Cheap Fred Meyer butane canisters

Yeah I used to buy those black canisters there and also picked up some of those new ones.  I buy a couple at a time, stocking up in case of an earthquake.  I was annoyed that it doesn’t tell the gas mixture, but seems to work fine.   At REI canisters that size cost almost double I believe

Gee… doesn’t anyone recall Roger’s admonition against off-brand canister gas?

Er… impurities clogging stoves…

billy

Billy,

I think Roger’s comments pertained to canisters that are used inverted.

Or you can use one of these and refill 8oz canisters with cheap n-butane for about $1.70. ;^)

I realize that at about $55 it isn’t a cheap gizmo, but it is a quality product that will last a long time and will “pay for itself” over time… depending upon how much you use canister stoves and how much you’re currently paying for canisters. There’s also a bit of a learning curve when it comes to transferring that last little bit of butane from can to canister.

Of course, there’s the convenience factor for folks who don’t use canisters very often and don’t want to deal with the additional hassle. I got it for those times when we need to melt a lot of snow on winter trips, as we did last year, so naturally this year we had no winter. :-(

I imagine there are only a couple of companies in the world that make these so out of all the different brands there are probably only 3-4 varieties and they just brand them differently.

I am sure Roger knows more.

yeah, the impurities are only an issue if you have an inverted stove

I get the feeling these are just the same as brand name, with a different label.  I know Fred Meyers does that with other products.  I’ve used probably 20 Max Burton canisters without problem.  I’ve used maybe 5 Giga Power and on one of them the Lindal valve stuck open so I had to leave the stove screwed on or it would leak all the contents.

Let’s see, $3.99 vs $1.70.  It would take 24 canisters to make up $55.  But they’re N-butane so would only work down to maybe 45 F (although with Moulder strip you could use them but that adds fiddleiness).  You could always put just the amount of fuel you needed for each trip though, rather than sometimes having to lug a full canister when you only needed part of it.

….Let’s see, $3.99 vs $1.70. It would take 24 canisters to make up $55….

…. I’ve used probably 20 Max Burton canisters without problem.  I’ve used maybe 5 Giga Power….

See, you coulda paid for it already, lol! :^)

As far as fiddliness, in my experience using the HX strip is the least fiddly because you don’t have to remove the canister and put it in the foot of your quilt/sleeping bag to keep it warm, which means you don’t have to remove it from the stove in the evening and then reinstall it the next morning, and when melting a lot of snow there’s no water bath, nor handwarmers, nor re-warming to do… it just runs at full capacity as long as necessary with no further tending necessary. I’ve melted up to 6 liters of snow with no problem and could have done more easily.

yeah, I agree, I’ve been screwing with it too, not that fiddly, although a tiny bit more fiddly than plain upright canister

my problem right now is that this winter hasn’t been cold (global warming? : ) )  One stretch where it got down to 25 F a couple nights, which I used for testing Moulder strip, but since then hasn’t been below 31 F

I imagine there are only a couple of companies in the world that make these so out of all the different brands there are probably only 3-4 varieties and they just brand them differently.
I am sure Roger knows more.

There are not too many canister FILLING companies around the world. Just think: you have to run the whole production line under some sort of gas recovery system, so that each time you disconnect a canister you don’t lose some fuel – which could build up to a very nice fuel/air explosion. I am not aware of any filling companies in the USA: EPA and safety regulations a bit ‘too strict’ maybe.

There is one in Eastern Europe I think, and one or two in Korea, and doubtless several in China.

Cheers

I went to Seattle.  Maple Valley Fred Meyer.  No cheap butane “Max” or “Max Burton”.  $6 name brand canisters only.

Fred Meyer in Portland.  Barbur Blvd and 72nd.  $3.99 “Max” canisters available.

Maybe just a temporary supply thing, or something about Seattle or Washington