Posted: 1/14/2010 3:10:03 PM EDT
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I remember my dad having one of these goofy little stoves in the 70s. I picked one up cheap with some fuel. Anyone use one? How long does it take to boil water? |
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They are better for heating up food than actually boiling water. It'll depend on the temp of the water. Good for warming a cup of water for tea or soup, but not really good for cooking on IMO.
It'll help a lot if you use a covered container. I keep some aluminum foil in my gear to make a cover for my cup. Also, you can put small sticks or pine cones on the stove along with the Esbit fuel for more heat. |
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I keep one in my GHB. Was hungry after hunting in 20 degree weather last week and decided to eat some Mtn House scrambled eggs. It took two Esbit tabs to get the water steaming pretty good, but it never boiled. It was barely hot enough to mix the Mtn House, but it worked.
The onyl real problem is that both my Esbit stoves are just a bit too big for the canteen cup to rest stable. Anybody know a trick for this? I was thinking of making some wind shields with flanges on top to serve as a shelf. |
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Quoted: I keep one in my GHB. Was hungry after hunting in 20 degree weather last week and decided to eat some Mtn House scrambled eggs. It took two Esbit tabs to get the water steaming pretty good, but it never boiled. It was barely hot enough to mix the Mtn House, but it worked. The onyl real problem is that both my Esbit stoves are just a bit too big for the canteen cup to rest stable. Anybody know a trick for this? I was thinking of making some wind shields with flanges on top to serve as a shelf. I have the same problems with the cup I bought. |
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This link shows a picture of the appropriate American canteen cup stove.
http://www.joesarmynavyonline.com/servlet/Detail?no=5986 Esbit tabs are billed as being able to (barely) boil 2 cups of water. They will, with the GI canteen cup stove, if you put it out of the wind and place Al foil over the top. |
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Quoted:
The onyl real problem is that both my Esbit stoves are just a bit too big for the canteen cup to rest stable. Anybody know a trick for this? I was thinking of making some wind shields with flanges on top to serve as a shelf. Brian–– Yes, I had that same problem. While the stove is designed to open into 2 positions, I much prefer the stability of having the stove fully opened, into somewhat of an "H" shape, rather than with the "wings" folded to the inner position. I modified my 1st Esbit stove by drilling a couple of holes (located right at the edge of the dimples in the hinged covers, 2 in each cover), to allow me to run some stainless skewers through them, bridging across the flame. Because of the design of the covers, they're offset slightly (not straight across from one another), but it's not a problem. The 2 skewers act as a "grate", & allow me to place the GI canteen cup, an Olicamp/GSI SpaceSaver Cup, a Sierra Cup, or anything that's too small to fit on the Esbit stove's supports, on them for much more stability. It also lowers the cup about 1/2", getting it into the flame somewhat better, too. You can pick up a 6 or 8 pack of stainless square skewers at a grocery or WallyWorld for next to nothing, & have enough to outfit 3 or 4 stoves. Trim length to fit. You can leave the loop on the end, or simply put a 90-degree bend to keep one end from pulling through, & a little kink in the straight end so that it stays in place, especially with a full cup on it. You can play with it a bit, & get them to where they'll fit diagonally in the stove body when it's folded up, & still get 2 or 3 fuel tabs and/or a lighter in there, too. I've picked up 2 or 3 more Esbit stoves, & some skewers, to make the same mods, & share with family & friends. Sorry I don't have any pictures, but it's not hard to do. My supports look something like this: ____________/\_ | but the /\ at the end is much, much more shallow...just enough to keep it from backing out. (Hard to do with type, but I think you'll get the idea.) David |
| Esbits can be used in two positions, fully opened and with the wings at a 35 (or so) degree angle for smaller cups. I use mine with the wings tilted in. I think it also helps to channel more heat to your cup (no scientific proof on this, just my anectdotal experience). Wind screen is a must as the cup is pretty high up in relation to your fire. I like the lite weight and small size. Have burned pine cones and sticks in it as well. |
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I took Davids idea about the wire racks (since we hang out and share stuff and almost have duplicates of each others stuff) and went a bit farther.
