coleman stoves and lanterns
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Matt_Fisher
Army.ca Veteran
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I thnk that this thread should take an 'immersion heater' turn to get the really good fireball/cinged eyebrow stories going.
;D
;D
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Norway?...Hmmm maybe its the place.
I remember being there when our Brit exchange officer went to shut off the lantern, ....well after the M/bdr had thrown it outside in flames, the exchange officer explained that relieving the pressure was the way they shut off thier lanterns.
I remember being there when our Brit exchange officer went to shut off the lantern, ....well after the M/bdr had thrown it outside in flames, the exchange officer explained that relieving the pressure was the way they shut off thier lanterns.
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Don't want to step on your toes Matt, but I had a near death experience with an immersion heater once.
I was on my QL2 in Borden during the summer of 96, I was the last sentry of the night, so besides the ultra fun duty of waking everyone up, I also had to light the immersion heaters. I got them lit and then went about getting stoves and breakfast on, then went back to check on the heaters since they had a tendency to go out (especially one of the two that we had). I looked into the burner and to no surprise it was out. Me being sleep f***ed, I thought that just tossing a match down into the burner would solve the problem. As the match hit the pool of gas at the bottom it exploded, I was thrown backwards onto my butt. I thought for sure I was dead, I saw a blinding bright light and heard this loud bang. After I realized I was alright, I set out to find the top 4ft of stove pipe that had been blown off. I found it about 10m away. I didn't singe eyebrows or anything like that, but when I went to wake the course Warrant up, I was answered with "F*** Inch, did you get the immersion heater lit or what?"
It made for some good mess banter and I learned the all important lesson: If the immersion heater goes out, don't throw a match into a 1 inch deep pool of gasoline.
Cheers
I was on my QL2 in Borden during the summer of 96, I was the last sentry of the night, so besides the ultra fun duty of waking everyone up, I also had to light the immersion heaters. I got them lit and then went about getting stoves and breakfast on, then went back to check on the heaters since they had a tendency to go out (especially one of the two that we had). I looked into the burner and to no surprise it was out. Me being sleep f***ed, I thought that just tossing a match down into the burner would solve the problem. As the match hit the pool of gas at the bottom it exploded, I was thrown backwards onto my butt. I thought for sure I was dead, I saw a blinding bright light and heard this loud bang. After I realized I was alright, I set out to find the top 4ft of stove pipe that had been blown off. I found it about 10m away. I didn't singe eyebrows or anything like that, but when I went to wake the course Warrant up, I was answered with "F*** Inch, did you get the immersion heater lit or what?"
It made for some good mess banter and I learned the all important lesson: If the immersion heater goes out, don't throw a match into a 1 inch deep pool of gasoline.
Cheers
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A couple months ago during an ex with 74 Comm Group, I was responsible for cooking IMPs for the CP people, namely really high ranking officers and NCMs. So I grabbed a stove and brought it outside, lit it, and just as I turn around to grab the pot, somehow the flame boils out of the connector where the naptha tank connects to the burner, runs down that connector, and sets the naptha tank on fire. That wasn't fun. Had to put it out by using my size 11 and kicking it over onto the wet sand.
Put it out, cooled it, tagged it, and tried the second stove. The thing nearly blows my hand off the second the match goes near the burner and a MCpl had to put it out with a jerry of grey water (yum).
Finally went to the third stove and got it working. Mind you that when I was lightin the third one, I was in the sprinter's position ready to run away.
There's a reason why I have my nickname ;D
Pte Jinxed
Put it out, cooled it, tagged it, and tried the second stove. The thing nearly blows my hand off the second the match goes near the burner and a MCpl had to put it out with a jerry of grey water (yum).
Finally went to the third stove and got it working. Mind you that when I was lightin the third one, I was in the sprinter's position ready to run away.
There's a reason why I have my nickname ;D
Pte Jinxed
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NO good stove stories, but the immersion heaters...
When I was just an skinny young newbie Trooper (buzz off Franko),
My first night picket with Recce Sqn RCD....
Went around to light the Sqn immersion heaters at 0500 hrs before going to bed for that last hour of sleep before reveille....
got outside the OC and SSM tent to light the SHQ heater....
