A standard Trangia burner (left) and a MBD Nion 3 (right). Note the primer pan under the Nion 3. |
The Nion 3 is a closed jet (pressurized) type burner. To fuel it, we remove the center screw as shown. Note that there is a priming pan under the stove. The stove must be primed in order for it to operate properly. The priming pan shown is the cut off top of a Fosters sized aluminum beverage can which is very light weight.
A Nion 3 stove with the center screw removed for fueling |
Fueling a Nion 3 stove |
A Nion 3 in the priming phase of its burn. |
A Nion 3 primed with a lot of alcohol. |
A Nion 3 in normal operation |
The two distinct flames of a Nion 3 |
The Nion 3 has a high setting and a low setting, but even its high setting would take a while if you wanted to bring water to the boil. Basically, the Nion 3 is a simmering only stove. The best use for the Nion 3 is as a back up stove. If your primary stove doesn't simmer, then you could use the Nion 3 for simmering once your primary stove had brought the water to a boil. A little inconvenient, yes, but a lot lighter than bringing something heavy like the brass Trangia burner shown above. Aluminum beverage can stoves are so light, it really doesn't hurt that much to bring a second little burner. The weight penalty is less than one ounce (see exact weights in the Technical Appendix, below). Alternatively, one could bring a Trangia burner which is good for both boiling and simmering, but the weight penalty for carrying a Trangia is far greater than carrying two aluminum beverage can type burners.
HJ
Technical Appendix: Weights
Nion 3 stove: 19g/0.67oz
Priming Pan: 6g/0.21oz
Total Nion 3: 25g/0.88ozTrangia Burner: 67g/2.4oz
Trangia Burner Lid: 21g/0.7oz
Trangia Burner Simmer Ring: 23g/0.8oz
Total Trangia Burner: 111g/4.0oz
All weights were measured in grams and then converted to ounces after the fact. Weights in ounces may not add up correctly due to rounding error.
I hated this stove when I first got a NION (I have all versions). Ijust would not do anyhting.
ReplyDeleteBUT now I have learnt how to use it, I think its a great stove for baking and simmering. I use them a lot for baking.
Tinny make many types of stoves and they all have dif purposes.
Yes, the Nion is definitely a different stove. Very different from other alcohol stoves I've used, but a neat little stove.
ReplyDeleteHJ