Simon Stove (alcohol)

“I just became intrigued with the alcohol stove for some reason. Perhaps it has to do with the hour I just spent with my MSR Whisperlite Intnl. replacing o-rings and pump cup and cleaning it for the umteenth time in 10 years. I've done a lot of reading, and have narrowed it down to the Simon Stove, a stainless steel commercial version of the pepsi can stove. I just ordered one from down under, and got to wondering if anyone who cruises TT has ever seen one or used one.

The most appealing thing about the stove is the readily available non-volatile fuel that it uses. Perhaps the most common source is HEET, the fuel line de-icer. I've flown around backpacking before, and I'm sick of having to either ship my stove fuel, or buy new cannisters for the whisperlite every time I arrive at a destination. I can't even fly with an EMPTY cannister.

It's available at Granger's Camping World in Australia for under 50 bucks including shipping. I'll keep you posted.
last edited: 3/01/05 9:52:13 PM”

“I've got a homemade sodacan stove that I use all the time in warmer (40+ degrees) weather. HEET works well in it, but I use just plain denatured alcohol for mine (found at your local painting supplier).

Works great, very lightweight, no moving parts, no pressure system. Takes a little longer to boil water, especially when the weather is cooler (below 40* the wait starts to become very significant), but that's a small price to pay for the logistical benefits you get out of it.

Also, once you light it, there's really no way to put it out, save for it burning itself out, so there's a slight learning curve to figuring out exactly how much fuel you need. But I'm sure you'll figure it out quickly.

Alcohol stoves are definitely the way to go in warmer weather.”

“And in colder weather. I don't stop using mine in the winter, I just shield it better from the wind and cold (think heat conservation). But its not for snow camping - it isn't good for melting lots of snow to get water.

PhantomSoul is right about the fuel. Go to Home Depot and buy a gallon of denatured alcohol for $9.95. Much cheaper than HEET for local trips. But I'm sure HEET is easier to buy in small quantities if you've flown somewhere.”

“I have had a Simon stove for about 8 years.
Bought for under $10 through Sportsmans guide.

Absolutely great for 3 season camping. Pour in some fuel, light a match, wait a couple of minutes for the side flames to light, and go.

They were so cheap I got two more, for my son and daughter. My son bought one to give to his friend as a b/day present. They were both boy scouts at the time.

Initially used supermarket Isopropyl which works OK, but leaves 1/4 full of water when the alky is gone. Then got a gal. of alcohol from Home Depot which burns much hotter.

The supermarket stuff did not work in below freezing. Have not tried the pure alky in cold as I have and use a Svea 123 white gas.

”

“I would try a Trangia 28 stove. They are a lot more stable. The funny little legs on the Simon wobble about. Also the Trangia 28 is a lot lighter.

If you still want a Simon Stove try a company in Australia called Loaders, they supply Grangers, I'm not sure if they are cheaper but it's worth a go. Sorry I dont know if they have website.”

“I've just had a look at the Trangia site, I think they dont do the 28 any more.
They do this though.
http://www.trangia.se/”

“Oops, yes they do it's also called Minitrangia.

"Practical and lightweight for the lone walker. Specially produced for the KIMM (Karrimor International Mountain Marathon) multi-sport competition. Mini Trangia No 100285
Stove with
1 Pan 0.8 litre in aluminium
1 Non-stick lid/frypan, 15 cm
1 Windshield
1 Spirit burner
1 Handle

Weight 330 g"





















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“I make these stoves. They work well for a 3 season stove.

www.advancedmountainproducts.com

-percious”

“does something like this really save weight, all the ones i've seen you need so much wind breakers and what not that the actually weight of the stove is less the have of the total weight of the kit. I'll keep my pocket rocket thank you. I've found the fuel any where i go that has backpacking, and a canister of fuel is not that much more then a bottel of heat and just as light.”

“Not so much to save weight, but very convenient.
I have a camping gaz canister stove but always a little uncertain how much fuel is left. I am not anal enought to weigh the canisters.

Alcohol is just ease of use, cheap available fuel, spilt fuel is environment friendly (guess there has to be some limit to that also) and like a canister one match and go.

For me the difference between alcohol and canister is I can see how much fuel I have left. Canisters being non-recylable only gives me very slight tinges of conscience when I see how many SUV's are at the trailhead.”

“I've flown around backpacking before, and I'm sick of having to either ship my stove fuel, or buy new cannisters for the whisperlite every time I arrive at a destination. I can't even fly with an EMPTY cannister.

Why? I have a primus MFS and I have never done anything but airdry the fuel bottle. If someone tells you that it still has fuel vapors in it is is bogus. You just pack it W/O the lid on it and it is an open container full of air. Same for the stove about the fuel vapors horsehockey! I have been flying with this stove since it became available about ten years ago.

