Different Brand Gas Cannisters

Just wondering after noticing a reoccuring scenarion recently...

I use a wee MSR pocket rocket when going for quick 1 nighters on the hills...

Normally I have never been fussy about gas...I just buy whatever threaded gas cannisters are available locally at the time...normally always 220 - 240 g cannisters as they are light enough to carry around but I know I'll get a few days out of one before needing replaced.

I usually end up with MSR cannisters as a local shop always have them and I pass it regularly...but a few recent buys have been the Primus cannisters as everywhere seems to stock it.

But recently I noticed that when the gas was down 3 quarters the stove began 'bursting' ie flaming, then no flame, then flaming again...I found myself actually having to give the stove a bit of a gentle shake to stir a constant flame again...then having to repeat this over and over. I actually thought it was my stove buts its well maintained and not too old, but checked it all anyway and all seemed fine.

So just to see...I bought 2 MSR cannisters a few weeks ago and have got through them both...and had no trouble...good performance right to the last drops of gas.

But last week I bought another Primus one as I was in a hurry and it was in stock wher I was passing...out on hills today...down to last quarter ro so...same thing happening?

The Primus Gas has been bought from different places so makes me think its the Gas?

So just curious to see what people think...do you reckon one Brand is better than another regards gas? Ive just never given it any thought until now.

Could be a temperature issue.

Butane does not perform well in low temps, so the more of that you have in the mix the worst it will perform.

Iso-Butane and Propane work better so look for a mix that has those in it.

Franco

Zuma wrote (see

Never had an issue with different brands with my MSR pocket rocket. I used even unknown utility store brands. never a problem, but sometimes I need to screw the burner tighter than normal

Ah! Glad I stumbled across this thread. It explains - or, rather, it might explain - a similar problem I had recently.

In brief, my cheapo Rocket looky-likey has always worked just fine on Colman brand (70/30 propane/butane) scew-in cartridges. But the MSR Rocket I recently  bought secondhand performs as described above - the flame 'pulsees' between full roar and sputtering low.

I assumed the problem was with the secondhand MSR but now I will definitely try it on a different brand of screw-in cartridge. It may turn out to perform perfectly after all.

On a related tack, when car-camping I often cook on a 'suitacase stove' (not sure what they are properly called) that  uses 'click-in' cylindrical cannisters. It always works perfectly with both Coleman brand and Hi-Gear brand (the latter is Go Outdoors' own brand and is very cheap in multi-packs). But when I tried using cannisters bought on offer from Aldi (can't remember the brand name) they burned intermittently, ran out very quickly and one failed to work at all.

So, to answer the OP, in my experience different brands do appear to perform differently.

Guy Hurst wrote (see)

It helps to screw the cartridge on very tight, I've been told.

Yeah, I've read that somewhere too. But I would be worried about stripping the thread.

That bastard Skip wrote (see)

Guy Hurst wrote (see)

It helps to screw the cartridge on very tight, I've been told.

Yeah, I've read that somewhere too. But I would be worried about stripping the thread.

Dont worry too much...I screw the hell out of mine when needed. The Pocket Rocket is a tough little stove hence why its still my fav little lightweight. I did try the new Micro Rocket...its great as expected and a little lighter but if you already own a Pocket Rocket it aint worth the upgrade.

TP wrote (see)

Never had that,problem and I almost exclusively use Primus gas. I use it,with my Primus,micron and I notice you use a msr stove on,msr gas without issue. Do wonder if there is anything,in that. Doubt it.

I find Primus gas really reliable and it's my preferred gas. Used Coleman, no name, Primus and the optimus/Cruz cans too. Out of them Primus has been the best i.e. terms of,performance and efficiency. I am able to get abt 6 days use out,of the hundred gramme  too. Gd in cold too. I've used Primus on my can too stove zero and a bit below too. Never tried msr cans though. They're a bit pricier I think so that's probably why. My advice is to stick with the brand you're happy with and used to. You'll have confidence in it.

the Pocket rocket seems to run fine on anything else I've bought before...and I have always just grabbed whatever is handy so all sorts of Brands. the described scenario has only occured with Primus gas.

The MSR stuff is actually 50p cheaper for almost same size cannister locally...£4.00 for msr 220g and £4.50 for primus 230g!!! I'll just make the effort to stop by and get the MSR stuff for now on.

Interesting to hear that others have experienced similar.

Appreciate all your comments!!!

Perhaps it is a brand issue between primus and MSR. I must try out the MSR cans with my Primus stove to see if their cans work as well as the primus for me.

Mind you I suppose it could also be affected the way you use them. My preference is to use mine with a relatively low burn rate as it seems to make my cans last longer. I only boil water with it so I don't need to simmer and I rarely notice the difference between 3.5 minutes and nearly 10 minutes with a meths burner so a little longer to boil water won't be a problem to me.

I've had a nearly full cheapo propane/butane mix can (450g I think) virtually not even burn. I used it for about three brews then the next trip it failed to even get a cup and a bit to boil. It was actually about high 20s celsius that day so should have vapourised. The previous use it was at least about 18C so unlikely to have burnt off the component with the lowest B Pt.