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Canister fuel options for camping. Isobutane, propane, others?

Aloha · 18 · 2265

us Offline Aloha

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Typically I use isobutane with my small stove.  It can get pricy for those fuel cans.  I've recently seen the tall cylinders of isobutane ( think spray paint can ) locally for far cheaper.  Stability comes to mind when thinking about using the tall cans however it shouldn't be too hard to figure out how to stabilize when using.  As I began to look around to see what options others have used I came upon this guys channel. 

Has anyone used the methods and or adaptors he shows?  I am not currently interested in refilling canisters.   

https://youtu.be/NvxQYoFyS3A

 
Esse Quam Videri


ca Offline jzmtl

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Have the 1st and 2nd one, haven't used them beyond initial testing though. 1st is no name from all over ebay, pretty crappy quality but seem to seal okay. It's really meant for canister stoves and small pots (<1L), so stability shouldn't be a problem. 2nd is made by Kovea, it uses 4 plastic fingers to lock to the collar of butane can, not sure how durable it will be, but works fine. Don't use this with canister stoves obviously, it can barely stand up on its own.

Not sure if you know this, but the feed tube inside those spray can butane canisters is an L shape pointing toward the canister wall near the large notch. If you want gas to come out it'll need to pointing up, otherwise you get some serious fireballs with canister stove. But on the other hand if you use it with a stove that has generator tubes, you can rotate the can 180° to liquid feed and avoid canister freezing.

There's also another adapter that looks like 2nd one, and will let you use propane canisters with butane stoves.
« Last Edit: March 13, 2017, 07:52:50 PM by jzmtl »


us Offline Aloha

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Thank you.  I'll need to do a bit more research then buy something to try out.   
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!

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I use cassette butane cans quite a bit...quite cheap to run. It cost me under 5 semolians for 4 cans...on sale at the Korean Grocery store. It's straight butane, not Iso-butane...otherwise it wouldn't be so cheap. It works fine if you're using it above 35F...below that it won't vaporize unless you've got a stove with a generator tube and run inverted.

I do refill canisters...mainly to keep my CampingGaz stoves and lanterns fed. The GAZ canisters have been off market in the US for years now...ever since Coleman bought them out.
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us Offline Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!

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Avoid the cheap Chinese adapters...I have examples of a lot of them and some are to scary for me to use. Kovea is your best bet for quality. Kovea is actually the OEM for quite a few name. brands...like the Brunton in the first pic.

Second pic is the Kovea remote adapter. It can be used with any stove you currently own. The downside is the valve handle can get hot inside a wraparound windscreen or be hard to reach under larger pots. I have a similar remote adapter sold by Brunton for threaded isobutane cartridges.

Third pic is a Kovea adapter with a Kovea Spider...because it has a remote hose the controls are located at the tank end.

Fourth pic is yet another Kovea...purpose built for butane cassette cartridges. Stoves set up this way are popular in Asian countries, but are not often sold in the US...I bought mine from a Korean dealer. I use this one quite often at home for Moka pot coffee.
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us Offline Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!

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First pic is a Soto stove made for butane cassettes. It's a nice stove, but a bit fiddly to assemble.

Second pic is a tabletop butane stove...slightly modified to hold my Bemco oven
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us Offline Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!

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Trangia 27 with gas burner and scary Chinese butane adapter. Baking biscuits in a homebuilt mini-oven
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us Offline Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!

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More baking...in my Optimus oven
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us Offline Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!

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Kovea propane adapter with a Primus Yellowstone Classic stove....

I really don't see any advantage to this as shown...as you need to carry the bottle base for stability and you loose the wind blocking ability of the original burner, I thought for a while about putting together some sort of folding leg setup...but then I found a Primus Grasshopper  :D

I definitely would only use a quality stove with the propane adapter because of the higher pressure involved.
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« Last Edit: March 14, 2017, 04:28:21 AM by Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! »


us Offline Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!

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A little tabletop burner with a refillable tank

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nz Offline zoidberg

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Got some options there Spork.   :like:   :gimme:


us Offline Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!

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I probably have more...but I'm worn out posting  :D

This is one of my favorite blogs...tons of info here - https://adventuresinstoving.blogspot.com/


nz Offline zoidberg

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I have to go cook dinner now, so I'll click that link later.   :cheers:


us Offline Aloha

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Thank you Spork  :salute:.  I'll be looking at the link as a reference as well as your terrific post and pictures.  Thank you very much for your time. 
Esse Quam Videri


ca Offline jzmtl

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If packability isn't a concern just get one of those tabletop butane stoves Spork posted, both it and the canisters are dirt cheap from your local Asian grocery store, like $20 for the stove and $5~6 for 4 pack of canisters.


us Offline Aloha

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If packability isn't a concern just get one of those tabletop butane stoves Spork posted, both it and the canisters are dirt cheap from your local Asian grocery store, like $20 for the stove and $5~6 for 4 pack of canisters.

Great idea.  I'm no ultralight backpacker.  I dont mind hauling some extra gear at all.  When I do half day or full day hikes I do like to have bit more to eat than a sandwich.  Its also nice to have a hot beverage plus a warm meal. 

I'll also use the gear upon my return to the vehicle to eat a meal.  I typically use my Coleman stove when I return to my vehicle to cook but anything smaller than that is a welcome.

I've considered the table top butane burners many times over.  I really just need to pull the trigger on one.   
Esse Quam Videri




 

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