A MUCH easier way to have an afternoon of fun: A bucket of soapy water and a garden hose from your natural gas supply. Then, obviously, you light the bouyant methane cloud as it floats away.

That is cool. I only have 3 acres but my neighbor won't mind if I shoot into his property. He's got 2 civil war cannons so this would be right up his alley.

Psssttt: You can still blog to your hearts contentment and be an adult. You just have to make time for it is all. That is what I do! I write in the morning for example, before my kids are up. And hey, the leaves will always wait for you. Or at least they will start mulching on their own ;-)

>"Got video?"

No, but here's a still:

Less crosswind and you can develop a taller methane cloud before it breaks free due to its bouyancy.

Hot water and cold air make for more bounancy.

It looks wicked at night. Time to get some snaps of that.

This is 100% natural gas. NOT pre-mixed. Fuel air explosives are a vastly under-utilized technology, but the kids and I would be wearing "eyes and ears" with pre-mixed gases. And standing a lot farther back.

No one has called the Fire Department. Yet. YMMV.

David,

You just got my vote for "world's coolest dad." lol.

HJ

Ah, the joy of not being stuck in a city... :^)

Since Jim went to all the work to cather that data, I went out and found the comparison points were I could. Two conclusions:

Home Depot doesn't charge Alaskans more than Californians. SLX alcohol $15.98/gal in either state. $6.69/quart in either state.

While Walmart charges us 12% more than you southerners. Coleman white gas gallon: $10.84 in AK, $9.68 in CA. Coleman propane/butane mix canister, 220g: $5.47 in AK, $4.88 in CA.

But I could find Camping Gaz, MSR, and Coleman canisters; SLX and green alcohol, kerosene and kerosene substitutes in our 5,000-person town (Kenai). REI in Anchorage would have a much bigger selection.

Getting further into the bush, I'd consider a stove that uses old-style 16-ounce propane-only canisters because they are the most readily available at camping, hardware and grocery stores. And are the cheapest for their fuel content.

sarbar wrote: > Psssttt: You can still blog to your hearts contentment and be an adult. You just have to make time for it is all. That is what I do! I write in the morning for example, before my kids are up. And hey, the leaves will always wait for you. Or at least they will start mulching on their own ;-)

Since Jim went to all the work to cather that data, I went out and found the comparison points were I could. Two conclusions:

Home Depot doesn't charge Alaskans more than Californians. SLX alcohol $15.98/gal in either state. $6.69/quart in either state.

While Walmart charges us 12% more than you southerners. Coleman white gas gallon: $10.84 in AK, $9.68 in CA. Coleman propane/butane mix canister, 220g: $5.47 in AK, $4.88 in CA.

But I could [not?] find Camping Gaz, MSR, and Coleman canisters; SLX and green alcohol, kerosene and kerosene substitutes in our 5,000-person town (Kenai). REI in Anchorage would have a much bigger selection.

Getting further into the bush, I'd consider a stove that uses old-style 16-ounce propane-only canisters because they are the most readily available at camping, hardware and grocery stores. And are the cheapest for their fuel content.

The Coleman 8 oz. Butane/Propane mix canisters have sold in the Walmarts hereabouts for $2.50 USD for several years ... until this winter, when the price spiked up into the $3-4 range, with no consistent pricing yet. The prices in the outdoor chains and local shops have always been much higher than the $2.50.

This canister consistently lasts me 6-7 days of trekking - no other equivalent one, MSR, Primus, etc., comes even close, whether labelled BU/PR mix or Isobutane.

It will be interesting to see where the Walmart price settles for the next camping season. Glad I have a bucket full of them that will take a season or two to use up.

Edited by scfhome on 01/04/2012 13:10:41 MST.

Wow. $2.50 is a steal of a deal for a 8oz/227g class canister.

Not sure why Coleman would last longer than other brands though. They should all be about the same. [scratches head]

HJ
Adventures in Stoving

I use to be able to get the Brunton 8 oz canisters at Sports Authority (or Chalet, can't remember which at the moment) for $3.50. I went to get some just before labor day this year and they no longer carried them. I knew I should have bought a bunch when i had the chance!

Hi, Larry,

Yeah, that was Sport Chalet. That really was a great price, but they stopped carrying Brunton. Looks like they're phasing out Snow Peak. What's up with Sport Chalet?

HJ
Adventures in Stoving

"Wow. $2.50 is a steal of a deal for a 8oz/227g class canister."

That's a steal. I was in three different stores today, and the general price for a 4-oz canister was $4.50-$4.95. For the 8-oz canisters, it was $5.95-$6.95.

--B.G.--

I was in three different stores today, and the general price for a 4-oz canister was $4.50-$4.95. For the 8-oz canisters, it was $5.95-$6.95.

Edited by hikin_jim on 01/05/2012 11:12:29 MST.