I have seen the ads in Countryside and am contemplating replacing my Coleman dual top camping stove. I saw a Volcano for sale at the local farm store and wondered if anyone else has used them and what your opinions are of them. What about the accessories, fuel source, etc? Does it make smoke when it cooks?

My Coleman has always been touchy and the flame on the second stove top is nearly impossible to see, so I never know if it is lit or not. Also when I turn the second top off, the stove pops and turns off the first top. I don't know why this happens.

Besides camping I also use the Coleman as an alternate stove during power outages. I wonder how feasible that would be to use the Volcano inside the house.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), July 17, 2001

Answers

The Volcano uses charcoal (I think you could also burn wood in it) -- so you wouldn't want to use it in the house. I haven't used one, but I've looked at them and lifted them. They're definitely a heavy piece of stuff to be hauling around, but easier than, say, a full- sized Weber grill.

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), July 17, 2001.

I've seen the volcano stove & it looks interesting but after this winter's lengthy power outage, we opted for a stove we got on sale at target that uses butane. We used our coleman for fast coffee during the outage and thought this one would be better. We also use it camping. It is very convenient and more appropriate for inside the house. If you do get this volcano stove, I'm interested in a report on it.

-- DW (djwallace@ctos.com), July 19, 2001.

Charcoal stoves are for out doors ONLY!

Have you considered cleaning the jets and the pump on your coleman. It sounds like you got some 'crud' blocking the intake or the jet is dirty. Replace the gasket in the cap and the pump.
It can't hurt to take the thing all apart and clean it up.
just be sure to put it all back together properly.
I have not done this to any stoves, but it sounds like a tune up is needed.

For a really simple one burner stove visit my web page.
http://ofuzzy1.com

-- (perry@ofuzzy1.com), July 19, 2001.