quick stove question

[Aaron Coffee]

I have a quick stove question(not vintage so I'm posting it here). I will be camping this weekend, the forecast is for a low in the upper 20's. I have a coleman propane stove and an MSR pocket stove, and am vondering which one would be the better choice for heating water for coffee and hot chocolate. I have had trouble with the propane stove in cooler weather, so I am leaning to the MSR. Should the fuel for the MSR be ok, I bought 2 cans of the fuel about 3 years ago and never used them. I will probably heat water then put it in a thermos so I can have hot(well at least warm)water throughout the day.
thanks
Aaron

[Woodbutcher]

Can't say for sure Aaron, but I find if I warm up the propane bottle it works fine. My problem has been getting it lit. Maybe take the bottle in the trailer at night. I notice even the little propane starters don't like the cold. I keep it in my vest pocket a few minutes before needing it.

[Wolffarmer]

The Fuel will still be good. As Woodbutcher said keep a bottle of fuel in the trailer with you over night. Should not have to sleep with it. Get a pot of water heating and if the flame starts faulturing just pour a bit of water on the bottle. Should perk it right up. AS you draw gas from the bottle the bottle will cool down.

Randy

[Shadow Catcher]

Propane is propane, IF I were camping in really cold weather I would use one of our white gas stoves.
The smaller the cylinder the less pressure you will get give a particular temperature.
An interesting source of information http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=10186.0 which contains this chart.

[wagondude]

If you have a bulk cylinder, you will have much better luck in the colder temps. If not, as others have said, keep the cylinder inside with you. If there are facilities where you plan to camp, you can take it with you on your morning trip and use the hot water in the sink to pre heat it. Then you can put a sock around the bottle to help keep it warmer during use. In colder temps and higher elevations, white gas is your friend. A single burner white gas stove can be had cheap if you look around.

[CliffinGA]

Now see thats why I'm just lazy and I have a microwave in my galley !! It heats water in hot or cold weather in minutes and thats why we bring it!

Cliff

[Aaron Coffee]

Knew I should have gotten off of the couch this summer and got one of my white gas stoves in working order. Right now plan on just taking the pocket stove. What is the fuel it uses anyway, looked on the container and all I can find is the name ISOPROL, so I am thinking it is a pressurized alcohol (isopropal)? Had planned on making waffles(electric waffle iron, see I can be lazy, too)but have decided with the temps that are forecast it may be more comfortable to drive a few miles down the road to Denny's for breakfast.

[Wolffarmer]

Pocket stove?

A coleman 530 GI Pocket stove? If it is the coleman it uses Coleman fuell

Randy

[GuitarPhotog]

Pocket stove?

A coleman 530 GI Pocket stove? If it is the coleman it uses Coleman fuell

Randy

Randy, I believe he said "MSR Pocket Rocket stove" i.e., this stove http://www.amazon.com/MSR-11792-Pocket-Rocket-Stove/dp/B000A8C5QE

<Chas>

[Wolffarmer]

That is probably some kind of butane mixture. Who knows what all. A propane container would have to have heavy walls. What you have probably feels a lot like any spray can thingy. That means it has a real low vapor pressure and very much affected by the cold. But it is close to the burner so if you keep the fuel warm and get the stove going it might keep it warm enough. Might help to set it on some insulation type material.

[Bogo]

Once it is going, use a wind deflector even if there isn't wind. It should help keep some heat around the base to warm the fuel. Don't let the base get to hot. Any insulation would need to be fireproof.