Stoves and Cookwear

[footloose]

To minimise the soot problem with Trangias, allow the burner to heat up and start burning properly with a blue flame before putting the pot on the burner. After a few days use, there will still be a buildup of combustion products on the pot but it doesn't wipe off onto other gear. I do the same as IP and use something like chux between the pots and it stops the rattling.
I really enjoy my cups of tea and will often, where the water supply allows, make a cup of tea with lunch. The extra fuel weight is neither here nor there compared to the weight of food etc. but well worth that relaxing cuppa in the right place.
I have the old version of the Trangia with the aluminium pots and despite having a Whisperlite, the old shellite model and a gas stove, pretty much always use the Trangia. I like my food and with a bit of planning and common sense, always manage a good tasty meal.
I've seen a melted Trangia base as described by rifraf, similar circumstances and same result.
The Trangia might be a little slow but it's excellent for those meals that really should be simmered or cooked slowly. You really have to mess up badly to burn your meal on the bottom of the pot. One of the first things I do when pulling up for the night is to fire up the Trangia, by the time the tent is up and the mat and bag are laid out, the Trangia is boiling. If I'm hungry then it's a cup of soup to keep the worms quiet. I minimise the fuel use by bringing the rice etc. to the boil and then wrapping the pot in something to keep it hot whilst I prepare the other ingredients in the other pot or use the plate.
Always use a lid of some sort, helps to reduce the boiling time and minimises fuel usage.
Fuel cost is such a small component of all my costs that I've never worried about it, availability is really the only consideration for me, one reason why I don't really like the cheapo gas stove that I have.
If you have access to the magazine, "Wild" there have been a number of excellent menu ideas. More suited for the bike tourer heading off directly for areas where it's necessary to carry food from the outset but still useful.
An old site now and not updated for a while but it has given me a few ideas for food and dehydrating.
http://dehydrated-food.blogspot.com.au/

[FatGuts]

Trangia talks about the issue here:

http://www.trangia.se/english/2937.faq.html

"2. My pots or windshield has melted, how could this happen?
If you "dry cook", ie put a pot over the flame without food, liquid or fat, it soon becomes too hot and can cause the pot to melt. The vents in the lower windshield should be turned into the wind. If it is wrong or if the wind suddenly turns you can get a back flow that causes the melting of the air holes. Spilt fuel on the ground and the windshield can also cause damage. If you have spilt fuel you need to remove the stove and wipe it dry."

Well I am glad that I have sold my Trangia .... not something that I consider to be a good design. Glad you got sorted okay anyway.

Andrew

I just watched the video, may that thing looks like hard work........I think I will stick with my little butane jobbie & the billy.

[m@]

Yep, Trangias are renowned for being unreliable and difficult to use

[il padrone]

Agreed. That's why I have a Trangia that is over 30 years old, and a mate and I used our two Trangias for 9 weeks of touring through Victoria and outback SA.

[iacl]

Agreed. That's why I have a Trangia that is over 30 years old, and a mate and I used our two Trangias for 9 weeks of touring through Victoria and outback SA.

Ha ha, mines a 1981 vintage and still going strong. No melt downs, but a lotta charactor. Still gave original saucepans, but use duosol pots by choice, not much newer than the originals. Use when more than the mini is required.

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