The Stove Collector

Lighting stoves

Lighting an alcohol stove - Lighting a kerosene stove - Lighting a white gas stove - Lighting a gas stove - Lighting a wick stove

During transport, alcohol can be stored in any tight plastic bottle. Unless you choose to burn proper alcohol (sacrilege!) you should keep the fuel bottle well away from food items.

Alcohol stoves don't demand much in the way of technical skill to use. You fill the tank halfway, then allow the alcohol to be sucked up into the walls. At this point alcohol fuels are already dispersing through the filler hole and the small burner holes. Hold a match to the burner holes until the first flame show. Eventually the whole ring of burner holes should have small flames. The fuel in the filler hole will also catch fire and burn ineffectually; this is harmless but fuel-consuming so work on filling no more than the walls take.

When you wish to turn off the stove, you simply put on the lid. The lack of oxygen will immediately smother the fire. Once the stove has cooled down you can pour any remaining fuel back into the bottle. Most alcohol stove are not made for being transported with liquid inside!

The fumes of burning alcohol will stain pots. Adding about 5% water will reduce this problem considerably.

During transport, kerosene can be stored in any tight plastic bottle. A proper fuel bottle with a tap valve is recommended, though; it reduces spilling greatly and the bottles are far more durable. Also keep in mind that kerosene shrink somewhat in very cold temperatures.

Fill the tank no more than 2/3 full. Close the fuel lid, make sure the stove stands securely and open the valve. If the stove has been used much, a quick cleaning of the jet (the tiny hole in the lower end of the burner) is in order now. 

Pressurized kerosene stoves require preheating with alcohol. The traditional method of doing this is to fill a little alcohol (from a smallnecked bottle) into the preheating pan, light it and let it burn down. On larger stoves it's worth doing twice. These days you can also use alcohol paste from a tube; this is less messy.

Close the valve and start pumping. 25-30 pumps will build up pressure nicely for most stoves. Now keep your matches handy and open the valve. Kero fumes should now be dispersing through the jet; put a match to it. (If fuel shoots up instead the preheating job was botched.) Flames, which should optimally be blue but may be yellow, will now start showing on top of the burner. If the flames are yellow or the stove is sputtering you can now pump a bit more to build up pressure further.

When you wish to turn off the stove, you close the valve. Once the stove has cooled, open the fuel lid to allow any remaining pressure to go. The remaining fuel can be left in the tank provided the valve is closed but you should empty it if the stove won't be used for the next few months.

During transport, white gas should be kept in a proper container. Avoid spillage as it can destroy clothing and food easily.

Fill the tank no more than 2/3 full. Close the fuel lid, make sure the stove stands securely and open the valve. Allow a few drops to enter the small preheating pan, then close. Light this with a match and allow it to burn out. Then reopen the valve and light the dispersing fumes. The flames will burn yellow for a little while, then become blue. 

When you wish to turn off the stove, you close the valve. Once the stove has cooled, open the fuel lid to allow any remaining pressure to go. The remaining fuel can be left in the tank provided the valve is closed but you should empty it if the stove won't be used for the next few months.

Gas stoves with canisters are low maintenance. Old ones are replaced when they are empty with little hassle. Make sure you dispose of the old boxes properly, as they contain vacuum and will explode like a handgrenade if thrown into a fire!

To light a gas stove you simply open the valve and light the dispersing gas with a match. The flames will turn blue almost immediately. Some gas stoves have a piezo igniter which for all practical purposes work like a builtin lighter - press the button and the gas is lit.

Butane and LP gas works very poorly in below-zero temperatures.

When you wish to turn off the stove, you close the valve. Don't remove the canister unless it's completely empty; you may no be able to reattach a partly filled one. Some models have external gas tanks with a tube connection; these can be removed according to the model's instructions.

During transport, kerosene can be stored in any tight plastic bottle. A proper fuel bottle with a tap valve is recommended, though; it reduces spilling greatly and the bottles are far more durable. Also keep in mind that kerosene shrink somewhat in very cold temperatures.

Wick stoves are not pressurized. As long as the wicks are all right and the tank whole it is hardly possible to misuse one. Some wick stoves, particularly new ones, have multiple wicks.

Check that the wick is present and adjust it to be an inch above the opening. Fill the tank. Close the fuel lid, make sure the stove stands securely and wait until the kerosene has saturated the wick (cou can feel the top of the wick become moist). Light the wick with a match and you are set.

When you wish to turn off the stove, you turn the wick almost completely down then blow it out. The remaining fuel can be left in the tank provided the valve is closed but you should empty it if the stove won't be used for the next few months. Wick stoves aren't usually meant for camping so if you plan to carry it around, make sure to empty it of fuel before you put it in your backpack!