Portable butane stoves...
Submitted: Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 14:54
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Member - Blue (VIC)
Just thought I'd share the goings on last weekend involving some close friends of ours.
Whilst camping at
Molesworth, the family was preparing some food on a butane stove (The $20 jobs available everywhere). The mother walked away from the stove momentarily and KABOOM!!!!!!!! The butane canister exploded sending parts of the stove completely through both the inner wall and fly of their tent after smashing a storage unit, landing with some gusto in an area kids had just departed from. The stove was brand new, as were the canisters and likewise the tent...
It was pure good luck no-one was injured in this event as it was a group of families, including many kids, getting together for the weekend.
Anaconda, the store where all the gear was purchased have come to the party and supplied a new tent, a new storage unit and new Coleman stove with gas bottle ($150 worth against the 2x$20 butane stoves they originally supplied) at absolutely no cost... Good on them for looking after their customers.
The brand of stove involved was Primus and they have taken receipt of the damaged stove and have promised to investigate why the stove exploded. I only mention the brand so those of you with one or more of them can inspect them for leaks/damage etc...
Take care on your holidays, especially playing with gas...
Reply By: Member - Sharyn M (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:13
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:13
Hello Blue,
Well they won't forget that camping weekend in a hurry! Thank the powers that be that no-one was injured. It was also good to read that the store replaced items without hesitation (the way it should be) You may be able to give an update on the cause if they inform your friends in the near future. No I don't have such a stove but thanks for the warning.
Sharyn M
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:59
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:59
I'll definitely post an update if more info arises...
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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at 13:04
Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at 13:04
Were they using a pot,pan or plate that was too big for the stove? If it overhangs the compartment where the butane can is it can overheat it and potentially cause that problem. I just changed over to Butane after years of using propane. Been wrapped on the last few trips. I don't use one of those stoves, I use a little free standing two burner type where the cans clip in the bottom and are removed when it is packed away. Can't say I think I'll ever be going back to refilling gas bottles and lugging them around, conntecting hoses and using spanners and crap...
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Reply By: Member - Teabag (Queanbeyan) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:42
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:42
Mate,
Great to hear that nobody was injured and that the Camping store came to the party.....I assume you are talking about the red Coleman Fold and Go gas burner with the disposable canisters? If so we just bought one recently and it is awesome, packs away neatly and uses the smaller canisters which is great for storage, plus the benefit of two burners. It's a great little unit and your will surely enjoy it's benefit's.
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:58
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:58
Teabag, it was replaced with a Coleman LPG stove with a real gas bottle and stuff...
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Reply By: Member No 1- Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:46
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:46
i have used disposable canister type
tools and including a small gas stove for most of my working life. never had a problem except when i didnt tighten the tool to the canister....but i will heed the caution again
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Reply By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:47
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:47
hmm I have a brand new one of them - wonder i the issue was the stove or pessure pack
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:57
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 15:57
Stove or pressure pack...???
Yet to be decided Davoe, I have an idea it may be the pressure pack although the day was low 20's and as far as I can figure, the cans were stored under the awning out of direct sun. IMO there doesn't seem to be nearly enough shielding of the canister from reflected heat on these things but I'm no thermal engineer thingy either...
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 16:09
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 16:09
single burner Primus butaneportable cooker.................................... Still in the Wrapper.
Just wanted it as a back up for when a fire is impracticle
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 16:14
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 16:14
Is that "Free to good home" Davoe...??? Postage would probably make it more practical to pick one up at Kmart...
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Follow Up By: D-Jack - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 17:32
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 17:32
Surely, would have to have been the cannister, there are no parts in the stove to store the butane - it comes out, goes straight to the jets. I would like to know the brand of cannister rather than stove.
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Reply By: Member - Phantom (WA) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 16:15
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 16:15
I have been using my Primus single burner for several years now with no issues. I must admit that there are some very cheap cannisters around probably of questionable quality. Normally Primus is a reputable product thats why I bought it over the cheapies.
Steve
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 20:52
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 20:52
I personally feel it would have been the canister but as it was a Primus I thought it worth mentioning just in case there is an inherent fault, however slim the chances may be.
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Follow Up By: Member - Bradley- Sunday, Nov 26, 2006 at 23:15
Sunday, Nov 26, 2006 at 23:15
Hi Steve, mate dont confuse "genuine" primus gear which is made in sweeden, with the cheap and nasty chinese gear carrying the same name.
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Reply By: Member - Tim - Stratford (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 17:05
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 17:05
We used to use one of these all the time - it was the cheapest - purchased from a discount 99c
shop for about $20.
Never had a problem apart from in the High Country when the temp drops - the flow from the canister would drop off and the flow would diminish as ice formed. Gas flow would be so low that the stove wouldn't simmer. I would have to remove the gas can and warm it - carefully.
Now use LP gas in the camper or a Coleman dual-fuel with unleaded. This works anywhere and at any temp (so far).
