curiouswill wrote:i've been looking around and saw that coleman has a little propane cooker that goes on top of their camping propane tank. the package said that it put out about 10,000 btu on average so i thought that it may also be a good small space heater. the coleman cooker is around $21.95 or something in wal-mart. they also has a set of 2 camping propane tank for like $3.64 i figure that this would be the best way since i'm planning to cook during my lunch break..
You're talking about what I was going to suggest! The little one-burner that screws onto a green propane cannister is the simplest way to go.
Start with a full green fuel cannister and time how long it takes to empty. Probably 2 to 5 hours. To figure out how much fuel is left in a green canister, go to the "Camp stove fuel type" and read my post.
I refill my green fuel cnnisters with an adapter that fits on my 20-lb. (BBQ-type) propane tank. The post above tells how.
Last thing, I use a 6-1/2" cast iron skillet for most cooking on this stove. It spreads the heat more evenly than aluminum pans.
In my pickup, I have a beat-up old one-burner, a no-tip base, two refilled green fuel cannisters, a cast iron skillet, and a pair of pliers to pick stuff up with. It's the cheap way to eat on the road, and I've done it for years.
Cautions--
1) As noted, the one-burner does eat up oxygen, so cook outside where there's plenty of oxygen. Never cook in your car. Ever. Don't use it as a space heater! Get a warm sleeping bag instead.
2) The green propane cylinder needs a plastic no-tip base, so the whole shebang doesn't fall over while you're cooking.
3) The one-burner gets HOT! Let it cool before touching. I drop water on mine before I put it away--if water sizzles, cool some more.
4) Let one-burner cool completely before you switch fuel cannisters.
Have fun and enjoy the freshly cooked food!
For build pix of Crocodile Tear, completed 10/26/06 -- Look at my album or new website <www.crocodiletear.com> (website has more info)