stored ESBIT “odour”

Lots of factors, but this is certainly one –

Trail Design's Gram Cracker greatly improved efficiency by shielding the sides of the 14 gram tablet with vertical "walls", to reduce the burn surface.

Yeah, it's a great stove. That's the one I use, along with the Sidewinder setup. Hard to beat.

Zelph's photo of the Esbit crystals is a reminder of one point, that the crystals make it very easy to re-light.

–B.G.–

(Zelph's photo of the Esbit crystals is a reminder of one point, that the crystals make it very easy to re-light.

–B.G.–)

Bob, once you handle the remaining piece, the crystals fall off easily and it is my experience that used esbit tablets are difficult to re-light….unless you use a torch lighter like the one Rand used in the video.

>…I seem to find the 4 g tablets less fuel efficient than the 14 g variety…

Hi David, that's interesting. I seem to be getting the same efficiency from both types, but, i haven't done side by side test, so i'm looking forward to your results.

Maybe the 4g tablets are more affected with aging do to their lack of blisterpacks, so maybe there's differences in 4g tablets of different ages.

Agree, my experience that used tabs are more difficult to relight. My guess is that the crystals that form on the surface are partially reacted and that the surface of the tab is partially oxidized. So this surface oxidation resists combustion. But I am just guessing based on observation and a little chemisty.

It would be interesting to hear from ESBIT why the larger tabs are individually packaged and the smaller ones are not. Is it simply that the larger ones are more susceptible to crumbling? Or is there something more?

I emailed ESBIT about what info they had on combustion byproducts, and got no response. I hoped that being in Germany they would be less lawsuit paranoid, but apparently not. Or they just don't care much for public relations.

Zelph, it's easy. Don't handle the used Esbit.

When I burn one and then blow it out, the crystals seem to form around the outside. Those seem to be very easy to re-light with an ordinary mini Bic lighter. The crystals are very fragile, so once you try to handle it, the crystals fall off. Then it becomes more difficult to re-light. With that in mind, I just make sure that the place where the wing stove is placed is a good place and that it doesn't have to be moved.

I just bought another package of pink/orange Bleuet tablets, and I need to investigate more as to any meaningful differences with Esbit.

–B.G.–

"I emailed ESBIT about what info they had on combustion byproducts, and got no response."

+1

I asked if there was any difference between the 14g and 4 g tablets.

Alas …

Peter S and Bob gross are correct.

4g esbit tablets don't have the offensive smell once the package has been opened and had a chance to air out for approx. 24 hours. My recent testing of the GramCraker has shown that.

As Bob has indicated, blow out the esbit and don't handle it to avoid breaking off the crystals.

If I understand correctly:

– ESBIT odors will dissipate if the package is left open for 24 hours or longer

– But if ESBIT picks up too much moisture, the cubes can crumble, and when burned, they will spit little flaming chunks out. I have personal experience with this part.

So is one solution to bake the odors off the ESBIT?

You would get odorless, dry ESBIT.

Baking ESBIT could be extraordinarily dangerous and exciting. Too bad July 4th was yesterday :-)

I suppose the less dangerous method might be to let the ESBIT odors dissipate, then repackage with a desiccant. How boring.

Any other ideas?

— Rex

nm

I prefer not to blow out esbit as it creates a large plume of smoke that I don't care to inhale or have in my face. I carry a small light aluminum can , vienna sausage variety, to snuff out the flame which also serves to hold my fuel and stove when nestled in my cook pot. I'm still trying to find a plastic lid to fit the can as well.

After "baking" out your Esbit, you could store it in a ziplock along with some table salt to absorb any residual water.

Or store the ESBIT in baking soda to absorb moisture and odors.

Don’t re-use the salt or baking soda!

Mmmmm … ESBIT-seasoned salt :-)

— Rex

Why can't we simply make Esbit Jerky?

–B.G.–

Don't over-think this.

I've used Esbit tablets for years. To avoid the stink, leave the tablets in their individual packages and put as many as you need into an OP sack and you're good to go. I carry the OP sack in an outside pack pocket.

Yes, the tablets will still retain their smell and you'll notice it whenever you open the OP sack, but the OP sack contains it. I've even heard of folks who have shipped them that way through the post office and in checked baggage on aircraft without problems. Of course, both are illegal and I wouldn't want to encourage anyone to do that.

At home, I store my boxes of tablets in the garage in a sealed glass jar.

After opening the box use the contents on a daily basis until box is empty. Plan trail time based on amount of tablets in box ;-)

I must admit that apart from noting esbit has an odour, it is a non issue for me.

I recently used it for a 2 week trip, and was impressed with the efficiency.

Fuel was kept in a poly bag in my pot stuff sac. Odour was totally acceptable to me.

Like denatured alcohol, it is what it is.