The other great invention is a Trangia with a white spirit adapter - similar to a MSR stove - although this is for work and solo trips....
Tim - Stratford.
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Follow Up By: Member - Reiner G (QLD) 4124 - Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at 00:23
Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at 00:23
Tim, I love my Coleman dual fuel stove but have never used unleaded because I was told not to. It would stuff up the generator over time so i use Shellite.
Any problems with unleaded?
Reiner
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Follow Up By: Pajman Pete (SA) - Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at 09:33
Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at 09:33
I have used both without problems. Someone on here posted some time ago that a tank of shellite every 5 fills or so keeps the generator clean.
Pete
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Follow Up By: Member - Tim - Stratford (VIC) - Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at 16:51
Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at 16:51
Reiner & Pete,
I generally use unleaded in the stove and lantern (dual powerhouse?) whilst away as I carry unleaded for the generator. When I get
home I normally refill with coleman fuel for Pete's reasons. They both probably get about 2-3 unleaded per 1 Coleman fuel fill.
As an aside they never 'smell' as much when turned off when running unleaded. The Mrs hates the smell of unburnt coleman fuel - so it keeps me in the good books when running unleaded ;-)
Tim
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Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 17:39
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 17:39
seasrch for a post by Troopy Travellers (NSW) with photos of theirs.
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 21:11
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 21:11
damn Trucky, there's only about a gazillion posts out there responding to "butane stove" How can I narrow it down...???
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Reply By: Mr Fawlty - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 19:30
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 19:30
I have one of these and have not had any problems, I did see one bunch of fools throw an empty canister into their campfire, with devastating results....
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Reply By: Robin - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 19:38
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 19:38
Hi Blue
Posted some pictures a year or two ago of a similar one that blew apart in
camp next to us, caused quite a stir at the time.
I determined that it was cannister that blew but that the actual gas did not ignite .
Wonder if that was case you know of.
(Was that
Molesworth CV park on river?)
Robin Miller
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 20:53
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 20:53
I'll have a look for the pics Robin... Yep, the CV park on the river...
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Reply By: Member - John R (NSW) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 19:45
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 19:45
Gidday Blue,
I have one of those $20 specials, and have had no problems at all in 5 years of use. I reckon they're the best thing since sliced bread for pulling up at the side of the road and quickly cooking up something.
I noticed that you wrote "2x $20 specials". I wonder if that person was using 2 of them to heat a large hotplate? The instructions I got with mine were quite specific about that, in stating not to do it for risk of the cannister exploding. Particularly if one of the gas cannisters is under the hotplate and getting all the reflected heat.
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 20:57
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 20:57
John, we have a couple and also think they're fantastically handy units... The food being prepared was sausages in a 20cm frying pan on a single stove. I think it was on outers I noted that the instructions for mine make no claims toward potential for a bang if a hotplate or similar is used and covers the canister area. That's what you get for picking up the real cheapies I guess...
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Reply By: Member - Phantom (WA) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 20:00
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 20:00
After reading all this, I'll never view mine the same again!. I think I'll be hiding behind a tree every time I light it up from now on.
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 20:58
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 20:58
I think an asbestos apron will suffice Phantom...
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Reply By: gonebush SA - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 21:24
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 21:24
glad no-one was hurt. we have been using one of the cheapies for nearly 6 years now, it's one of our most valued things, nice hot cuppa (and the way we like it) at a
roadside stop anywhere as long as it's not too windy. anyway we haven't had any problems but were wondering if the canister was locked in right as i've nearly had a mishap when i first used it as i thought it was in right and it wasn't, hubby fixed it.
a funny story about these stoves, we use ours when travelling and when we go to picnics ect for over 5 years and the last time we used it hubby was studying it while waiting for the kids and found out that it had electronic ignition, boy did we feel a goose.
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Reply By: revhead307 - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 21:41
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 21:41
I had a canister stove bought for me (was not a
primus, but one of the copies)
I left it while trying to boil a pot of water, and when i came back i found it out and parts like the gas nob on the front melted. it had sustained enough heat damage that it no longer functioned.
Im sure with all the people that have successfully used them it was a rare incident, but I am no longer a fan.
Jeff
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Reply By: Member - Willie , Epping .Syd. - Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at 11:44
Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at 11:44
Blue ,
You got out of the correct side of the bed that day !
Your story reminds me of how the fly bridge blew off my father-in -law's boat . That's why I use a shellite stove now - gas scares me .
Cheers ,
Willie .
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Reply By: Member - Omaroo (NSW) - Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at 12:31
Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at 12:31
We use dual fuel now, but have been using these gas stoves for years - since the mid-70's in fact. They were originally made in Japan in the 60's for use on the table to
cook their sukiyaki at dinner time - which required that a boiling pot of broth be on the table to dip meat and vegies in as you ate. Great stuff!
Anyway - I've never heard of this happening to any other stove since then can only assume that it was a freak accident. glad to hear everyone is OK.
PS - the reason we went dual fuel is because the butane stoves hate cold weather and won't work near zero degrees.
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