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Brasslite Turbo II-D Stove
Initial Report
Year 2003 Model
Reviewer
Stuart Bilby, male, stu@bwpl.co.nz Age 37, 176 cm (5'9"), 81 kg (179 lb)
Website
www.brasslite.com
The website is informative, frequently updated and reflects the fact that the Brasslite design has been developing rapidly. It has excellent photos of the stove and detailed specifications for each of the models. It also includes lots of information on the designer Aaron Rosenbloom and tracks his search for a lightweight, reliable stove. The product I received was what I expected from the website.
Price
From website: US$52
Description
The Brasslite Turbo II-D is a brass cylinder with a stainless steel mesh pot stand fixed to the top. It looks just like the photo on the web site. It is a professional version of some of the homemade aluminium drink can alcohol stoves. It has a large hole on the top where the fuel goes in and the flame comes out. The air inlets are on the outside at the base and it has a double wall that distinguishes it from its predecessor the Turbo II. The double wall combined with the simmer sleeve, which rotates to cover the air inlet holes, allows the Turbo II-D to simmer. It is a laminar flow stove in which air flows in the base, mixes with the hot fuel gases and passes out the hole at the top. The fuel is not pressurised and there is no lid to screw on.
The stove was supplied with a cunning 8 fluid ounce (237 ml) polyethylene fuel bottle that allows fuel volumes to be measured quickly and accurately. Squeezing the body of the bottle forces fuel through a small tube into a measuring chamber with volume marks up the side. The bottle is then turned upside-down and the fuel poured into the stove through a tapered spout.  .
The instructions are very specific about which pots the Turbo II-D is designed for. They must be between 0.8 and 2.0 litres, and have a minimum bottom diameter of 13 cm (5 inches) to avoid the flame spilling around the outside of the pot. The smaller Brasslite Turbo I model is designed for smaller pots and for solo travel.
Weight
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| Manufacturer's Weight
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Measured Weight
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Turbo II-D
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74 g (2.6 oz) |
78 g (2.8 oz)
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Fuel bottle
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43 g (1.5 oz)
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42 g (1.5 oz)
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One of the main selling points of the Brasslite stoves is their light weight compared to almost all other commercial stoves.
Windscreen
The windscreen is not supplied with the stove but it "will dramatically improve performance and efficiency". The documentation includes instructions to make your own circular reflector to place under the stove and a wraparound windscreen of aluminium foil. I found the instructions clear and the windscreen easy to make. It is only 7.0 cm (2.75 inches) tall, which is the same height as the stove (to the top of the pot stand) and does not provide any shielding for the sides of the pot.
Set Up
One of the great features of the Brasslite is how easy it is to set up. No pumping, assembly or even priming on most occasions. It has no pumps, valves or switches. The only moving part is the simmer sleeve which slides around to cover the air inlet holes - and this only needs to be adjusted for simmering. There is no off switch. You simply wait for the fuel to run out. It is therefore important to measure the correct amount of fuel for the amount of water being boiled. The special measuring bottle makes this possible.
Documentation
The stove comes with four pages of instructions. The first is a page of dire warnings designed presumably to protect Aaron from liability. I hope it works.
There are instructions to make your own windscreen, reflector and pot cosy. Also included are instructions on suitable pot sizes, cold-weather use and suitable fuels.
None of the fuel names on the instructions are easily recognisable to most New Zealanders. However the methanol/ethanol mix is sold here as methylated spirits or meths and is dyed a pretty purple colour. It is available in every supermarket and petrol station. A hugely helpful list of the names for various common fuels around the world is given on the International Fuel Names website
http://members.iinet.net.au/~mbuckler/fuel/index.shtml
Testing
I will measure the boiling and simmering performance of the stove along with fuel-use in controlled conditions. I will also test its performance in a range of real-world backpacking trips around New Zealand.
Summary
The Brasslite Turbo II-D is an elegant alcohol stove that is simple to operate and very quick to set up. It simmers nicely and I look forward to testing it further.
Backpacking Background
I live in Auckland, New Zealand and have been heading into the mountains for 16 years. I am an experienced backpacker, tramper and climber and most of my trips are multi-day off-trail trips. I love long trips up the remote gorges, forests and glaciers of the South Island's west coast. Over the last two years I have converted to a lightweight style.
8 October 2003
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