Thoughts on the Swedish mess kit

Ludwig

Ludwig

Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
1,877
Hey fellas,

I just ordered a Swedish mess kit with the alcohol stove. They look like tough kits, but they run on the heavy side. Anyway, I was wondering if you guys had any thoughts, experience, etc. with the kit.

I also picked up a Brunton backpacking stove with the folding arms and isobutane canisters. I'm going to try to find a way to pair this with the mess kit for greater efficiency. I'll let you guys know how it works out.

Let me know what you think.

Ludwig
 
I wanted to try one of these Swedish kits out but everywhere sold them by the dozen it seemed and I only wanted one.

I am looking forward to hearing how your test goes.
 
I have one. The huge oval aluminum or stainless mess tin is big and heavy. Will cook lots of stuff and never wear out. The brass burner is, I'd say, 50% bigger than the commercial Trangia version. To simmer, take a hint from the Trangia burner; physically choke down on the burner aperture diameter[ with a piece of tin foil]. If you can get it to simmer, you'll be much happier.

People burn denatured ethanol available in any hardware store paint department. I like this stuff. Depending on which table of kiloJoules/kg you look at (energy density) it typically is said to have more energy than methanol. Ethyl alcohol has a bit of denaturant added (often methanol) so that a liquor tax doesn't have to be levied.

Methanol is so-called "wood alcohol". The easiest source for this stuff is yellow bottle HEET, in the automotive department, sold as a gas line de-icer. This stuff is great and burned a little more violently than ethanol, and so helps out in truly cold weather. BUT, I think methanol is chemically nasty stuff which can go right through your skin and into your poor suffering body. Here, it does a few physiological whoop-de-whoops and turns into, um, formaldehyde in your liver(?). Doesn't sound like good stuff to handle.

These two fuels burn very cleanly, but due to the handling dangers of methanol (yellow bottle HEET), I have gone to denatured alcohol (ethanol) from the paint store.

Isopropyl is an annoyingly dirty burning rubbing alcohol, only to be used in emergencies. The instant coat of soot it deposits on your pots transfers effortlessly to your clothese! Wonderful.


Hey, try out the stove and let us know what's up.
 
Ludwig said:
Hey fellas,

I just ordered a Swedish mess kit with the alcohol stove. They look like tough kits, but they run on the heavy side. Anyway, I was wondering if you guys had any thoughts, experience, etc. with the kit.
Click to expand...

I dont have the stove part, but Ive been using the mess kit for years. Its actually almost identical to the one used in the Finnish Army, which I have a lot of experience with. If Id use the stove, Id propably replace the actual stove part with a lighter one, like one of those "beer can stoves".

Nowadays I actually only carry the top part. The lower part is inconveniantly big for one person, and its hard to eat from. The top part is ok for cooking on an open fire or on a camp stove, and I use it as a plate and a mug too. Actually, its pretty much the only dish I use in the woods. After a few times cooking on an open fire the outside of the mess kit is permanently black, but I dont mind. It just means that it must be kept on a plastic bag, otherwise it would certainly stain the clothes in my backpack.

One great thing about the top part is the locking mechanism, that can be folded out and used as a handle. The two little "ring" parts can be folded out too, if I need to make an even longer handle from wood (very usefull when cooking on fire).

Excellent piece if equipment :thumbup:


Edit: Yay, I found I pic:

pakinkansi.JPG

... the top part of the mess kit, a green spork, a beer can stove, a frame folded from thick steel wire, and a wind screen folded from heavy duty aluminium foil. And, of course, some instant noodles! Yum yum! :D
 
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i got the whole kit wind screen,pot,pan,tragia burner,an feul bottle jus add one spork an you are set,i think its awsome got it on ebay,good deal,i like to use everclear to burn,cause its drinkable ,for cold nites.aloha
 
I have two and like them. A little heavy but that's O.K. for what it is. I have also burned everclear as fuel in the past. I have also put my svea 123 stove inside the wind screen where the alcohol burner goes. It seemed to work fine. I have also use the base as a wood burning stove and pot holder. I think it is a good piece of kit and is priced right. I also like the hook and bail on the larger pot to suspend over a fire if needed. Sometimes when deer hunting I'll carry just the small stove and some foil to brew some tea or noodles.
 
Loosearrow -

Please do be careful, friend.
If I remember correctly, when I read my SVEA stove instructions years ago - I am almost sure that they warned in print against using it with or inside of any kind of "wind screen". I believe it was in regards to beware of overheating the fuel tank. So I have always heeded that warning. I do love my Svea.
FWIW...
 
sawgrass7 said:
Loosearrow -

Please do be careful, friend.
If I remember correctly, when I read my SVEA stove instructions years ago - I am almost sure that they warned in print against using it with or inside of any kind of "wind screen". I believe it was in regards to beware of overheating the fuel tank. So I have always heeded that warning. I do love my Svea.
FWIW...
Click to expand...

Thank you for your post. I will immediately stop doing this. I never had instructions with mine. Makes sense now that you mention it. I don't want to pass on bad info. Regards.
 
Here is the problem with putting the Svea 123 inside of a windscreen:

The screen may be to close and tight fitting. This prevents air from cooling off the gasoline tank, especially with extensive frying of food. If the tank gets too hot, the pressure relief vent opens and barfs high pressure gasoline out. This cloud of gasoline vapor(?) hits the open flame, and you have just lit your "bomb", er, stove. Reportedly, it makes a spectacular fireball that engulfs your stove. If it does this inside the flammable synthetic tent with you, your short life will be very exciting.

OOPs.
 
Loosearrow - Yer most welcome, happy to help. I always enjoy reading your posts so its nice to be able to return the favor. :thumbup:

Erasmus - Thank you for the clarification. It's nice to know that I do remember some good stuff! :)
 
I bit on one of the "by the dozen" deals, and have given all but 2 away. I really like them, especially for auto emergency type use. I would caution, however, that about half of the cheapo little fuel bottles leaked or the top cracked, so toss them and just use a HEET bottle or something similar.

Doc
 
I have three of the kits; two stainless steel and one aluminum. They are handy as anything, but a bit heavy. They used to be available dirt cheap. It seems the supply has dried up and prices rose a bit... about $20 plus shipping these days, I think.


Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
sawgrass7 said:
Loosearrow - Yer most welcome, happy to help. I always enjoy reading your posts so its nice to be able to return the favor. :thumbup:

Erasmus - Thank you for the clarification. It's nice to know that I do remember some good stuff! :)
Click to expand...

The friendship and shared knowledge is most appreciated.
 
Thanks to everyone for the input.

The kit hasn't arrived yet. I was really hoping to get it yesterday so I could give it a test run this morning on my hike, but it'll be a bit before I can try it out with July 4th coming up. I'll post a review when I can and keep the info coming :thumbup:
 
When the word on these budget-priced and excellent kits got out, it seems that some folks bought them all up and now sell them on the big auction site. They used to be commonly found for dirt cheap at surplus places. No more....


Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
desmobob said:
When the word on these budget-priced and excellent kits got out, it seems that some folks bought them all up and now sell them on the big auction site. They used to be commonly found for dirt cheap at surplus places. No more....


Stay sharp,
desmobob
Click to expand...

Gracias - the quest goes on...
 
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