Frustrated with my Coleman camp stove (again)

[kingstrider]

I've been smelting on the cheap using an old Coleman 425 camp stove. Last fall it stopped working correctly due to carbon buildup on the generator. Well I'm in dental school and on spring break this week so changed the generator over the weekend and melted down some WW yesterday without a problem. I woke early this morning and figured I'd melt some more and wouldn't you know its already acting up again. I'm using new filtered Coleman brand fuel and am really wanting a propane burner but the funds just won't allow it right now. I guess I'll have at it with some brake cleaner later to see if I can get it up and running but am very frustrated at the moment because I only have a week off from school. Anyway thanks for letting me vent, if you have any suggestions I'm open ears.

[Willbird]

$8.95 will get you a small electric hotplate from Maomart :-).

Bill

[870TC]

I have had the same experience with my 425. I think the lead pot retains and reflects more heat back down on the generator then it was designed for, causing more carbon buildup in the generator (on the needle rod and spring). I automatically take my generator apart and clean the carbon out when I finish casting/smelting.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
I do not know about the new made in the last couple years generators but the older ones have a brass mess (fine hole screen) in the brass tube that you can remove... wire brush with a soft bronze brush to remove the carbor. Reroll on a thin screw driver and reinsert.
I would start yard sale hunting. I have bought a couple over the years (the 2 burners) and I had to pay $5 for the last one.
Mike in Peru

[Gunfixer]

My stove is an older one but I bought a replacement unit that runs the gas stove off disposible propane bottles. Also bought the hose that lets you hook up to a big bottle. About 30$ alltogether but that was 10 years ago.

[Dale53]

Bass Pro has their fish fryer on sale:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_37331____SearchResults

For that money I wouldn't fool with ANYTHING else. This is what I have been using for several years.

Dale53

[kingstrider]

My stove is an older one but I bought a replacement unit that runs the gas stove off disposible propane bottles. Also bought the hose that lets you hook up to a big bottle. About 30$ alltogether but that was 10 years ago.

You know I saw one of these while searching for .22LR ammo at Walmart (which they were incidentally out of, again). It was about $22 for the converter and another $15 for the hose. Sounds neat but for the money I'll probably invest in a turkey fryer as soon as possible.

[Baron von Trollwhack]

Although for a good, small, use anywhere, lead pot heat source, the single burner Coleman can't be beat. BvT

[exile]

Willbird, how well does the hotplate work? I am considering getting one.

exile

[rbuck351]

I have an older yard sale coleman three burner that i've been using for about 20yrs without any cleaning of anything. But I use regular unleaded gasoline for fuel and it works better than any coleman fuel I've ever seen.

[Bad Water Bill]

I think I bought my single burner around 1965 And had to rebuild it last year for the first time. Sure wish every thing was built that well.

[TDC]

If money is very tight you might want to consider a 7,000 BTU double burner propane stove now being sold by Wal-Mart. It cost $20.00. I used one a few days ago. It's about half as fast as a 10 or 12,000 BTU but it gets the job done when I run both burners with two pots. It does about 30-40 lbs every 45 minutes.

I refill small standard propane bottles from a larger 5 gal. propane tank, using an inexpensive adapter I bought from Harbor Freight for $6.95.

A slow melt may not be such a bad idea in this age of zinc weights. Works for me...

TC

[TAWILDCATT]

you can get a two /three burner from AGRI for around $15 for propane using the 20 # tank and they have the regulator and hose.:coffee:[smilie=1:

[HeavyMetal]

Start yard sailin!

Last year I got a once used turkey fryer for 5 bucks! This included the aluminum pot, nice waste basket, regulator and stand.

keeping it to try out instead of my plumbers melter which has the F-15 afterburner sound effect!

[Shiloh]

I have had the same experience with my 425. I think the lead pot retains and reflects more heat back down on the generator then it was designed for, causing more carbon buildup in the generator (on the needle rod and spring). I automatically take my generator apart and clean the carbon out when I finish casting/smelting.

Can you run the stove for a while without a pot on it to burn off the carbon??

Shiloh

[Just Duke]

I just ordered my SECOND [smilie=1: burner and it is $82.12 delivered to my door on Wednesday. I was advised here by other members to get one and it worked great. It ran so hot I had to turn it down to 30% to keep the lead temp at 625 degrees to avoid melting any zinc. These are pics of the first melter.



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/CAST11.jpg





http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/CAST12.jpg


http://www.campchef.com/catalog/item/1/10/0/SH140L/132/Maximum+Output+Single+Cooker.html

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/50%20CALIBERFORUM/CAMPCHEFBURNER.jpg

They have them at Sports Authority $74.99

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=848738

[wiersy111]

Duke how do you like that dutch oven?

What kind of thermometer is that? I am having a hard time finding an inexpensive thermometer that goes high enough.

[Just Duke]

Duke how do you like that dutch oven?

What kind of thermometer is that? I am having a hard time finding an inexpensive thermometer that goes high enough.

The thermomomet come from Brownells. The Dutch Oven work great! [smilie=w: