Stove & Fuel

[Winklebury]

I have just inherited a small sum, and have beefed up my cooking prepps.

I now have:

2 x Primus Omnifuel - Burns most things
1 x Trangia 25 - Meths (gas converter, and Multifuel converter available)
1 x Jet Boil Flash - Gas canister (great camping etc)
1 x Optimus Crux - Gas canister (great camping etc)
1 x Irom Griddle (from Ray Mears) - Wood (never ending supply!)

To fuel these, I have the following fuels:

Primus Power Fuel (benzene) - 2 x 10 litre Jerry Cans
Meths - 2 x 10 litre Jerry Cans
Gas Cans - 10 x 230gram Primus Cans
- 6 x 110gram Primus Cans
Axe - lots of trees!

The law, as I understand it, limits people to have 20 litres in the home. That is petrol fuel, so I hope this does not include Meths (would appreciate anyone with an insight on this).

How does this compare to others? Without a garage, I really don't want to exceed this, but ideally would lay in 100 litres or more.

I have also purchased a converter, so I can remove the brass inner from an omnifuel stove, and put it into the centre of the trangia, which increases the efficiency of the omnifuel (due to the windsheidl and close fitting pans etc.)

Does anyone have any ideas about I could improve this, without without having lots of fuel in excess?

Has anyone considered getting a group of preppers together and renting a garage together, and having a stockpile, with group plans?

[matthopkins]

Thats a very impressive amount of gear you have right there

If i have read this right you have it indoors? If i have thats 40lts of fuel in your living space. Is that a wise idea?

A few things you may want to consider.
Fire risk.
Having that in your living space will void your home insurance.
Your landlord (if you rent) may not wish to extend your lease.

Not knowing your situation and not judging you in any way, worried maybe but not judging you; is there anyway you could store the fuel outside in maybe an underground stash?

If ive read this wrong sorry for a wasted post

Those meths trangias are a great stove, i use one when fishing, shooting and just out walking my dogs.

[Winklebury]

Hi,

Yes, I am afraid they are in a wardrobe. However, they would be the first thing to leave the flat with me. I have a large window (4 x 4 feet) which is on the ground floor, so can jump out no problem.

Eventually I will have full 20litre jerry cans in a brick built lockable box emplacement in a garage, with shingle and sand as the foot bed (soft and drainable), but as I am only renting, this will have to wait.

The jerry cans are brand new, solid and an improvement on the plastic bottles that the fuel came in.

Until I move or rent a garage, there is no where else for them. I do have three fire extinguishers, and diont use or play with this in the house. Knowing the risks, I would still rather have this.

My landlord may not approve, but there is a certain level on anonymity here, so I think that he will not mind.

Insurance! I wish! I don't have home contents ins, so this isn't a risk.

It is a big risk having it in the flat I suppose, now you say that, I feel like it is something I should have thought more about, but I simply do not have anywhere else for it, and I sure it is a wise commodity... Hmm. Suggestions? (Please be nice, I don't need a telling off lol)

[FEISTY]

Hi,

Yes, I am afraid they are in a wardrobe. However, they would be the first thing to leave the flat with me. I have a large window (4 x 4 feet) which is on the ground floor, so can jump out no problem.

Eventually I will have full 20litre jerry cans in a brick built lockable box emplacement in a garage, with shingle and sand as the foot bed (soft and drainable), but as I am only renting, this will have to wait.

The jerry cans are brand new, solid and an improvement on the plastic bottles that the fuel came in.

Until I move or rent a garage, there is no where else for them. I do have three fire extinguishers, and diont use or play with this in the house. Knowing the risks, I would still rather have this.

My landlord may not approve, but there is a certain level on anonymity here, so I think that he will not mind.

Insurance! I wish! I don't have home contents ins, so this isn't a risk.

It is a big risk having it in the flat I suppose, now you say that, I feel like it is something I should have thought more about, but I simply do not have anywhere else for it, and I sure it is a wise commodity... Hmm. Suggestions? (Please be nice, I don't need a telling off lol)

Hi - don't worry, not a roasting, but I am a landlord of a small amount of rented property. Apart from the risk to you and yours having that amount of combustibles in your home and even if you may not consider your own possessions (you'd be surprised how much it would cost to replace), your landlord's buildings insurance may be invalidated and if he/she is not reimbursed for the cost of rebuilding when the whole place goes up (I'm assuming it's a flat - sorry if that's not right), the other tenants and/or owner/occupiers won't be able to rebuild either due to the shortfall. I can see you being charged with something like reckless endangerment (if you're not dead/in intensive care) or worse and I can see the landlord (and the others) taking you to court and being awarded every bean you ever make for the rest of your life. Can you find a friend to store it for you in their garage until you get somewhere suitable? So it's camping supplies - no need for them to know everything . I think it's great you're planning ahead to this extent, but the risks outweigh the benefits. Stay safe !

[Winklebury]

Thank you FEISTY, you're 100% right. Now why did I have to go and mention this!?

Right, I will seek alternative arrangements. Grh, this is a headache!

Thank you though, that was a great post.

[Devonian]

As Feisty says, do not ever store this type of fuel inside a residential property, especially a flat where you are not only endangering yourself, but also others who are unfortunate enough to share the building that you live in!

http://www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/fuel-storage

[rik_uk3]

I've a lot more than 100l of various fuels but store them in my lock up which is away from homes. Be careful with jerry cans as liquid fuels 'attract' water so even the tiniest of opening will let water in over time. I use Aspen 4T and panel wipe which both come in sealed 5l containers and I leave them unopened until needed. The Omnifuels are great stoves (have a couple myself) but you don't have to buy the often overpriced Primus brand fuels; Aspen and panel wipe burn just as clean. Wilkinson's usually sell 2 cans of tri fuel mix (propane/butane/isobutane) for £6 and its the same as the Primus gas so stock up when the stores stock them (end of March).

http://www.aspenfuel.co.uk/ Alkylate petrol is very clean and very popular with my fellow stove collectors and winter campers in Norway that I talk to.

[FEISTY]

I've a lot more than 100l of various fuels but store them in my lock up which is away from homes. Be careful with jerry cans as liquid fuels 'attract' water so even the tiniest of opening will let water in over time. I use Aspen 4T and panel wipe which both come in sealed 5l containers and I leave them unopened until needed. The Omnifuels are great stoves (have a couple myself) but you don't have to buy the often overpriced Primus brand fuels; Aspen and panel wipe burn just as clean. Wilkinson's usually sell 2 cans of tri fuel mix (propane/butane/isobutane) for £6 and its the same as the Primus gas so stock up when the stores stock them (end of March).

http://www.aspenfuel.co.uk/ Alkylate petrol is very clean and very popular with my fellow stove collectors and winter campers in Norway that I talk to.

Brilliant! This is exactly what I need to know too.