The New MSR MicroRocket — Cooking Report

looks pretty even for a camping stove! is that a kitchen pan or a backpacking pan?

That’s a kitchen pan in the photo. I tried various types of pans. All of the details of the pans are in the report if you’re interested.

HJ
Adventures In Stoving

Jim,

The reason I bought a Brunton Crux stove was not just because it folded but because it had a much wider flame area than my Vargo Jet-Ti.

The new Micro Pocket Rocket has the same small burner head as my Jet-Ti and, IMHO, its flame is too concentrated. I'll carry a few extra grams for better (and also hotter when needed) flame area.

Jim,

The reason I bought a Brunton Crux stove was not just because it folded but because it had a much wider flame area than my Vargo Jet-Ti.

The new Micro Pocket Rocket has the same small burner head as my Jet-Ti and, IMHO, its flame is too concentrated. I’ll carry a few extra grams for better (and also hotter when needed) flame area.

Hi, Eric,

I’ve got a Crux too (among others), and I generally like it. I think the flame is well distributed. The thing I note as I compare the Crux to the MicroRocket is that a pot is less stable on a Crux than a MicroRocket. I’d be far more worried about dumping my dinner when using a Crux than a MicroRocket.

HJ
Adventures In Stoving

Flame width should not be a serious problem. If the flame is too narrow, you use a flame spreader. I have one made out of titanium foil with holes punched in it, and it is a bit larger than a silver dollar. If the flame is too wide for a narrow pot, then you use a flame ring as I described recently, which is made out of a strip of titanium foil and sits on the pot support bars. I call it a flame concentrator.

–B.G.–

Bob,

Would it be possible for you to post a couple of photos of your flame spreader?

HJ
Adventures In Stoving

A flame spreader is too easy. The old way to do it is with a steel can lid, maybe two inches in diameter. You punch it with no holes in the center, and some holes around the perimeter. Then just lay it over the butane burner. Very little heat gets through the center, some heat gets through the outer holes, and more heat gets around it to the cook pot. The new way is the same, except substitute titanium foil. It weighs less and tolerates heat better.

–B.G.–

Not UL at all, but it involved a flame spreader:

I was techo-nerd for a caving grotto's trip to Eastern Nevada to Great Basin NP for their limestone caves. I brought the hot tub.

It was my first non-backpacking hot tub and I stepped up to a MUCH larger burner than a bunch of MSR stoves – specifically, a 150,000 BTU/hour propane-fueled burner. The sort of thing you'd use at a chili cook off. For 200 people.

We'll get to temperature faster, huh? Yeah, but the output was so high, hot, and concentrated that it melted the solder on the Cadillac radiator being use as a heat-exchanger. The second-banana nerd looked at me and clearly thought, "Darn nice try, you came really close." (he was far superior in electronics, but was never a plumber).

I repaired the radiator by soldering it with some lead I got from tire-balancing weights after fluxing the spot with orange juice. Then laid a 9" piece of granite over the flame to spread the heat and restarted it. And had a dozen naked cavers at 104F / 40C in 90 minutes.

Wire gaze.

http://unitednuclear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=25_30&products_id=344

Wire gaze is when you stare directly at the wire.

Your link goes to wire gauze for $2.00.

I would think that a steel can lid is a bit cheaper than that, and the titanium scrap would be lighter.

–B.G.–

I repaired the radiator by soldering it with some lead I got from tire-balancing weights after fluxing the spot with orange juice. Then laid a 9″ piece of granite over the flame to spread the heat and restarted it. And had a dozen naked cavers at 104F / 40C in 90 minutes.

Very resourceful! But tire weights? Cadillac radiator? Did you drive the whole freaking Caddy into the cave? lol.

HJ
Adventures In Stoving

Wire gauze.

Of course! Now, why didn’t I think of that. I even have some, although mine is only about 3″ in diameter. I put it on the shelf after trying it on a Whisperlite (useless, too small), but it would be perfect for a MicroRocket or similar.

Bob’s idea of a Ti flame spreader has a lot of merit too.

HJ
Adventures In Stoving