Some left the fuel drip to the point the tank was empty.....
Keen young trooper refuels tank and procedes to light the cup to preheat the stack.....
unknown to keen young trooper about to get a no shave chit for facial burns, that the base of Immersion heater was full of gasoline....
SSM being a good man, held his laughter until the medic brought me back out to the biv....
I still haven't found that bastard who can't shut off a simple valve.
When I was just an skinny young newbie Trooper (buzz off Franko),
My first night picket with Recce Sqn RCD....
Went around to light the Sqn immersion heaters at 0500 hrs before going to bed for that last hour of sleep before reveille....
got outside the OC and SSM tent to light the SHQ heater....
Some left the fuel drip to the point the tank was empty.....
Keen young trooper refuels tank and procedes to light the cup to preheat the stack.....
unknown to keen young trooper about to get a no shave chit for facial burns, that the base of Immersion heater was full of gasoline....
SSM being a good man, held his laughter until the medic brought me back out to the biv....
I still haven't found that bastard who can't shut off a simple valve.
Matt_Fisher
Army.ca Veteran
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Ha...
It's Cougar Salvo '93 for BC Military District (Pre-39 Brigade days) at the Yakima Firing Centre in Washington State.
I'm a brand new (Sworn-in that Thursday night and on the road to Yakima on Saturday brand new) Private in the BC Dragoons and as such I get pegged for a couple days of General Duties scrubbing pots and pans for the flying kitchen.
From my vantage point over some very greasy pots I was watching a couple other recruits who were from the 15th Field launch the stovepipe of one Immersion Heater go flipping into the air with flames coming out both ends only to have a second Immersion Heater explode in the face of one of them like something out of a Warner Bros. cartoon. This guy looked down into the burner to see if it had lit, and as he was doing so, the burner had built up enough heat to vaporize the excess fuel that had dripped down and immediately caught fire resulting in a large dirty fireball come roaring up from the burner onto this guys face. Luckily he wasn't burnt other than having his eyebrows and bangs cinged, but his face was completely covered in black soot, save two very frightened eyeballs that were wide open.
It's Cougar Salvo '93 for BC Military District (Pre-39 Brigade days) at the Yakima Firing Centre in Washington State.
I'm a brand new (Sworn-in that Thursday night and on the road to Yakima on Saturday brand new) Private in the BC Dragoons and as such I get pegged for a couple days of General Duties scrubbing pots and pans for the flying kitchen.
From my vantage point over some very greasy pots I was watching a couple other recruits who were from the 15th Field launch the stovepipe of one Immersion Heater go flipping into the air with flames coming out both ends only to have a second Immersion Heater explode in the face of one of them like something out of a Warner Bros. cartoon. This guy looked down into the burner to see if it had lit, and as he was doing so, the burner had built up enough heat to vaporize the excess fuel that had dripped down and immediately caught fire resulting in a large dirty fireball come roaring up from the burner onto this guys face. Luckily he wasn't burnt other than having his eyebrows and bangs cinged, but his face was completely covered in black soot, save two very frightened eyeballs that were wide open.
R
RCEME421
Guest
Gents,
On having read this email thread and getting my fair share of chuckles, I can relate on the trials and tribulations with both the immersion heater & coleman products and have many stories myself. However being a Wpns Tech and have worked on these items for most of my career, the biggest problems I have seen is the lack of education on how these items work and people's panic factors. Alot of the time if people would think before acting, this would alleviate most of the potential accidents that happen. I know that I'm probably preaching to the choir, however keep this in mind the next time you see some young troop struggling to light one of these items and take time to show him the tricks that you have learned from other peoples mistakes.
Cheers
On having read this email thread and getting my fair share of chuckles, I can relate on the trials and tribulations with both the immersion heater & coleman products and have many stories myself. However being a Wpns Tech and have worked on these items for most of my career, the biggest problems I have seen is the lack of education on how these items work and people's panic factors. Alot of the time if people would think before acting, this would alleviate most of the potential accidents that happen. I know that I'm probably preaching to the choir, however keep this in mind the next time you see some young troop struggling to light one of these items and take time to show him the tricks that you have learned from other peoples mistakes.
