Testing the Swiss Volcano Stove

Guyon

Guyon

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Along with some canteen stuff, I got one of these Swiss Volcano Stoves to test out. They're pretty good kit for the cash. You can pick them up right now for about $10 plus shipping. Just use Google Shopping and enter "Swiss Volcano Stove"; you'll see several vendors with them priced under a ten spot.

Anyway, it's cold as the dickens today, and I decided to make some hot chocolate with the stove. I started by laying out all the stuff. You'll note that my firewood includes that hemlock bow drill set that flopped. I really enjoyed burning it to ash. :p

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The last pic shows the stove as a nested unit. Here are the component parts spread out. You get a stove chimney, a canteen with cork, and a cup with folding handles. Just eyeballing, the canteen looks to be about a quart and the cup a pint, but I can check the volumes more precisely and report back later.

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Then, I prepped some wood using my BK-7. I shaved some of the sticks of fatwood, and then made a bunch of "chunks" of wood. "Chunks" BTW is a highly technical term used only by the most hardcore outdoor operators. :thumbup:

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I tucked a few sticks of fatwood into the chimney and then lit some fatwood shavings. Note my extra fancy fire delivery system.

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Here are a couple of pics after I fed the chimney and let it start "cooking with gas." This is just an expression as the only gas involved was some flatulence from today's lunch. Either way, it was a pretty good burn I had going.

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... continued ...

With the cold weather and my lack of a lid, I wondered how long a boil would take. However, after the cup was in place, I had some bubbles at the bottom of the cup in under four minutes. This was with really cold water that had been sitting outside.

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Before the water came to a rolling boil, I siphoned it off into some cups of hot chocolate mix for me and the boy. We enjoyed a bracing cup each while watching the fire burn down. Then, after all was said and done, we were left with a mess. Soot city.

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However, a little hot soapy water and a Brillo pad cleaned things right up. Here's the kit after clean up. I set it up so that you can see how, with the handle positioned properly, the outdoor operator can also heat the canteen directly over the stove. It's a little top heavy this way, so for this configuration, I'd recommend a tent stake or three holding the chimney to the ground.

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Like I said, it's a cool set-up for the money. The soot factor convinced me I need to get a black ditty bag for the kit (to keep the inside of my pack clean), but with that simple addition, I'm set for some Swiss Volcano action this spring.

Edited to add: To see the Swiss Volcano in action along with a Trangia alcohol stove, bump down to post 39 in this same thread. :thumbup:
 
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Seems to be one of the surplus items coming out of Switzerland right now, so get 'em while you can. Lots of vendors have 'em. If you want to know where I got mine, just shoot a PM or email my way. But like I said, Google Shopping will hook you up.

I want to figure out a better lid for the canteen. I'm not 100% confident in that cork stopper.
 
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Very nice set up, seems like a great deal.
I was looking for something similar.
 
I love those stoves. One of my gunners used to make them out of spent 105mm howitzer casings and we used them all the time when we were deployed to "unimproved" airfields.

I may have to pick up a few of these and keep them in our vehicles here at home.
 
Very cool, I'd LOVE to get one of those. But please do beware the combustible mix of flatulence and flame. Definitely a quick way to trim the Mohawk back there !
 
Glad you reviewed this. Saw this on CheaperThanDirt, though never knew if it was any good. The soot factor seems bad, though likely when the cup is in there, it seems to be somewhat contained. Though the bag makes sense.
 
what are the dimensions on that kit when it's all packed up?
would it fit in a 10x4 bottle carrier?
 
1066vik said:
what are the dimensions on that kit when it's all packed up?
would it fit in a 10x4 bottle carrier?
Click to expand...

I don't know, though I've already wondered. The height on the nested kit is 10.5", so it might fit if there's any stretch in the bottle carrier. Diameter at the widest point (where the cup nests over the stove) is about 4".

I assume you're talking about the Maxpedition bottle carrier. I also thought about the CountyComm version as a carrier. At 16" high, it could handle the stove plus some other kit as well. http://www.countycomm.com/hydrant.htm
 
cool looking little stove
thanks for the review!

I wonder if there would be such a "soot factor"
if you had not put fatwood in the stove.
I know that fatwood burns real black.
 
Guyon said:
I don't know, though I've already wondered. The height on the nested kit is 10.5", so it might fit if there's any stretch in the bottle carrier. Diameter at the widest point (where the cup nests over the stove) is about 4".

I assume you're talking about the Maxpedition bottle carrier. I also thought about the CountyComm version as a carrier. At 16" high, it could handle the stove plus some other kit as well. http://www.countycomm.com/hydrant.htm
Click to expand...
I was thinking about the maxped - they used to make a 12x5 also, but it's harder to find than an honest politician.
 
fugawee said:
cool looking little stove
thanks for the review!

I wonder if there would be such a "soot factor"
if you had not put fatwood in the stove.
I know that fatwood burns real black.
Click to expand...

Good point, fug. I'll experiment with some various fuels and see.
Tomorrow, I might try it out with just some twigs and see how they burn.


1066vik said:
I was thinking about the maxped - they used to make a 12x5 also, but it's harder to find than an honest politician.
Click to expand...

I wish I had the Maxped 10x4 so I could tell you for sure. Like I said, if there's any give or stretch, it should work. Up there at the top where the cup sits, the widest point (measured across the handle/latching bar) is 3.25". So there's a little space there where the Maxped zip top might be scrunched up. That make any sense?
 
If you coat the bottom of the cup or canteen with soap (Camp Suds, Dr. Bronner's, etc. work fine, just rub it on and let it dry) then the soot comes off much more easily, although it looks like you didn't have any problems with it.

Great review! I've been eye-balling these and might have to pull the trigger on a couple of them now. Thanks
 
I would be MORE into that stove if it was 100% Stainless steel.

that being said its pretty cool, great pics oh Master Becker Collector
 
How well does the cork work on the bottle. That is the only real deal killer for me... if this was threaded with an O ring, it would be a total no brainer.

What about some flat black grill spray paint on the cup - might keep the soot factor down somewhat. Might also help to let the stove get burning hotter / more coals before starting the boil (if goal is to keep cup cleaner).
 
Guyon said:
I wish I had the Maxped 10x4 so I could tell you for sure. Like I said, if there's any give or stretch, it should work. Up there at the top where the cup sits, the widest point (measured across the handle/latching bar) is 3.25". So there's a little space there where the Maxped zip top might be scrunched up. That make any sense?
Click to expand...

I'm going to revise my estimation back to "I don't know." I just sat a Nalgene down beside the stove, and the stove is a good bit taller (maybe 1.5"). How snug is a Nalgene in the Maxped bottle carrier? I'm starting to think the CountyComm version would be a better choice despite its height. Plus it already has the molle straps; no Tac-Ties needed.


As for the cork, it works okay. Don't forget that bottles were corked for a long time before they were threaded. Still, I'm going to figure out a better lid for this canteen. I might ease down to my local hardware store and just poke around for a while. They have a magical selection of stuff like a good, old-fashioned hardware store should.
 
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