NEVER WALK AWAY FROM THE REACTOR STOVE WHEN IT IS BURNING!! PERIOD!! NO EXCEPTIONS!! It's just too fast a stove, and needs your constant attention, or at least observation, whilst in use. Now, having said all that, do I still use the Reactor? You bet the farm I do!! In fact, I bought another one, and now have two of them, one with the smaller pot (bought new to replace the one I melted!), and one with the new larger pot. Both work like champs, but in truth, the first one is better at "simmering" than the second one. Odd, eh? In any case, I think it is the best of breed for those type of stoves, at least for what I require of it, which is boiling water, and making oatmeal in the mornings. We did cook a meal on it once, and whilst it did OK, Sweet Bride and I have plenty of other stoves that do better at actual cooking, though with attention the Reactor can do that task, too. Caution, always, with using any stove, heater, or lantern, as they all can causer serious damage, or death! Safety has to be our watch-word: first, last, and always!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. In case you never saw my melted Reactor pot, here it is again: Take care, out there, fellow Stove Pyros!! Fun can turn out to be very dangerous, if you don't make sure your mind is in gear, before lighting the appliance!! 8-[ 8-[ 8-[ 8-[
A stove that boils water only and that you can't cook on at all! I have been out of it badly, I think....
Wow, Thanks for the pictures & the warning Doc. Looks like your pot turned REACTOR on you alright. glad it ended well.
Yipes, Doc. Glad you didn't burn the heck out of your hand. Very interesting that the canister was cold. Apparently none of the heat from the melting pot got down to the canister. The Reactor's body is very wide, which might explain that. The width of the body would shield the canister. Also fascinating that the stove itself wasn't damaged. God smiled on you that day my friend. No injuries, stove still works, and no burned down tent. Had to replace the pot, but that's not too bad considering what might have happened. That black smoke was probably none too healthy either. ONE WORD OF CAUTION: I have read reports that the Reactor emits a lot of carbon monoxide on low. If one were to use the Reactor on low as a space heater, that might be very, very bad. I can provide a link, but the report is on BackpackingLight which requires a subscription in order to read the report. I think it's $25/year. Well worth it even if you're not into lightweight or UL backpacking. Lot's of good studies into modern backpacking stoves. HJ