Cheers
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sdimock said:
Forgive me, but this is the worst advice I've ever seen given. Take a lighter, which generates much less heat than a burning tent, and see how long it takes for the sleeping bag to melt. All you're really accomplishing is shrink wrapping your corpse so its easier to recover.
It never failed to amaze me the number of people who gave instruction on how to light an immersion heater didn't know how to safely light it themselves. Competitions on who could fire the old water scoop made out of a tomato can into the air sure did pass the time though.
Further hijacking of the thread: Yukon stoves, now that was a piece of kit to fear in the hands of an uneducated user.
W
WPN TECH
Guest
As the ones who fix them, WPN techs always have the best and the worst coleman stories. I for one have both. Like stated before they are very good pieces of kit. They have been around for ever and are proven. 90% of the problems are from missuse. I have seen lanterns with broken glass, and totaly rusted out every thing run like a brand new one. on the other hand i have seen them blow up from over pressure and people not putting the generator back on properly.
As for the stoved. They too are perfect pieces of kit. Although that are known for flaming up and catching things that are not suppose to burn on fire like loose generators, and valves. I saw one get run over by a track and even thought i was just a bout flat, it was still running nice and blue. And when we put it out, it started right back up when re-lit.
As for the stoved. They too are perfect pieces of kit. Although that are known for flaming up and catching things that are not suppose to burn on fire like loose generators, and valves. I saw one get run over by a track and even thought i was just a bout flat, it was still running nice and blue. And when we put it out, it started right back up when re-lit.
sdimock
Member
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Hi garb811,
The WO who told me this is a winter warfare instructor who over the years had been in at least 4 tents (that I was told of) that went up in flames.
He had followed the same practice each time and had not suffered any burns.
I expect that since winter is again upon us I will be seeing him within the next couple of months.
I'll ask him if he would like to respond on this board and will post the results of our conversation.
I will also check and see if it was the liner that went up or the complete tent.
Chimo
The WO who told me this is a winter warfare instructor who over the years had been in at least 4 tents (that I was told of) that went up in flames.
He had followed the same practice each time and had not suffered any burns.
I expect that since winter is again upon us I will be seeing him within the next couple of months.
I'll ask him if he would like to respond on this board and will post the results of our conversation.
I will also check and see if it was the liner that went up or the complete tent.
Chimo
Matt_Fisher
Army.ca Veteran
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I think one of the funniest stories about a Coleman stove was told to me by a Weapons Tech. with 3 PPCLI. Anyone who's been with 3PPCLI during the late 80's or early 90's and then with the LdSH (RC) during the mid-90's will know who I am talking about...really super guy but his last name is quite the oxymoron seeing as how he's an NCM, not an "Officer". 
Someone had turned in the multi-fuel version of the one burner Coleman stove with the maintenance request tag on it. Normally normally the tags had some generic problem described: "Stove Broke", "Busted", "Doesn't work", etc.
This one had a very meticulous description of the problem: "Stove runs for 1 minute and 43 seconds and then shuts off, even though the tank is full and the stove's throttle is turned on. Stove will not relight until fully cooled. Process continues as described when stove is relit and will only run for another minute and 43 seconds before process repeats."
It turns out that the stove had a small kink in the generator to the point where after running for that 1 minute and 43 seconds, the metal would expand to the point where the fuel supply would cut off and only after the metal had cooled and contracted that it would allow the fuel to flow again. He did it several times and timed it with his watch and suprisingly enough the process took 1 minute and 43 seconds each time.
He was amazed (and delighted) that someone had gone to so much detail with this to the point where they clearly had timed the process down to the second.
Someone had turned in the multi-fuel version of the one burner Coleman stove with the maintenance request tag on it. Normally normally the tags had some generic problem described: "Stove Broke", "Busted", "Doesn't work", etc.
This one had a very meticulous description of the problem: "Stove runs for 1 minute and 43 seconds and then shuts off, even though the tank is full and the stove's throttle is turned on. Stove will not relight until fully cooled. Process continues as described when stove is relit and will only run for another minute and 43 seconds before process repeats."
