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RECOMMENDATIONS AND TEST RESULTS
Kerosene Stoves

Everyone has a different survival plan, so a "one size fits all" approach to equipment obviously won't work. That, of course, is why there is such a variety of cook stoves, lanterns and heaters available. Because of this problem, I have chosen to concentrate on equipment which will meet the needs of the two most divergent ideologies - mobile survival mode or fixed location survival.

MOBILE SURVIVAL MODE

Let us assume someone from Southern California is gathering survival equipment. What hazards to they face? The San Andreas "Big One" earthquake is an obvious reason to be prepared, as if it fractured there would be no water, electricity, natural gas or food available. In addition, the vast population of the area would become like a cloud of locusts, devouring everything available almost immediately. [This could apply to many scenarios = war, terrorism, etc.] The smart move would be to evacuate the area at the first opportunity, and that means having portable survival equipment already packed and ready to go. This subject is covered very well, complete with lists and "how to" information, in my booklet "Evacuation and Relocation."

BUTTERFLY #2412 PRESSURE STOVE

 

The Butterfly #2412 pressure stove is made to disassemble and can be safe for travel.  Being of all brass construction and with the pressure pump being the only moving part, these stove can be depended upon to last virtually forever.  There is a cap on the end of the plunger which can be used to seal the fuel tank - after the burner is removed.  The #2412 is a small pressure stove with a #1 burner, but puts out at least 6,000 BTU, which is more than enough for cooking.  It also will burn about any fuel that pours, although thicker fuel may require 2 or more preheatings with alcohol before it will burn.  For indoors use, only kerosene should be used, as burning kerosene produces almost no carbon monoxide. 

"Butterfly" kerosene stoves are available from www.StPaulMercantile.com . St Paul Mercantile is highly recommended.  Their prices are low and service is high - a great combination!

You will need to make up your own kit bag for travel use of the Butterfly #2412.  The burner can be removed, but it is sooty and therefore should be kept in a plastic baggy. The upright supports should be stored in a separate bag so they do not get lost, as should the jet picks.  The legs should have rubber feet installed to prevent scratching of table surfaces: the tips for door stops can be glued on the bottom of the legs.

 

FIXED BASE COOKING STOVES

In my opinion, based on extensive use, the small Butterfly multi-wick stoves are the best for cooking for occasional use, and the gravity flow designs (#2413, 2416, 2417, 2418, etc) are better for every day use, day in and day out.  The large multi-wick #2487 and #2698 are by far the best stoves for canning or other heavy duty heating use.  The edge-burning gravity flow Butterfly stoves are copies of the "wickless" stoves and ranges used in kitchens throughout the country before rural electrification in the late 1930's.  Millions of those stoves served their owners very well every day, day in and day out, for decades.  Even people with wood ranges would use the gravity flow stoves in the summer, as a wood stove would simply get a house too hot. 

Butterfly #2413

Butterfly #2418

Butterfly #2416

I gave one of these to my mother for use in emergencies.

I have a #2418 in my kerosene kitchen for everyday use.

I gave one of these stoves to my church for their cafeteria.

Butterfly #2641

Butterfly #2487

Butterfly #2698

The #2641 is a no-frills stove, but it's cheap and it will boil water for coffee and cook bacon and eggs. St. Paul Mercantile used to carry the #2457 single-burner stove but has replaced it at my suggestion with the #2641 because it has a better fuel tank design, no sharp edges, and it comes pre-assembled. If you plan to use your stove more than for an occasional, short power outage, then I'd recommend a larger, hotter stove.  If you plan on doing a lot of canning, the 16 wick #2487 or the 22 wick #2698 are excellent stoves.  For everyday cooking of meals, the single burner #2413 and the double burner #2418 and #2419 are excellent - they are the best selling stoves in Asia.  For everyday cooking for a large family, the three-burner #2415 and #2417 are excellent.  For more information and photographs, read my reviews of the individual stoves at the links below.

Be absolutely sure to order order extra wicks, as they will not be available during a dire emergency!