Instead of wires I took a piece of tin (roofing aluminum) measured and cut to fit, cut a couple of slots in the bottom of each piece so that they would slide onto the bottom fo the Esbit and then lock into the wings and made my own (windscreen). (I'll try to post pics when I get off work and get home). I rounded the edges and cut them to size where they will also fit inside the stove when folded. Holds more heat in and decreases boil time. I did an experiment last year with and Esbit using Esbit tabs, trioxane tabs, and alcohol (and vasoline) soaked cotton balls. Lost my data as to specific times but Esbit tabs worked best of all. boiling water in around 12 min. Trioxane took nearly 15, and cotton balls burned out before boiling and really blacked up the bottom of my cup more than either of the other two.( I still keep some handy though). MIKE |
| Keep mine as a backup. I like the fact I can store fuel tabs inside the stove and tuck it out of the way in my pack. I also made windscreen tabs out of coke cans. Only thing I dont like is the goo it creates on the bottom of your cookware. But as a backup its perfect. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
The onyl real problem is that both my Esbit stoves are just a bit too big for the canteen cup to rest stable. Anybody know a trick for this? I was thinking of making some wind shields with flanges on top to serve as a shelf. Brian–– Yes, I had that same problem. While the stove is designed to open into 2 positions, I much prefer the stability of having the stove fully opened, into somewhat of an "H" shape, rather than with the "wings" folded to the inner position. I modified my 1st Esbit stove by drilling a couple of holes (located right at the edge of the dimples in the hinged covers, 2 in each cover), to allow me to run some stainless skewers through them, bridging across the flame. Because of the design of the covers, they're offset slightly (not straight across from one another), but it's not a problem. The 2 skewers act as a "grate", & allow me to place the GI canteen cup, an Olicamp/GSI SpaceSaver Cup, a Sierra Cup, or anything that's too small to fit on the Esbit stove's supports, on them for much more stability. It also lowers the cup about 1/2", getting it into the flame somewhat better, too. You can pick up a 6 or 8 pack of stainless square skewers at a grocery or WallyWorld for next to nothing, & have enough to outfit 3 or 4 stoves. Trim length to fit. You can leave the loop on the end, or simply put a 90-degree bend to keep one end from pulling through, & a little kink in the straight end so that it stays in place, especially with a full cup on it. You can play with it a bit, & get them to where they'll fit diagonally in the stove body when it's folded up, & still get 2 or 3 fuel tabs and/or a lighter in there, too. I've picked up 2 or 3 more Esbit stoves, & some skewers, to make the same mods, & share with family & friends. Sorry I don't have any pictures, but it's not hard to do. My supports look something like this: ____________/\_ | but the /\ at the end is much, much more shallow...just enough to keep it from backing out. (Hard to do with type, but I think you'll get the idea.) David Thanks for the great tip! |
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Quoted:
This link shows a picture of the appropriate American canteen cup stove. http://www.joesarmynavyonline.com/servlet/Detail?no=5986 Esbit tabs are billed as being able to (barely) boil 2 cups of water. They will, with the GI canteen cup stove, if you put it out of the wind and place Al foil over the top. I forgot all about that. Yet another piece of equipment I need to buy! |
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The open sidesof the Esbit tend to allow heat to escape sideways.
Put your hands on either side of the stove when it's lit, you will feel the heat radiating sideways. You need a way to get that heat to go upward, directing the BtUs toward what you are trying to heat. Cut 2 pieces of thin sheet metal to act as sides (like wind blocks or heat shields) , make them a similar length to the folded stove, that way they will store easily with the stove. Cut them slightly smaller and they might even stow inside the folded stove. Make sure they have air vent holes at the bottom edge. The homemade sides will concentrate the heat inside, and it will tend to move more upward, toward your pot. I might be able to post a pic this evening. There is nothing preventing you from tossing in a couple small pieces of wood too. Wittle off the bark for a cleaner burn. An Esbit can actually be run as a woodstove if you are totally out of triox/hexamine fuel, it's just dirtier. |
| some realy good ideas posted above and will use some of them next time i'm out..... i have used the Esbit cooker for the last 28 years or so,and as stated above the little stove is really only good for HEATING somthing to drink or warm a can/pouch meal and realy not to cook a three course meal....also thier are two types of solid fuel cookers being sold out thier and one is not equal to the other...the first one is the origanl Esbit cooker and fuel which is made in Germany (older ones say made in West Germany) made of quality steel has the word Esbit stamped on it and can be folded in THREE positions to suit the container you wish to heat....the next one is/was made in East Germany and is a sturdy item but not the same quality as the above cooker...the East German cooker does not say Esbit any where on the cooker and has only TWO positions fully open and closed as it was made for the wide base of the East German messkit only,the cooker sometimes comes with it's Eastgerman made solid fuel stored inside ....you can TRY to fold the East German cooker to support a smaller base container like a U.S. canteen cup but because it was not made to do that one side or the other may collapes and dump the contents of your container...that being said get the real Esbit cooker and you wo'nt suffer from equipment failure...vince g. 11b inf.. |