It turns out that the stove had a small kink in the generator to the point where after running for that 1 minute and 43 seconds, the metal would expand to the point where the fuel supply would cut off and only after the metal had cooled and contracted that it would allow the fuel to flow again. He did it several times and timed it with his watch and suprisingly enough the process took 1 minute and 43 seconds each time.
He was amazed (and delighted) that someone had gone to so much detail with this to the point where they clearly had timed the process down to the second.
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Do not allow a person to warm a one burner Peak Stove on top of a lit 2 burner Coleman. Especially when the peak has a "snow cone" of frozen Naphtha about 3 inch's tall that said soldier was trying to melt off before he could light it. And he left the peak in the on position. Someone had to sleep in the Artic without a liner in the ten man for about 9 days. And this happened on the second day on the ice.
A
aesop081
Guest
garb811 said:
Yukon stoves...........shit..don't mention those , you are making me feel old !
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Horror stories? Man, I have lived it.
However at the end of the day, if mantained, and the user knows what they are doing, they are not that mad of a thing. Just never, ever, ever fill light one in a tent ;D.
Oh, oh, my turn to pass the helmet. War story incoming.......
:warstory: Mind you, there was one thing worse, those old American emmersion heaters. We had this guy CPL J.F. Holt of the Regina Rifles, and on one ex, he flooded this thing in a very big way, and had his whole face burried in it, when he lit it, and "choof" the sectionalised smoke stack blew off, whith a thunderous bang, with a small fireball to boot, and we all came running to see if Holt was, well still with us, but like a frazzled junkyard rat he appeared, with his eye brows gone, his moustache nothing but a black scar, and the most perplexed look, I have ever seen on ones face.
He looked as if he was off some old B&W movie, with a dirty blackend face, and yes the heater choofed on and got the water warm for us to wash.
Holt was one of those types of Blokes who you could give 2 litres of antifreeze to drink, and the only outcome would have been a burp heard in downtown Saskatoon from Dundurn. Holt was unhurt, and after he left the Johns in the 90's he became a Commissionaire at the RCMP training facility in Regina. I don't know what happened to him after that. Now that was a war story that needed to be told! ;D :warstory:.
Cheers,
Wes
However at the end of the day, if mantained, and the user knows what they are doing, they are not that mad of a thing. Just never, ever, ever fill light one in a tent ;D.
Oh, oh, my turn to pass the helmet. War story incoming.......
:warstory: Mind you, there was one thing worse, those old American emmersion heaters. We had this guy CPL J.F. Holt of the Regina Rifles, and on one ex, he flooded this thing in a very big way, and had his whole face burried in it, when he lit it, and "choof" the sectionalised smoke stack blew off, whith a thunderous bang, with a small fireball to boot, and we all came running to see if Holt was, well still with us, but like a frazzled junkyard rat he appeared, with his eye brows gone, his moustache nothing but a black scar, and the most perplexed look, I have ever seen on ones face.
He looked as if he was off some old B&W movie, with a dirty blackend face, and yes the heater choofed on and got the water warm for us to wash.
Holt was one of those types of Blokes who you could give 2 litres of antifreeze to drink, and the only outcome would have been a burp heard in downtown Saskatoon from Dundurn. Holt was unhurt, and after he left the Johns in the 90's he became a Commissionaire at the RCMP training facility in Regina. I don't know what happened to him after that. Now that was a war story that needed to be told! ;D :warstory:.
Cheers,
Wes
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only to the unit down range or the guy who just must look down the holebrin11 said:
Coleman makes some good kit best beer coolers out there and in my experience a well maintained stove works great but i have 5 rules of susurvival and #1 is never turn your back on a Coleman stove!
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Not to hijack this thread,but this is kinda related.
The wife just got me the best coleman product thet ever produced besides the stove,it's an actual,honest to goodness coffee perk that is designed to be used on the stove.It's not the old kind of drip perculator,but the exact same style as the one we all have in our house.
Can't wait to try it out!
The wife just got me the best coleman product thet ever produced besides the stove,it's an actual,honest to goodness coffee perk that is designed to be used on the stove.It's not the old kind of drip perculator,but the exact same style as the one we all have in our house.
Can't wait to try it out!
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my72jeep said:
Sir
What are the other four rules?
