View Full Version : Swiss Army Aluminium Volcano Stove
anthonyyy
31-05-2005, 23:41
What do you think of these stoves?
http://www.surplusandadventure.com/ishop/800/shopscr3079.html
Justin Time
01-06-2005, 08:46
generally they get a thumbs down. I tried one for a while but found it hard work compared to just using a metal mug and some tent pegs. The Volcano stove doesn't draw very well so lots of huffing and puffing needed, also because of it's shape (tall and thin) it's a bit unstable.
anthonyyy
01-06-2005, 09:21
What kind of fuel did you use? It's designed for hexi blocks, but if as you say, it dose'nt "draw" very well it would hardly take other fuel like twigs the same way a Kelly Kettle does.
Justin Time
01-06-2005, 10:11
didn't see any mention of hexy blocks when I bought mine, I'm sure it was pictured with twigs being used. The burning area is quite large so the hexy thing surprised me. Didn't work well with twigs though and that's what I wanted it for... plenty of wood round here and I'm not mad on hexy so mine was retired.
you pays your money....
Swiss Army stoves are designed to be used with the Notkocher 71 cooker. You can get them off fleabay for 1euro each. They are supplied in swiss ration packs.
http://www.shop.hasag.info/images/product_images/popup_images/notkocher.jpg
generally they get a thumbs down. I tried one for a while but found it hard work compared to just using a metal mug and some tent pegs. The Volcano stove doesn't draw very well so lots of huffing and puffing needed, also because of it's shape (tall and thin) it's a bit unstable.
I agree with the unstable, though since I realised that it can stabalise it by hooking tent peg ends into the bottom air holes I'm actually begining to be quite fond of it again.
I've not tried it with wood, being aluminium I've been a bit loathe to, but find it works reasonably well with a meths minipopcan stove or a plain tealight case, either of which I use a syringe to fill as it's a bit awkward getting it into position if you fill it first without inviting spilt meths and the real possibility of BBQing your own hand.
i stabilize it by placing the bottle in the cage as in this piccy
http://www.surplusandadventure.com/ishop/images/800/swiss_volcano_stove.jpg
when boiling the bottle the cage arm rests on the cup for support, hope this helps.
i stabilize it by placing the bottle in the cage as in this piccy
when boiling the bottle the cage arm rests on the cup for support, hope this helps.
Tried the bottle in the cage, works best when the bottle is full, the second tip is something I'd not picked up on, thanks I will try it sometime.
The thing that used to irritate me with them was that it rattled a lot when packed but I found by pushing the top retaining wire all the way over the top it's a lot better.
I recently also found that the vent holes top and bottom line up almost exactly with the underside loops of a Snugpak response pak, which, with the addition of a couple of mini carabinas, make it into a handy little outing bag including brew kit.
Scots_Charles_River
07-11-2007, 18:18
I thought it was designed for use with wood or meths ?
Nick
I use mine with a pepsi can burner which was is about right
It was the only cooker I used on some overnighters, but I still took another cup so that I could have a cup of coffee while my baked beans and sausges warmed up :)
I like mine, and I usually just use twigs and bark in it, the cup's in a bit of a mess with birch tar from the last time out though, no ash handy. :rolleyes:
I didn't know it was supposed to be used with a stove, hmmm, anyone know of a UK supplier for them?
cheers,
Toddy
p.s. the stove cost me a fiver from Surplus & Adventure
http://www.surplusandadventure.com/
scottishwolf
07-11-2007, 20:39
Swiss Army stoves are designed to be used with the Notkocher 71 cooker. You can get them off fleabay for 1euro each. They are supplied in swiss ration packs.
http://www.shop.hasag.info/images/product_images/popup_images/notkocher.jpg
Cant seem to find these anywhere :( Does anybody have a link?
I use mine quite a lot - generally use hexy blocks as fuel but on the odd occasion I use a pepsi can stove. I admit that when I do use it it is generally for novelty value teaching pupils or Scouts about different types of stove - But it does boil water damn fast!
All this talk made me go an get mine to try it again, but I dropped it and now the bottom isn't flat so it won't stand up. I have tried straigthening it but the fold is along one of the corrugations and I just can't get it right :(
The bottle looks like it could be used in a home made bean can hobo stove. If you've knacked the original piece, why not give it a try? Wear some good leather gloves when you cut the bean tin though, you could catch yourself and end up with a nasty cut.
The bottle looks like it could be used in a home made bean can hobo stove. If you've knacked the original piece, why not give it a try? Wear some good leather gloves when you cut the bean tin though, you could catch yourself and end up with a nasty cut.
Nice idea, I must ask 'er indoors to keep the next tin :)
Scots_Charles_River
13-11-2007, 18:12
I thought it was designed for use with wood or meths ?
Nick
So can anyone answer my question ?
Nick
So can anyone answer my question ?
NickThere are no instructions with it so your guess is a good as mine, but I wouldn't be suprised if it wasn't get deliberatly versatile so it could work with anything.
Meant for use with little stoves but work well with hexy, greenheat gel and if needed sticks and bark. I use dit with charcoal and it was excellent.
cheers,
Toddy
Scots_Charles_River
13-11-2007, 18:25
Good, thanks, multi use is what I wanted to know. Just can't see a definite chimney effect happening.
Its not as good as a kelly kettle in that respect but the volumes are small so it is still quite quick.
Yep almost anything that burns will work at some point.Like i did to one cut a bigger hole and i use a borde stove man it gets real hot.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d52/oops62/th_bodro1.jpg (http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d52/oops62/bodro1.jpg)
I think of it more as a kind of sheltered fire for a quick brewup. It's lightweight, heats up and cools off quickly and it allows enough air in to draw but provides enough shelter that nothing blows out. For a fiver, it's a steal :D
cheers,
Toddy
I like to use those cheap simple stoves with Hexa blocks if I want a cup of tea or a soup.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esbit
In an iddle moment, I converted a trangia windshield form the Mini Set, available separately for € 5,-
http://www.trangia.se/english/2924.mini_trangia.html
into a separate burner for blocks and twigs:
The edges were folded over, four bolts and eight nuts made the feet and some more holes provide ventilation
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a273/Supercorsa/Bushcraft/141107002.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a273/Supercorsa/Bushcraft/141107001.jpg
Its round shape makes it fit into a large cup better than the original rectangle ones.
It works better with twigs than with the Hexa blocks, because here the latter burn faster and create higher flames, which surround the rather small (o,5l) cup and make the fuel more inefficient.
Nice use of the pot stand there. I have one that I use with a fan guard from the back of a PC to create the pot stand with. It fits perfectly into a 10cm Zebra billy along with a wind shield and trangia burner. I just want to get hold of the drainer that Wayland used for his 10cm billy and will have an excellent all rounder for hiking.
crazyclimber
14-11-2007, 15:29
Constantly amazes me what people come up with on here! Nice one!