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Quoted:
some realy good ideas posted above and will use some of them next time i'm out..... i have used the Esbit cooker for the last 28 years or so,and as stated above the little stove is really only good for HEATING somthing to drink or warm a can/pouch meal and realy not to cook a three course meal....also thier are two types of solid fuel cookers being sold out thier and one is not equal to the other...the first one is the origanl Esbit cooker and fuel which is made in Germany (older ones say made in West Germany) made of quality steel has the word Esbit stamped on it and can be folded in THREE positions to suit the container you wish to heat....the next one is/was made in East Germany and is a sturdy item but not the same quality as the above cooker...the East German cooker does not say Esbit any where on the cooker and has only TWO positions fully open and closed as it was made for the wide base of the East German messkit only,the cooker sometimes comes with it's Eastgerman made solid fuel stored inside ....you can TRY to fold the East German cooker to support a smaller base container like a U.S. canteen cup but because it was not made to do that one side or the other may collapes and dump the contents of your container...that being said get the real Esbit cooker and you wo'nt suffer from equipment failure...vince g. 11b inf.. Have never run into an East German Esbit, good to know about the potential problems. Just checked my Esbits to be sure. Have several from a buy 10 for $10 deal (gave some to friends), all are Esbit. Not planning to buy more, but if another good deal pops up, I'll know what to look for now. +1 
stasiman |
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These things date back to at least the 1930's & were common issue to WW2 German forces - every Wehrmacht soldier had one in his kit
We were issued similar (but slightky larger) British version in the military here. Mine was OK, but only just...took a long time to heat anything AND we were given serious warnings NEVER USE IN CONFINED SPACES AS THE FUMES ARE DANGEROUS - not from a major health risk aspect, more a pink elephants & flying pigs angle - so we could never use them inside tents/bivvi's or the back cabs of Land Rovers or 4-tonners Most folk either bought their own small gell stoves or a couple of people got together to get a Coleman unit They do the job at a push though & have been in use a long time now, so long may they still be around |
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Quoted:
I remember my dad having one of these goofy little stoves in the 70s. I picked one up cheap with some fuel. Anyone use one? How long does it take to boil water? these stoves are the little darling of the backpacking community. they fill the same niche as the alcohol stoves without the concern of leaking fuel or the added weight of a fuel container. the tablets have an indefinite shelf life. so the stove is great to leave long term in a bob. they will not leak in the bag. they are not explosive. backpackers mostly use the esbit stoves to boil water to add to dehydrated food. they must be used with common sense though. you are not going to be cooking more than simple frying or boiling water. for true cooking look to a white gas stove. like all camping stoves (including the white gas stoves) they require the use of a wind screen and the pot must have a lid. the pot also needs to be sized to the stove. too narrow and heat/fuel is wasted up the side, and you won't get your water to boil or will use way more fuel than necessary. i can boil 3 cups of 60 degree water in about 6 minutes easily. the tabs last about 13 minutes. so i use 1/2 tab for 3 cups of boiling water. to save them for future reuse blow them out like a birthday candle. most dehydrated food packs require 2 cups of water, so one tablet gives you hot water breakfast and dinner including coffee/tea and hot chocolate. my set up is a gsi teapot that holds up to a liter/quart. the teapot comes with a lid. the base is 5 1/2 inches across i have found this to be the perfect diameter for the esbit (or alcohol) stove. to make a wind screen you can use al foil, or as i have done, al flashing from home depot. when the stove is fully open in the H position measure the side gaps, cut a piece of flashing to fit the gaps +3/4 inch (in height). fold over the long edge, using up the extra 3/4 inch. interlock this on the sides of the stove and you have a relatively flat wind screen. do this twice and you have one for each side. then trace the base of the stove and cut a reflector for the bottom. now you wont scar the table surface and will reflect the heat up to the pot increasing your efficiency. |