 

CANNING WITH A SMALL STOVE

The stove top strength of all but the #2487 and #2698, in my opinion, are not large or strong enough to safely support the width and weight of a loaded water bath canner. Yes, it could be done, but it is much better to build a cook stand...the stove fits underneath the stand, and the stand itself supports all the weight of a very wide, heavy canner.  If you do not have the scrap metal on hand to build a cooking stand (below), it is actually less expensive to buy a #2687 and have not only a spare stove, but a hotter stove.  Canning with only one single-burner stove is NOT desirable!  For example, how do you simmer the lids?  A small, everyday meal cooking stove combined with a larger, hotter canning stove makes canning safe and efficient.

 

A cooking stand may be made using inexpensive pre-drilled 1 1/2" angle iron or the legs and top bracing, and a piece of "expanded" steel bolted to the top. 

Note details of the construction of the cooking stand. The legs (12") and top brace (at least 12 x 12") are 1 ½" steel strap, bolted together with 3/8" bolts (3/4" long) with nuts and lock washer on the inside. 

The top is steel "expanded metal," cut to fit and bolted to the top using 3/8" bolts (1" long) with fender washers to secure the expanded metal to the top.

The actual measurements of the top size do not matter so long as it is at least a foot square. If you find a scrap of expanded steel at a lumber yard that is 12" x 15," you can use it to make a 13" x 16" stand simply by cutting 1 ½" pre-drilled strapping with 2 pieces 13" long and 2 pieces 16" long, plus 4 legs at 12" each.. The top brackets are cut one inch longer and wider than the piece of expanded steel so that sharp edges of the expanded metal are recessed from the edge of the top bracket when bolted down.

Pieces of pre-drilled 1 ½" flat strapping are first held against the top corners at close to a 45 degree angle, holes aligned, then marked with a pencil. Cut with a hack saw, deburr with a file, then bolt on the corner braces on the inside of the legs and top. Look closely at the illustration above and you will see the braces.

The end result is a stand that will support literally hundreds of pounds very safely. A wide water bath canner, for example, will easily fit and not be the least bit "tippy," and all the weight is off the stove!

 

Use your imagination when making a cooking stand. One of my stove customers made their cooking stand from the frame of an old aquarium!  Left to right, the stoves are a Swastik, a "Golden Night," and a Premier. Note the wick stoves are sitting in safety carry/drip trays...this is one smart lady.  Here are Carolyn's own words:

"Ron made me a cook stand for my kerosene cookers.  He made it out of a stout 4 ft. long aquarium stand that we had in the shed.  He also had a piece of galvanized steel that are used as walkway grates.  He welded that under the top of the aquarium stand.  The aquarium stand is an 18" tall "lowboy" and it is just perfect for this use.  The stand was black and he added steel sides and back and painted it red.  It looks real nice."

IMPORTANT NOTES

PLEASE READ

When reading the above descriptions of the stoves and lanterns, you will note that I have made reference to the "multi-fuel" capabilities of the Butterfly #2412, the "Golden Night," etc. "Multi-fuel" means kerosene, diesel, #1 stove oil, and other assorted fuel oils, including alcohol, and in extreme emergencies, gasoline. Gasoline is a highly volatile fuel, however, so I DO NOT recommend its use. Due to the inherent burning qualities of the fuels themselves, only kerosene should be used when the stoves or lantern are used indoors, as the other fuels produce excessive quantities of carbon monoxide. If used outdoors, or even in garage with the door open, ANY place with adequate ventilation, the other fuels may be burned without danger.

You may encounter the phrase "dual fuel" in conjunction with some Coleman stoves and lanterns. That refers to unleaded gasoline and white gas, also called "Coleman Fuel."

Gasoline in all its forms produces explosive vapors and can explode. Kerosene (and other fuels) used in "multi-fuel" stoves is NOT explosive, does NOT produce explosive fumes, and IS stable in storage.

Related subjects:

Kerosene heaters:

Kerosene, The Fuel, and Storage Tanks

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