Old Primus stove fans: ? re 8R
lingwood
Any other old Primus stove fans out there? Anybody have a Primus model
8R? I just bought one, complete with pressurizer pump, & it works fine
on Coleman fuel (though perhaps a bit light in the BTU dept.). No
instructions, however. Cover says "For Gasoline" on the label. Does this
mean white gas, or was this model compatible with unleaded or leaded
auto gas? My Ed.1 of "Complete Walker" doesn't say, and I've thrown out
all my old REI catalogs from 20+ yrs ago (sigh).
Happy stove-roars in the night to all Primus fans..
Dave
Garen K. Evans
I have a Primus 71, which is think must be pretty old.
Originally it was supposed to have a square tin, in which
the stove was placed; the tin acting as a wind screen.
However I don't have the square tin anymore, nor do I have
any idea of what it looked like. I haven't used it in
the field yet for that reason, however I might try to
convert a coffee can for the purpose. Mine burns Coleman
fuel without a problem - what a roarer it is!
lingwood (ling...@halcyon.com) wrote:
: Any other old Primus stove fans out there? Anybody have a Primus model
: 8R? I just bought one, complete with pressurizer pump, & it works fine
: on Coleman fuel (though perhaps a bit light in the BTU dept.). No
Garen
ga...@spartan.tamu.edu
lingwood
convoluted as that of British cars? Anybody know the history?" I second
the question, having noted the near-interchangeability of the many
Primus, Svea and Optimus models over the years.
I'm encouraged that Dave had the Optimus 800#. Does Primus still exist?
How about Svea?
Dave's manual says unleaded bas OK, but Kevin questions if European and
US unleaded gas are different? Any backpacking petroleum chemists here?
So far the votes are one yes, one no (e-mail I got), and one maybe.
Think I'll try some unleaded, light it, and stand *way* back! BTU output
should be higher.
Kevin, I agree that the packaging of the 8R makes it heavy, though the
stove itself is in same weight range as the more compact models. It
looks like an earlier design than the 71s I have (one ca. 1965).
In any case, they're fascinating little critters.
Thanks, all
Dave
S.W.
=>Dave Mann noted that, "the lineage of these Swedish stoves is nearly as
=>convoluted as that of British cars? Anybody know the history?" I second
=>the question, having noted the near-interchangeability of the many
=>Primus, Svea and Optimus models over the years.
=> I'm encouraged that Dave had the Optimus 800#. Does Primus still exist?
=>How about Svea?
Svea was just a trade mark used by Optimus. Both Optimus and Primus (now
Primus-Sievert AB) are very much alive.
Primus make butane/propane stoves, including some of the best backpacking
butane/propane stoves around. The Primus Spiderstove was rated very highly
by "Backpacker" in their special gear issue (March '96). The Primus
Titanium Stove is the lightest most efficient butane/propane stove around.
It's made of titanium and aluminum, with the regulator knob made out of
cherry wood. Something for the weight conscious with $200 to spare.....
Optimus make a number of mostly multi-fuel stoves, still including some old
time favorites like the original Svea stove (now named Optimus Nr 123R
Climber), the Nr8R Hunter, the Nr111 Hiker (the big multi-fuel-in-a-box and
the new Nr11 Explorer, a light-weight multi-fuel component stove using the
burner unit of the 111 Hiker. They also, for a short while, made a stove
called the Nr10, which was a multi-fuel stove in the small box of the Nr8R
Hunter. Unfortunately they dropped it in favor of the Nr11 Explorer.
According to an Optimus salesman that I called when I was trying to get one
of the Nr10's (after seeing a picture of it in a product folder) they might
take it up again. In the meantime the only production of the Nr10 was for
an order for that stove received from the US Army (that already use the
Nr111 Hiker).
=> Dave's manual says unleaded bas OK, but Kevin questions if European and
=>US unleaded gas are different? Any backpacking petroleum chemists here?
=>So far the votes are one yes, one no (e-mail I got), and one maybe.
=>Think I'll try some unleaded, light it, and stand *way* back! BTU output
=>should be higher.
US and European unleaded are supposed to be different. I have heard and
read claims that the European variety is "cleaner" (more refined?) and
burns better in stoves. I have used the European unleaded in a number of
stoves (including the MSR Whisperlite 600 Internationale, the Coleman Peak1
442 Feather dual-fuel and the Optimus stoves Svea, Nr 11 Explorer and Nr
111 Hiker) with excellent results.
=> Kevin, I agree that the packaging of the 8R makes it heavy, though the
=>stove itself is in same weight range as the more compact models. It
=>looks like an earlier design than the 71s I have (one ca. 1965).
