problems preheating stove

[pobbie]

I made a slightly modified photon stove and it works great except in cold weather (20s and below) when i try to light the preheat fuel it just wont start. the alcohol was at room temp ( just out of house, testing stove in backyard , neighbors thought I was going nuts). with a Scott H. pepsi stove i can start it with 1 match every time. Any suggestions on what could make lighting th photon stove easier???

[Streamweaver]

I usually tear a short peice of tissue paper and light it then drop it into the priming plate .This acts as kind of a wick to keep it burning until its hot enuff to burn by itself. It also gives me a little reach when using a lighter to light the stove and when its bright sunny outside this makes it easier to see that the alcohol is burning. And remember to always plug the center hole securely or the pressurized stove can blow up!!!!! lol Streamweaver

[pobbie]

I have actually had that happen to me streamweaver. Those darned things suprise you when they do that!

[Hog On Ice]

One idea that I am playing with is to use a candle under the stove - note however the stove I am using for this is not a photon but rather a much easier to make pressurized type - see StoveStomper's website for some photos. It does not really matter how cold the alcohol is with this approach - the candle will warm it up enough to light without using any priming - I light the tea candle, put the filled stove over it wait about a minute for it to warm up and then light the stove. I don't see why this approach would not also work for a photon stove. Link to photos (http://www.datasync.com/~wksmith/hoi.html)

[robbybob1]

Pobbie,

Just curious, but what do you see as the benefits of the photon type stove vs. the pepsi can type stove?

[rosshike]

I use a tuna can for my pre heat in cold weather.works for me.

[pobbie]

Thanks for the suggestion on the paper streamweaver, I tried it today and found that if I just leave the match in the base the paper isn't needed.

robbybob1, the photon stove seems to burn hotter making it better suited for cold weather, how ever the pepsi stove still works. I know that the pepsi stove is MUCH more durable than the photon stove. I am kind of worried that the can on the photon stove, weakened from heat over time, may pop when its under pressure. On this forum I read a post about fiberglass between the walls of the pepsi stove and this may make it better for cold. I'll try it, seems like it will work.

I have looked at your stove Hog On Ice seems pretty good not to mention clever. I'll give this a try also.