Alcohol priming pan in sub freezing

Posted by: BarryP

Alcohol priming pan in sub freezing - 02/05/08 09:22 AM

When I use my whitebox stove in subfreezing temperatures (20F), (3cup h2o, 1.5 fl oz heet, closed cell foam under heat reflector), it takes 2 minutes for the jets to flare. Then I read from people that they use a priming pan and then the whitebox flares in 10 seconds. Is this also true at subfreezing? How do you know how much priming fuel to use at subfreezing?

Thank you,
-Barry
Posted by: Brumfield

Re: Alcohol priming pan in sub freezing - 02/05/08 09:45 AM

Barry, are you using rubbing alcohol 70% or the denatured shellac thinner alcohol 200 proof? Barry Brum
Posted by: BarryP

Re: Alcohol priming pan in sub freezing - 02/05/08 10:42 AM

Hi Barry,
Does ‘neither’ count?

I use Heet since it is easier to light in sub freezing temperatures than denatured.
I barely notice any difference in efficiency between Heet and denatured even though denatured has a claimed more btu/weight.
I also won’t use rubbing alcohol again <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />: It doesn’t leave your pan clean; it leaves water in your stove (and thus precious stove fuel volume is reduced). I don’t know if it’s finished (in broad daylight) because there’s liquid still in the stove! It’s heavy for given burn time, and takes up too much room for given burn time. I have no health issues with Heet since I don’t touch the stuff. And even if I do touch it, I have to swim in it to be a risk. As a side note, I would rather have Heet leak in my pack than petroleum fuel--- so that’s a safety plus.

Maybe I should buy stock in Heet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

-Barry
Posted by: Brumfield

Re: Alcohol priming pan in sub freezing - 02/05/08 11:12 AM

Barry, is that Heet you're using the same as the Heet fuel line anti-freeze made by Golden Eagle. I've seen Heet (canned) before, but never read the ingredients. What's it made of?

When I get it finished, I'll send you the specs on my Colima stove. It runs on regular rubbing alcohol. Using only 3 tablespoons of regular rubbing alcohol the Colima boils water in 5 minutes (sea level) and continues to boil for 22 minutes. It only leaves a 2 inch diameter ash residue on the bottom of the pot and no soot or typical smut on the outside of the pot or stove. It runs so cool that you can hold the stove in your hand while boiling water in a pot sitting on top of it. A physicist friend of mine said I should patent the little fellow, but I'll share it for free when it's done. I haven't used Heet or denatured alcohol in it yet. It may cut the boil time down quite a bit if I do.
The Other Barry
Posted by: sarbar

Re: Alcohol priming pan in sub freezing - 02/05/08 03:25 PM

Primer ring is the best tool I can take in cold. Trail Designs makes them <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
And yes, they fit perfectly under the White Box stove.
Posted by: sabre11004

Re: Alcohol priming pan in sub freezing - 02/05/08 03:50 PM


I use my alky stoves in a lot of different temperatures (mostly sub-freezing) and I find that most of the alky stoves are more productive with a priming pan if you are using them in colder climates. It really doesn't take that much more fuel and it really increases the time factor. I have some of the alky stoves that will not work properly without the priming pan. In answer to your question....yes, it will shorten the "fire" time, so to speak on any stove and I don't think that there is any specific amount of fuel to use. Just play around with it like we all do with those little stoves and I can promise you that you will figure it out pretty easily...Hope this helps....Happy Trekking...sabre11004.




The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there !!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: sabre11004

Re: Alcohol priming pan in sub freezing - 02/05/08 04:20 PM


Actually Brumfield, it may "cut" your boil times because denatured alcohol burns much hotter than rubbing alcohol does.(Rubbing Alcohol being 30% water) And you won't have to worry about the little black spot on the pot either...Hope this helps....Happy Trekking...sabre11004...

The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there !!!!!!
Posted by: strongone

Re: Alcohol priming pan in sub freezing no problem - 02/06/08 03:00 PM

I always use a piece of foil to:
1. protect the table if I'm on AT
2. protect the woodland floor
3. increase reflectivity
4. instant flame on

I use antigravity alky stove which was last used between 19E and Kincora at 10 degrees. I don't count micrograms of extra fuel since I prefer not to run out and always have a little extra for campfire if necessary, and use a little on the hands rinsed with water for sanitizer. (Don't lecture me on DANGER DANGER yur killing yourself).
Posted by: DTape

Re: Alcohol priming pan in sub freezing - 02/06/08 04:46 PM

I have used an alcohol stove with no primer in 6*F temps. Lit up instantly with no primer. It is not a pressurized stove, nor a semi-pressurized. The stove I used at that cold temp was a "starlyte" made by the stovie zelph.
Posted by: phat

Re: Alcohol priming pan in sub freezing - 02/06/08 10:41 PM

I use the penny stove frequently in the dead of winter - it's a bit different than your whitebox but the same applies.

In the summer, I don't bother with a priming pan, I just fill and light normally. This doesn't
work so hot below about -10C.

In the winter I carry a small priming pan cut out of the bottom of a super size beer can. I carry the ready fuel in my pocket so it's not at -20C to begin with. I then fill stove, dribble a little bit (maybe 1/4 teaspoon) into the priming pan as well, and light the whole thing up. stove gets up and going real quick then. I have had good success with this down to close to -30C.

I typically only carry a 2oz nalgene in the pocket full of methyl hydrate in my front pocket, as usually in the winter I'm using an alky stove to heat up water for tea on a daytrip. If I'm camping where I'll be melting snow (most likely) I have a whisperloud or a svea with me.
Posted by: jaiden

Re: Alcohol priming pan in sub freezing - 02/07/08 01:56 PM

Quote:
When I use my whitebox stove in subfreezing temperatures (20F), (3cup h2o, 1.5 fl oz heet, closed cell foam under heat reflector), it takes 2 minutes for the jets to flare. Then I read from people that they use a priming pan and then the whitebox flares in 10 seconds. Is this also true at subfreezing? How do you know how much priming fuel to use at subfreezing?

Thank you,
-Barry


My primer pan came with my AGG stove, and it worked great at 3 degrees F. It said to use a "few drops" but I found I had to give it a good squirt all around at those temps. The stove lit a few seconds after the pan did.