=> In any case, they're fascinating little critters.
The more you use them the more you like them. They're like Jeeps, ruggedly
built and last forever.
--
S.Wendel
wen...@algonet.se
wen...@kuai.se
http://www.kuai.se/~wendel/
SA...@smiths.mayo.edu
>Primus make butane/propane stoves, including some of the best backpacking
>butane/propane stoves around. The Primus Spiderstove was rated very highly
>by "Backpacker" in their special gear issue (March '96). The Primus
>Titanium Stove is the lightest most efficient butane/propane stove around.
>It's made of titanium and aluminum, with the regulator knob made out of
>cherry wood. Something for the weight conscious with $200 to spare.....
>
>
>The more you use them the more you like them. They're like Jeeps, ruggedly
>built and last forever.
>
his successful ascent of Mt. Everest. A story I find interesting is
the one where the first attempt to balloon over the north
pole ended in disaster, but thirty years later when the final
campsite was found, the Primus stove they were carrying
still had kerosene in it and still worked.
I have two Primus stoves, the Spider and I recently bought the
new Primus 3273 Titanium, both are great stoves. The new
Titanium is fantastic, I can't believe how lite this thing is (3.5 oz).
Goes from blast furnace to simmer by simply turning it's finely
crafted cherry control knob. But I will have to say $200 won't
touch it, it's closer to $250, if you can get it. This stove is
definitely not for everyone, but if you are a weight shaving
freak (like me) it's worth a look.
Sandy
**The opinions expressed are those of a mad scientist
**backpacker and in noway reflect the opinions of the
**other mad scientists who work here.
John P. Kiljan
writes:
> I have a Primus 71, which is think must be pretty old.
> Originally it was supposed to have a square tin, in which
> the stove was placed; the tin acting as a wind screen.
> However I don't have the square tin anymore, nor do I have
> any idea of what it looked like. I haven't used it in
> the field yet for that reason, however I might try to
> convert a coffee can for the purpose. Mine burns Coleman
> fuel without a problem - what a roarer it is!
>
> ga...@spartan.tamu.edu
Garen,
You can use a standard 13 ounce coffee can, but be sure to cut lots of
holes in it so the tank does not overheat and the flame hits the bottom
of the pot in the right way. I think a better solution is to make a
free-standing wire frame from very stiff wire rod. Make it about 3-1/2
inches square a the top and 5-3/4 inches tall, strong enough to hold
the heaviest pot you will use and open on at least one side side so you
can slide the stove in after it is lit. Then make a windscreen from
the smallest standard size of aluminum foil you can buy at a food
store. Lay it out so that it is 2-1/2 feet long and then keep folding
over so that you have four or five layers before you have used up the
entire roll. Run a small tight fold or two along the long edge to hold
it all together.
I used wire from an old tomato cage for my Optimus 80 and with the foil
windscreen, it worked as good as (or better than) the original tin can
which had rusted. I also own a Primus 71L with a box that is still in
pretty good shape. The stoves are identical.
-- John Kiljan jpki...@ix.netcom.com
Rawdomg
I am a "backpacking petroleum chemist". Here's the scoop on stove gas:
Coleman fuel is functionally equivalent to "white gas" and the two may be
used interchangeably. Do NOT, under any circumstances, use LEADED
gasoline in ANY stove, even if it designed for gasoline. Use only
unleaded gasoline (any octane grade) to avoid toxic lead fumes.
Avoid using gasoline in a stove not specifically designed for gasoline.
In emergencies it will be OK, but expect some gumming and eventual
fouling.
Mike
cha...@sunlink.net
Like Wow Man,
Bought an 8R in 1973. Have used it ever since and never a problem. I
hope it never breaks. Good Luck With Yours!!
Lenherr
Does anyone know where I can get a nozzle and cleaning needle for the
Primus 8R.
Thanks
Kenny
len...@cais.com
John P. Kiljan
In <Pine.BSI.3.91.960703...@cais2.cais.com> Lenherr
When I checked with my local Denver REI, I was amazed at the variety of
parts they carried for Optimus stoves. I am guessing that parts
availability varies from store to store. Failing that, I would try A+H
Enterprises (ask for Clayton Abbot if no one knows what you are talking
about) at 714-739-1788.
-- John Kiljan
GEORGE W. GAMBILL
Bought a no.71 (in tin box) in the late 60's or early 70's.
Still in tack and still works great. Primus seems to make good stuff.
--
I find that most people fall into one of two groups. Those that are
quick to tell you that it can't be done, and those who are quick to
try to make it work. When all is said and done, I hope to be counted
in the second group. - George