Where everyone makes their mistake is to tell the airline you are carrying a stove and they try to do it in the carry on instead of checked luggage. If you pack it correctly even the worst luggage handler gorilla can not hurt your stove.


All they need to know is that no one else handled your stuff and you are on vacation. You create your own problems by telling them exactly what is in the check on. I have flown out of numerous major and minor airports and never had a problem with traveling with my used stove and fuel bottle

You don't go round tell everyone if you changed your underwear today do you? Same thing here, they don't need to know and it is up to you to use some common sense such as fuel vapors can not remain in an airdried uncapped fuel bottle.

Just like the military I use a don't tell policy when it comes to airlines...they don't ask and I don't tell.”

“I don't know how long it's been since you've flown sticks, but you don't have to tell anyone anything about what's in your luggage. The TSA knows everything about you by the time they are through hand inspecting the contents of your bag. If you've flown with your fuel canisters and not had them confiscated, you've been lucky. Empty or not. Lids on or not. I can attest to this through personal experience. I've had more luck flying with a handgun. At least they can't argue with me about the legality of flying with my pistol and ammo.

And thanks for your responses to my question folks. You've been helpful. I spent the evening last night with my scouts making pepsi can stoves. They had a blast, and we actually got a couple of very fine working models.
last edited: 3/03/05 6:46:23 AM”

“Just did a trip to NM in October 04 flying out of Louisville KY., watched em look at my stove and bottle on x-ray. Did not say a word and I was standing 5 feet from them...

The TSA knows everything about you by the time they are through hand inspecting the contents of your bag.

Are we a little paranoid? And they did not do any hand searching because everything was exactly how I packed it. They only hand search if they see something they feel you are trying to conceal on x-ray. If they searched every piece of luggage the planes would never get off the ground... I know far too many people that travel by air to trips and they do the same as I, none of us have had any problems. Luck has nothing to do with me getting through, just common sense.

If a cop pulls you over and you have not been drinking at all, do you tell him about the opened bottle of liquor or wine you are taking with you to your destination where you plan to drink it? I think I can safely say the answer is no...it is just common sense.”

“my stove and fuel bottle flew up to manchester, nh from tampa, but was confiscated on the trip back. had my bosses sister bring it back by car for me. this was almost 2 yrs ago and this past fall i mailed it to the first state park that we were going to.”

“Sticks, I don't know who you are, or anything about you, but to put it politely..... ah screw it. Why be polite? I think you're kind of a prick. I appreciate your opinion, but please don't refer to me as paranoid. Your experience may not be unique, and I don't assume that my experience is unique, but please don't assume that your experience portrays the world in absolutes. Simply because you've never had your luggage hand inspected doesn't mean that it doesn't happen on a regular basis (it does). And simply because you've never had an empty fuel cannister confiscated, don't assume that it also doesn't happen just as regularly.
last edited: 3/03/05 9:27:39 PM”

“The interesting thing about the TSA is that they all interpret federal law differently. They don't even always follow their own guidelines, much less federal law. Last summer I flew to Kansas City from Salt Lake, with my SIG P229. I declared it, as required by law, obtained the required tag identifying it as an unloaded handgun, then locked it back up it's case, inside my luggage with the tag on the outside. The law requires me to place it in a locked case, inside my checked luggage, and to retain the key and/or combination. TSA is prohibited by federal law from having the key or combination to the case. They refused to let my luggage on-board until I told them the combination to the lock on the case, even though I quoted the law to them prohibiting me from doing so. After inspecting the firearm, which they are NOT supposed to do, they left the case unlocked inside my luggage. I was upset when I discovered this at my destination, as it left me in violation of the law, even though it was them that made the mistake.

What does all this have to do with the current subject? Only that it demonstrates that the TSA authority is comprised of individuals who all either think differently, or interpret the laws and regulations in their own way.”

“ah screw it. Why be polite? I think you're kind of a prick.

lol...kind of a prick...screw it...I am a prick though I am in rehab :o

You are right I was out of line. It is just all this big brother crap gets under my skin...of course if I happen to be on a plane that just blew up at 30,000' I might think otherwise.”

“I got the Simon Stove today. I've already test fired it a couple of different times, and I'm very pleased. It's not as light weight as the pop-can stoves, but it's a lot more durable, and will serve me well. I'll be trying it out on the trail the end of this month.”

“What goes around . . . : According to Transportation Security Administration officials, New Jersey psychiatrist Esha Khoshnu, in a stopover in Phoenix en route to a professional meeting in San Diego in February, got ''mouthy and snippy'' with Mesa Airlines agents who wanted to examine her luggage, reportedly saying, ''[Even if] I had a bomb, you wouldn't find it.'' Agents, following TSA protocol, detained her, causing her to miss her flight, and her luggage, loaded onto another flight, was eventually detonated on the tarmac at Lindbergh Field in San Diego.”