Has anyone out there tried making a combination windscreen and pot support for a Svea 123 stove? I’m thinking of taking a coffee can and cutting out two sides to make something along the lines of the old Sigg Tourister windscreen and pot support. (I don’t like the one that comes with the stove.) If yes, among other things, what size coffee can?
Whalen
Its been a while since I’ve seen one of these but isn’t the pot stand built into the stove? Also as I remember it the wind screen was part of the pot set, is that the Sigg Tourister you mention? If so I would think that you could easily make one out of a standard coffee can. What a great stove though. Sounds like a rocket taking off!!
Big B
The stove can be purchased separately, as mine was, without the small brass pot stand and windscreen, which I don’t like.
The Sigg Tourister was an aluminum set with a two piece base and windscreen, which was very light, had had two alumininum pots, one lid, and a pot lifter. Everything nested together. Usually you can find one on ebay for $100.00 or so (sometimes a banged up one is available for much less).
My thought is to emulate the Sigg Tourister base and windscreen with a coffee can or something else. I’m looking for ideas from other hikers who might have done it before.
The Svea is easily the most reliable and trouble free white gas stove in existence and puts out great heat. I just don’t like the combination windscreen and pot support that comes with it; and with the SiggTourister no longer in production, I’m looking make something on my own.
I need your ideas.
Whalen
There is a company now taking orders for the cookset in either aluminum or stainless. Check out this link.
http://packstoves.com/sigg%20tourist%20stove/sigg%20tourist%20stove.htm.
Not cheap, but it’ll get you a new one rather then a beat up one.
Gene Roll
Gene, thanks for the website reference for the cooksets. Why someone didn’t do this years ago, I’ll never understand.
To everyone else: Why so little feedback on this question? Is it just that you don’t use a SVEA?
Whalen
Whalen, this is an “Old School” stove and in this is a time of ultralight everything, the SVEA at 1.25 lb. is not considered light. I own two, one is the 123R and the other an original 123 without cleaning needle built in. I guess the windscreen choices will be limited if you don’t like the one that normally comes with the stove. The only time I’ve seen the stove without it was when bundled with the Tourister but, I’m sure it’s possible to get one “naked”. My guess is that a coffee can would probably make a dandy pot stand/windscreen but, will still require a pretty flat surface for stability. You might want to experiment with a possible folding type screen/pot stand. Might be worth the savings in volume if not weight. Personally, I love this stove. Never failed on me in 30 years and despite the noise (which doesn’t bother me anyway) and weight, I will continue to use it.
Carolina
Dear Carolina,
As it turns out I’v got two of the original SVEA 123’s myself–I’ve been misnaming them this post.
I agree with you on the foldup idea–something lighter, and less voluminous, than a cutup coffee can should be possible (although I wouldn’t consider the volume of a cutup coffee can troublesome).
Like you, I’m in love with, and just amazed by, the stove. The reliability is astonishing when you consider the difficulties and failures we see people have with other stoves.
Thanks for the positive entry. I know the stove is from another era and is not currently in vogue with the younger set, nor apparently even known by them. It was nice to hear from someone (yourself) who realizes the beauty and simplicity of the stove–beauty and simplicity, together, being the definition of elegance.
Whalen
Whalen
That’s funny. I have one of those too. Mine is “naked” except that it has its own coffee-can style container which opens up on top to provide a burner/pot stand and opens via a side door, in front, to provide access to the stove and provide air to feed the stove. It works very well, doesn’t roar too loudly, instead it kind of sputters, like a VW beetle. I use fire paste to start it, although most people just pour a littl white gas into the well on top of the tank, under the burner.
I use an alcohol stove now (because of the weight), one that I made from a Pepsi can, but I still like that old Svea and continue use it for other things.
WoodBadge
I had a scary experience with an additional wind screen with my venerable Svea. I basically took a sheet of roof flashing and fashioned a cylinder to fit the pot I use. It was vented top and bottom, but it still got too hot and the safety valve started venting. And I had 2 flames coming out of my stove. I don’t remember what I did besides panic. But, the stove didn’t blow up and I continue to use it. I’d be careful about adding wind screen to the Svea rig. Something a little ways away from the stove might be useful, especially in very windy places. But you don’t want to much heat reflected back building pressure inside the stove. Still my choice for reliable and hot cooking.
Jim2