I finished a home made cone for a grease pot today. I wanted to get some data on how fast it would boil 2 cups of water. My previous experience was with a primus eta power pot with a heat exchanger. I did not write things down, but my memory tells me that with this cone and a different stove setup (not the Epicurean made by Flatcat Gear) it was around 8 minutes for 2 cups.
Today I ran two tests. Did this outside at 60F, no wind and basically sea level. The first was 2 cups of water to rolling boil in 6:30, at least that was when I heard it and lifted the top. That used 10 of 12g of 2 round Couglans fuel, epicurean stove by Flatcat gear and home made cone with a grease pot. The lid is the grease pot strainer with foil covering the holes. Decided to try again and this time measured the starting water temperature at 59.4 F. I started 2 fresh Couglans tabs and did a few things. When I returned, I could see the flames licking around the bottom of the pot through the holes in my cone. I decided to peak at 5;18 to discover that I had already achieved a rolling boil, but was not seeing the steam due to either darkness or who knows. This time I had 4g of fuel left over. Earlier I did try boiling 2 cups on 1 Couglans tab to no avail.
But, the first tab was laid flat side down. When I burned 2 tabs, I had them round side down and side by side to fit better in the Epicurean. I am starting to wonder if I do 1 tab on the round side if I might just get the two cups to boil. Not trying this tonight, but maybe tomorrow.
I have read tons of threads about stoves and efficiencies, but not lately. If you would like to share your experiences with esbit boil times have at it.
thanks, Matt
