Which stoves can you cook upon in a pinch

I have a Colman propane camp stove to cook on when we don't have any power. Good when the coal stove is not needed for heat. And easier to light.

AA130FIREMAN wrote:

VigIIPeaBurner wrote:
Around this neck of NJ, we ain't talking about no measly 16 hours of no power! That's a walk in the woods with Sandy dropping them like flies.

How often does that happen ? And you don't already have an AHS waiting to go to work. Yes their is gas line carb maintenance on gas models, but how long does stove pipe last when their is no heat in the pipe to stop rust, last time I looked stove pipe wasn't cheap either. Why run the gen set all the time, save fuel, if it's cold outside, food will last outdoors.

I hear you! The storm have been knocking out poles,transformers and trees each time. The bulk of the outage has been in the last two years. Just under 12 days last year (2 occurrences) and 13 days as of now ( also two). One storm stresses even more of the system but I'd assume that they're ending up upgrading the old stuff by necessity rather than by plan. I've lived in this local for 34 years and never lost power for more than 14 hrs. and I could count how many outages on one hand if I could remember them. The last two year's outages have been very memorable. Here's the count from the Newark Star-Ledger(NJ's major newspaper), Wednesday November 14, 2012 edition:

• Utility poles lost: 2011=2,034 vs. 2012 =5,606
• Trees lost: 2011 = 25,282 vs. 2012 = 113,000
• Transformers: 2011 = 1,529 vs. 2012 = 2,205
• Today's Newark Star-Ledger front page list nearly 72,000 "battered homes and business in New Jersey alone."

I did try to think this thru before I made my choices for the install. It needed to be robust yet practical and fit my wife's approval since it sits prominently in a big room. My stove pipe is all stainless double walled to the stainless chimney. The entire set up is on the first floor and away from any dampness. It's not lack of heat that allows acid to corrode pipe but moisture. I know the bad rap SS receives here but my system stays dry and so far after ~12 years in use, no degradation is showing. No AHS here although there is a dealer about 7 miles away. I do have an older Keystoker Koker waiting to get lined in but that's another thread

I don't know why people run their genny 24x7. I guess they're afraid of not having electricity and are willing to pay for the luxury 24x7. I do put some things out side to take advantage of the cold but at this time of year, the black bears are fattening up for their big sleep. Yes, we have a lot of black bear in these parts. I can't keep the garbage outside for long let alone full coolers.

I have thought this thru and, given the last two years experiences, I could use a stand by genny. I have the coal stove in place to cook on, heat with and clean up with (boil water and micron filter to 0.2 microns if necessary). I could use the convienence of a genny but what fuel to power it with. I have an oil tank in the basement I could use to fuel the diesel tractor and run a PTO genny or I could go stand-alone propane. Decisions, decisions

VigIIPeaBurner wrote:I have an oil tank in the basement I could use to fuel the diesel tractor and run a PTO genny or I could go stand-alone propane. Decisions, decisions

I little off topic from Larry's thread,but with the new gasoline and now with the new bio-diesel/fuel oil how long can you store that "bio-crap".That's why I'm going with a propane fueled generator.

A utility worker told me [you punch me in the face, it hurts for a little, hit me in the wallet ,it hurts a long time] He was refering to people calling the state utility comission about the outages. People did last year so the utility co. was on the ball here in my neck of the woods to restore power, so they don't get fined by the state $$$

VigIIPeaBurner wrote: I could use the convienence of a genny but what fuel to power it with. I have an oil tank in the basement I could use to fuel the diesel tractor and run a PTO genny or I could go stand-alone propane. Decisions, decisions

Once everything gets back to somewhat normal, check your local pawn shops.

There are plenty of people who think it will "never happen again" looking to offload the overpriced generator they bought two days before the storm.

I bought mine years before I needed it at a local pawn shop for $175. It's a 5k Generac with a 10hp Tecumseh engine. When we lost power during Irene, I back fed the dryer outlet and powered up my whole house.

When I got my power back in a few hours, I brought it up to my in laws and they powered their house for a week before they got electric back.

And I think someone here posed a link for a multi fuel carb so it will work with gas, propane, or NG. The carb is almost what I paid for the generator but it will increase the value of it by much more than that.

If I ever get a still up and running I'll have enough fuel to run the generator - just need to jet UP with that stuff - that'll take some trial & error as I'm sure there aren't many jet options for a generator that stays in one spot. Won't get more than a few hours out of a tank either. Alcohol makes a better drink than fuel.

If you turn the blower off on the Mark series, you can get them hot enough to cook on ... but you REALLY have to crank it up BIG time. Would be much more effective cooking in the ash pan after a reload, or directly in the firebox like Lisa mentioned.

Try a Coal Chubby. Nice flat top!