Reviews > Cook Gear > Stoves > Brasslite Turbo II-F > Matt Mauceri > Initial Report

Brasslite Turbo II-F
Initial Report

Biography
Name: Matt Mauceri
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Height: 5'7 (170 cm)
Weight: 140 lb (64 kg)
Email address: dirtyhippieboy(at)yahoo(dot)com
City, State, Country: Holland, Pa, USA
Date: 10/04/04

Backpacking Background: I’ve been backpacking now for ten years. I’m usually a quick escape artist who often has a pack waiting in the car for the minute I’m done work and will have a day or two off. I try to keep my pack weight to a minimum, and I’ve upgraded parts of my gear list, but I’m not yet an ultra light guy, just someone who is getting there slowly.

Product Information
Manufacturer: Brasslite
Year Manufactured: 2004
Manufacturer’s Website: http://www.brasslite.com/
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $30.00
Listed Weight: 1.4 oz (39.69 g)
Actual Weight Measured: 1.5 oz (42.52 g)
Listed Height: 2.25 in (57 mm)
Actual Height Measured: 2.25 in (57 mm)
Listed Diameter of Chamber and Stand: 2.4 in (60 mm)
Actual Diameter of Chamber and Stand Measured: 2.4 in (60 mm)
Listed Diameter of Pre-Heat Pan: 3.0 in (75 mm) 
Actual Diameter of Pre-Heat Pan Measured: 3.0 in (75 mm)

I received my Brasslite Turbo II-F via US Postal Service on September 24th, 2004. It came in a small cardboard box, which weighed very little. Inside the box was another small box with the Brasslite logo sticker on it that contained the Turbo II-F. The stove was neatly packaged in bubble wrap inside of the box and included a piece of paper with instructions for the stove and a suggested way of building a windscreen. It also included warranty and maintenance information. Also included in the package was an 8 oz (237 ml) fuel bottle. According to the Brasslite website this bottle is not included with the purchase of the stove, but it is sold by Brasslite for $5.00. The stove required no assembly, but on the instruction sheet there are directions for constructing a windscreen which is necessary to operate the stove outside of a protected area.

Product Description
After viewing the Brasslite website, the Turbo II-F is what I expected it to be. The Turbo II-F is an alcohol fueled stove, which runs off of either denatured alcohol or methanol. The stove has essentially four parts to it. The base of the stove is a pre-heating primer pan, which is crimped and bent up to form a dish that will hold fuel. During use in cold weather fuel is poured into this pan in addition to the fuel in the chamber needed for cooking. The fuel in the pan helps to maintain the heat of the stove during operation. The chamber is an open cylinder that sits on top of the pre-heat primer pan and has 6 small vent holes on the sides about 2/3 of the way up, and a larger hole on the top. The chamber will hold up to 1 oz (29.57 ml) of fuel. This model of Brasslite stove features the ability to control the flame and simmer. This is done by way of a sleeve that slides to cover the 6 holes on the side of the stove. With the holes covered the stove does not burn as hot and allows for a simmer temperature, when the holes are open the stove burns at full heat. The sleeve has a short tab which sticks out of one side to allow it to be adjusted while in operation. The last part of the stove is a metal cage two grids tall that sits on top of the chamber. This cage is the pot support, and allows the pot to stay the proper distance from the stove for optimal performance. The Brasslite Turbo II-F stove constructed with brass for all parts except the pot stand, which is made from stainless steel wire cloth. There are no screws or rivets used in the construction, all parts are held together by silver jewelers solder, or by tightly pressed bends and seams in the case of the simmer sleeve. 

