Perko alcohol stove -- help!

[grey99]

Hi--

I managed to obtain an old Perko alcohol stove. It is a pressure alcohol stove, really nice in chromed brass and cast iron. When I brought it home I realized I had no idea how to work it. Anyone ever used one? How do you pump it up?

Thanks, Trish
Sea Mist C-28

[pelagia]

i don''t have a perko, but I have a seaward. I don''t know if the procedure is identical, but i''m guessing its probably similiar.

1 - get a bicycle pump and pump to 13-15 psi.
2 - fill a small squirt bottle w/ alcohol. squirt a small amount into the priming bowl. Alternately, open the burner valve up for about 2 seconds. You''ll here a "pshhhs" as the alcohol comes out.
3 - light the alcohol in the priming bowl. use one of those butane lighters with the long spout (for lighting bbq''s etc. about 2 or 3 dollars.
4 - let it all burn off. at least 60 seconds. the idea is to get the burner so hot that it vaporizes the alcohol.
5 - turn on burner and cook. you should have a small blue flame. if it flares up, shut it off and preheat again.

[grey99]

Thanks so much for the very clear directions! I will give the stove a test run tomorrow and report back on the results.

Trish
C-28
"Sea Mist"
Boston

[redwhite]

I have a Seaward pressurized alcohol stove. After I have the stove started and running, I notice that the color of the diffuser in the middle of the burner is either bright red or dull red. I can adjust the air/fuel mixture to change the color/temp of the diffuser. Does anyone know what color/temp the diffuser is supposed to be? I don''t want to burn up the diffuser by running it too hot. Thanks