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The BushCooker is the Rolls Royce of light, portable
wood burning camp stoves. Using a science that was extensively exploited in
WWII - wood gasification. The principle is simple, as you heat wood,
it releases a gas. Combine this gas with pre-heated air and it re-ignites to
burn with an almost blue flame. This indicates that the maximum energy is
being extracted from the wood being heated and any additional gases are also
being burned off. Less smoke and more pure flame, leaving almost no ash. Measuring
110mm in diametre x 100mm high and weighing only 190 g., this very
neat and tidy little package will sit nicely inside most well known and
established cooking pots, such as the Primus Trek Kettle. The neck / collar of the stove is inverted for
storage and the central 'pocket' will allow safe keeping of a flint and
steel, some tinder, a few Esbit Tablets or tube of burning gel to be tucked
out of the way until required. As the fire basket is supported within the dual
skin, less heat escapes downwards and reduces the chances of scorching the
ground. As with any cooker, it is best placed out of the
wind when lighting and this ensuries you have the maximum heat to cook wit,h
when lit. So what is it like to use? Once you get over the thrill of the simplicity of it
all, the clever neat design and lack of weight, the desire to get outside and
have brew is almost overwhelming! Firstly it requires very little fuel to
work effectively. Two fist fulls of nice dry twigs, no thicker than a pencil
will be enough to boil 1 litre in around 8 minutes. Never use 'green wood', wood pulled from a living
tree or hedge. There's no point, it will just smoke and not burn, so there is
very little benefit from all the effort of gathering it. If you are stuck,
there are always twigs blown onto the ground in virtually any camping area,
however these will also absorb moisture, and thus may take a while to ignite.
The best twigs are those found ‘air-dried’, caught up in trees suspended
above the ground. No matter the weather they are usually dry and ready to
burn. Using a wood stove inevitably means that the pot you
use will become sooty and there's a risk of this contaminating your best bib
and tucker inside the rucksack. From experience, if you make a pot cosy for
your chosen pot, it not only allows you to 'simmer' your food without using
any fuel, but also means you can store the sooty pot inside I,t before
slipping it into your rucksack. Simple! People who have travelled in whatever style in
mainland Europe and beyond will know the fears and frustrations of taking a
gas cooker. Firstly getting past airport security, who have been known to
refuse the actual gas burner head itself, and then the heartbreak of not
having the correct thread to fit the only gas available, after having walked
through several villages to find some! Fire Safety All fuels give off noxious fumes and wood based
stoves are no different. Never use the cooker inside a tent. We would always
advise you to light any fire in a well-ventilated area, with a good
throughput of air, such as under a tarp. Remember artificial fabrics ignite
very easily, another reason to never light the stove inside a tent. Leave No Trace The burning stove will leave no marks on the ground.
The firebox within the stove will gather the fine ash left after the contents
have burned for appropriate ‘leave no trace’ disposal. Please always consider
your environment and dispose of the fine ash with appropriate and responsible
care. Warning Emmissions Weight Trek Kettle 210 g. (as part of the BushCraft Cook
Kit).
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