Initial Impressions
The stove seems to be of sturdy construction, which was a concern I had with the weight of the material. With proper storage techniques to protect the stove in transit, I don’t see durability ever becoming a problem. The sleeve fit seems a little tight and requires a little bit of force to get it to move to cover and uncover the ports. The instructions tell how the stove is too lightweight to easily adjust the simmer sleeve while cooking. They suggest holding the handle to my pot and sliding the sleeve using a metal utensil. During my initial tests I found using my multi-tool pliers to be more effective than using my spoon. The spoon seemed to push the stove around to much. The instructions suggest a way of loosening the sleeve by placing a butter knife between the stove and the sleeve and prying outward which should loosen the fit of the sleeve. I’ll try this if simmering becomes a problem on the field tests. I tested the stove using denatured alcohol as the fuel type. The alcohol is poured into the top opening and a little is splashed onto the top surface to make igniting easier. Then a match or lighter is touched to the top and the stove is lit. 
Because the stove is not pressurized in any way, it seems to be very effected by any wind current at all. The stove is easily blown out, and the slightest breeze shifts the flame around so it is not concentrated on the pot. Instructions for creating a windscreen out of aluminum foil are included. For my initial tests I stayed inside my garage to see how well the stove performed without any outside forces affecting the outcome. The windscreen was easy to make following the directions, and I left it slightly open to be able to closely watch the flame. I used it even though I had no wind to deflect because I think the windscreen helps retain some heat and makes the stove more efficient. The recommended pot diameter is less than 5 in (12.70 cm) with a 33.81 fl oz (1 L) capacity. For the initial tests I used two pots one measuring 4.5 in (11.43 cm), and the other measuring 6.5 in (16.51 cm). I wanted to see how a larger pot would affect fuel efficiency. I performed two tests for each pot. The first test using .75oz (22.18 ml) of fuel, which is the amount the instructions say is required to bring 16 oz (473 ml) of water to a boil. The second test I used 1 oz (29.57 ml) of fuel, the maximum capacity of the stove.

4.5 in (11.43 cm) Pot

6.5 in (16.51 cm) Pot

The smaller pot showed a better fuel efficiency based upon the shorter boil times and the longer total burn time. It was also a lot more stable than the larger pot, which is a better reason for using it. For most of the time I’ll be using this stove I’ll be hiking solo, so I won’t have a need for a larger pot. Also on the instruction sheet Brasslite lists 1 oz (29.57 ml) of fuel as the required amount for boiling 24 oz (710 ml) of water, so the need for a larger pot is limited by the fuel capacity of the stove.
My initial impressions of this stove are very favorable, I can’t wait to get outside and really put this to the test. I like the sturdy construction I’ve seen so far, and the weight of this stove with fuel is very appealing to me. 

Test Plan
How durable is the stove? Will my initial impressions of strength hold up over time? 
How much burn time can I get using the simmer sleeve? Will it finally allow me to make pancakes without burning them with too much heat?
Will the simmer sleeve loosen up with time, or will I have to adjust it using the suggested methods?
Of the two recommended fuels (methanol and denatured alcohol) does one burn better than the other in the stove?
How well does the constructed windscreen work. On a windy day or location is it still going to be a battle to get cooking?
How much does elevation affect the boil times of the stove? If it does take a lot longer to boil at higher elevations, does the stoves 1 oz (30 ml) capacity hold enough fuel to facilitate this? 
Is the cold weather priming this stove easy to do or is this something that will require a lot of use to perfect? 
Brasslite recommends the use of an insulator to set the stove on top of in cold weather. Will following their recommendations let me use this stove on all my upcoming winter trips?
The cleaning and maintenance of Brasslite stoves is reported on the website and in the instructions to be easy, does cleaning really prove to be so simple?

Testing Conditions
This upcoming weekend I’ll be headed up to the Pinchot Trail System on the Pocono Plateau in Pennsylvania. The weather is still pretty mild, and the wooded terrain will offer good wind protection, but I’m still looking forward to getting out and trying this stove. In the next two months I have several Appalachian Trail overnights planned in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The areas I’ll be headed are all ridgeline hiking and are going to offer great tests for how this stove can perform in cooler temperatures and in windy conditions. During the early spring I am planning a trip out west, to canyon or desert country. The availability to easily find alcohol will be a huge factor in bringing this stove along on that trip, since finding stove fuel can sometimes be a real challenge when traveling to a new area.

Reviews > Cook Gear > Stoves > Brasslite Turbo II-F > Matt Mauceri > Initial Report