I had several questions about using an inverted canister stove.

1. Do you need to light the stove with the canister upright and then turn it upside down once it gets going?

2. I read that you should invert the canister at a very low setting (low flame). I'm assuming this is very important?!

3. If you have the option to invert the canister would it be wise to always to invert it, no matter the season? That way you use all the fuel.

4. I am leaning toward the Primus Express Spider. Would you consider this a all around quality stove?

5. Last question. Does the connection to the canister on the Primus Express Spider rotate freely? As in, does it swivel when you invert the canister?

Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks.

I have a Snow Peak stove that allows the canister to be inverted. I light it with the canister upright, so it can warm the vaporization tube for a minute or so, then slowly, at low power, invert the canister. (Note that the SP directions specifically prohibit this, presumably for liability reasons.) There is some spitting and flaring when the canister is inverted.

I don't carry this stove in warm weather -- it's pretty heavy and thus only for very cold weather use. But I would not bother to invert the canister in warm weather, since you will use all the fuel anyway.

+1 on Ken's answer.

And, don't do this inside a tent!

Hi Angelo

> 1. Do you need to light the stove with the canister upright and then
> turn it upside down once it gets going?
You do not have to do it that way, but that method does avoid any chance of a small flare-up.

> 2. I read that you should invert the canister at a very low setting (low flame).
> I'm assuming this is very important?!
Well, what you are trying to do is to keep the pre-heat tube warm. A low flame means the liquid fuel hits the pre-heat tube slowly.
And yes, I do this (carefully) inside my tent, especially if there is a storm outside. I prefer to be warm and dry, thank you.

> 3. If you have the option to invert the canister would it be wise to always to
> invert it, no matter the season? That way you use all the fuel.
You don't have to if the ambient is above (say) 5 C. Below that it makes sense to invert the canister as doing so means the fuel composition stays approximately constant to the end. See our current Cold Canisters article for techie info.

> 4. I am leaning toward the Primus Express Spider. Would you consider this
> a all around quality stove?
Yep. Not the lightest, but reliable and well-made.

> 5. Does the connection to the canister on the Primus Express Spider rotate
> freely? As in, does it swivel when you invert the canister?
From memory, yes. I think all Primus hoses have this feature now.

Cheers

Edited by rcaffin on 10/28/2010 23:37:33 MDT.

I bought one for winter trips :

- my BPL 1.1 pot is a bit narrow for it, now that we hike with our son i am thinking about buying the evernew 1.3l pot ( would be easier for snow melting too).
- yes the connection rotate, but as my pot isnt stable i need to be careful when i rotate the canister, i hold the connecting tube near the canister when i turn it
( lesson learned after spilling my pot when not being careful )
- i used it mostly in my shelter ( kifaru paratipi or MSR twin sisters so floorless), but i have a small titanium foil screen that i wrap around the base of the stove.

will post a photo when i get home this week end.

Edited by Fre49 on 10/29/2010 01:09:03 MDT.

Hey Fred - what kind of threaded canister do you use with the Spider?
Is the CampingGaz CG1750 easily obtained in France?

Thank you so much for your responses.

Does anyone recommend a different remote canister stove? Maybe a lighter option?

the setup :





the rotating part

this particular CG 1750 camping gaz bottle isnt usual, i usualy buy primus or coleman ones.
but i buy them in sport shop, they are harder to find otherwise than camping gaz c270 for exemple.

Edited by Fre49 on 10/29/2010 07:00:14 MDT.

Thanks for the photos. It looks like a solid little stove.