WolfBrother

Trangia Westwind Alcohol Stove Evaluation.

Short version:
IMNTBHO - This is a VERY GOOD BOB burner/stove. Using either Ever Clear grain alcohol or Denatured Alcohol from a paint store, it raised a quart of water from 69 degrees F to a rolling boil in 15 minutes. Packs light, small, and if using Ever Clear - you can drink the fuel.

Long Version:
Evaluation consists of Trangia alcohol burner and Westwind "stove".

Trangia burner is about 3 inches in diameter and is about 3 inches tall.

The "stove" is three flat shaped pieces of thin aluminum that hooks together to form a triangle that has a place to put the burner and put a pot on top of.

Evaluated
http://hitthetrailnewnanga.stores.yahoo.net/westwind.html

May be a better "stove" - uses the same burner
http://hitthetrailnewnanga.stores.yahoo.net/minitrangia.html

Military surplus contains Trangia burner with Swedish military messkit
http://www.omahas.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=363

Testing conditions:
1 1/2 quart covered pot, slightly wider than tall - at room temperature.
1 quart of water - temperature measured after sitting in the pot for 5 minutes. Pot was covered during heating tests except for 30 seconds every 5 minutes for temperature check.
3 oz of alcohol in trangia burner positioned in Westwind stove.
Time check - to fully vaporized flame and then
Every 5 minutes until 30 minutes or rolling boil

Tested fuel
70 % Isopropyl Alcohol - purchased at a local Walgreens
70 % Ethyl Alcohol (ETOH) - purchased at a local Walgreens
Denatured Alcohol - purchased at a local Paint store
190 proof Ever Clear - purchased at a local liquor store

Test Results

Time to heat stove before a fully vaporized flame appeared varied from 10+ minutes with the isopropyl alcohol to 8 minutes with the ETOH to less than a minute with either one of the other two.

Isopropyl Alcohol - 30 minutes - 69 degrees to 197 degrees. Significantly noticeable fume smell
ETOH - 30 minutes - 70 degrees to rolling boil. 25 minutes to 197 degrees. Significantly noticeable fume smell

Denatured Alcohol - Ever Clear - identical results. No real noticeable fume smell
5 minutes from 70 degrees to 100 degrees.
10 minutes went from 100 degrees to 150 degrees
15 minutes rolling boil.

The Westwind triangle is not a good wind break. To effectively heat/cook with the burner, you'll need to provide a wind break or a lot of heat will blow away.

Why do I think it should be in the BOB?
1. In wet or cold or wet/cold weather the ability to have a warm to hot cup of water/tea/soup/whatever could be the difference between just being miserable and dead. Plus the occasional hot drink/food is a significant moral booster.
2. It packs small and light.
3. Most any alcohol will work in it - including whiskey/vodka/rum. It takes longer to get a fully vaporized flame but as it's getting going, you can too with the same alcohol.

One "advangtage" the Everclear has over any of the rest - if it leaks onto your food, it does not poison the food.