Ever wonder why there isn’t an aluminum Trangia alcohol burner?

and decorative windholes too!

Vintage indeed, and aesthetically pleasing. It would be great to see a picture or two of all the components laid out. Especially interested in how the windscreens go together with the burner and how it all packs together.

Hi, Ross,

In many countries, methylated spirits is sold. It’s a particular form of denatured alcohol, regualted by law in many countries (I’m thinking of the UK and Australia in particular). My understanding is that in is 95% ethanol with 5% methanol added as a denaturant (and there’s typically some purplish dye added to distinguish it). The ethanol used isn’t reagent grade and contains a good deal of water.

In the United States, “denatured alcohol” could be most anything. There’s no guarantee that the majority component is ethanol. Indeed the most common brand, SLX denatured alcohol, typically has at least as much methanol than ethanol in it. In addition they add methyl isobutyl ketone, up to 4%.

Sometimes stovies here in the US will refer to our denatured alcohol as “meths,” but that’s just a convenient shorthand (or ignorance alas). The denatured alcohol sold here is nothing like the methylated spirits available in the UK.

HJ
Adventures in Stoving
Hikin Jim’s Blog

Ross, Why isn't that stove still made? Seems so light and effective.

Is it as fuel efficient as an aluminum Caldera Cone?

If the Trangia is over filled to the point of coming close to the level of the jet holes when the fuel boils it will cause fuel to spit out the jets and may even cause a large overflow. If the internal wick is close or covering a jet hole it will spit also. The internal wick is loose so it may migrate close to one of the jets.

Something I made for myself is a large StarLyte type burner that holds 4.5oz of fuel. It has a tight fitting high density plastic lid to prevent vaporization of fuel when not in use. It holds the 4.5 oz. of fuel in suspension to prevent spilling in fire prone areas. I use a small(green) silicone disc to snuff out the burner and prevent vaporization while the burner is cooling down. Once cooled I cover with air tight lid. I use the Caldera Cone in conjunction with the extra large StarLyte type burner. I can fill the burner and also carry an extra 4 oz. of fuel inside the 32oz beer can pot. The opening of the burner is the same as the Modified StarLyte burner so it’s really miserly on fuel…not the fastest but I’m never in a hurry. Boils 4 cups of water in 19 min. Recent tests showed I could boil 14 cups of 55 degree tap water with one load of fuel and still had some left over in the burner. Three tests at boiling 4 cups each test and one boiling 2 cups.

Dan, now you need to submit that burner to the Forest Service and see if they find it acceptable in certain forests when the forest fire danger is high. In some cases, they have a real problem with any burner that has no control valve. To them, a snuffer isn't good enough.

–B.G.–

I've not compared efficiency closely but remember this doesn't have the original burner. It uses a Speedster burner which is a modern 'cottage industry' burner. I'm finding that generally very efficient in the Speedster pan/windshield combo & in this old storm cooker.

I'll take some better pics of the set up & a boil test this weekend if I get a chance.

You do see these on ebay from time to time – mainly from Germany. Gebruder Bing, the toy people, were one maker.

To answer everyone's question….it is some kind of duck I believe. I have applied this concept to a double-walled pop can stove I've made. Works great and I've had no failure's or spitting in it's use this far. JB welded cotton duck to the inner wall and bloom times went from 30-40 seconds to 9-14 seconds.

HTH

KJ

My stove in action:

Trangia Guts:

Kenneth Jacobs, I was the one that did the dissection but I can no longer find a link to the thread….do you have the link?

I guessed at the wick being a "linen" fabric.

All in the interest of stove science…:-)

The principle was used in the manufacture of the "Cobalt Blue" double walled stove long before I did the dissection of the military trangia. Great minds think alike :-)))) I discontinued the stove when the thick walled "budlite" bottle was discontinued.

Hey –B.G.– I plan to visit my daughter who lives out west so I'll take up the project while I'm out there. Best I talk to someone face to face in the regional office of one of the state parks/forest service dept. I'll do a little "show and tell"

"Best I talk to someone face to face in the regional office of one of the state parks/forest service dept."

Dan, here is the problem.

You won't find the right person. If you hit too low on the chain of command, they will refer you to somebody higher. If you hit too high on the chain of command, they will refer you to the lower staff. Also, the National Forest Service (federal) is the right organization to hit, but each of the individual forests sets its own rules based on the local fire situation. One forest might find something perfectly fine, and the next forest over might reject it. More, the feds are completely different from the state parks. The rules within one state park might be totally arbitrary based on the local fire situation.

I don't know how to do this, but the thing to do would be to try to capture their attention at one big meeting. I doubt that many Forest Service bosses "believe" in denatured alcohol.

–B.G.–

Dan

Unfortunately, I don't have the link. Just had those images stored on my sever at home with all my stove making and research docs. :O

KJ

Thanks –B.G.–, I'll do my best to get in touch with the Federal office that deals with fire regulations in the western states.

KJ, thanks for your research and your stove design. Keep researching and designing. I'll see if I can find the photos among the thousands in my photobucket :-)

Kenneth, I found the link to the dissection of the Trangia, lots more photos:

http://www.bplite.com/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=357&p=2070&hilit=military#p2070

Awesome! Thanks Dan!

KJ