Origo cooker problems

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NickiCrutchfield

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Having thought that something as simple as the Origo cookers would be immune to breaking down I have found that, after being submerged in salt water they really do not work very well. I rinsed it thoroughly in fresh and left it on the Rayburn for several weeks, but using it recently I have found that it lights with great reluctance and burns yellow and not very hot. I am guessing the salt is still present in the stuffing, which looks like compacted rockwool and affecting combustion. SO... I have removed the gauze and taken out some of the stuffing. It is quite crusty and I am guessing this is salt. My plan is to remove the rest and repack it with fresh rockwool. Any thoughts would be very much appreciated. If this does not work then I can buy a new reservoir for £40 but I would rather repair what I have.
Cheers,
Nicki
 
That's well worth knowing. Does brimming wit meths and then pooring it out not make any difference? I would have thought it would dissolve the salt.

Was the gauze easy to get off?

I love my Origo. Best bit of git on the boat, apart from the bunk. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I don't know the appliance, but I would have thought that if salt was the problem, you could wash it out by dissolving it in hot water, change the water a couple of times, and then dry it out. Word of caution, the rockwool you mention could be asbestos !!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Word of caution, the rockwool you mention could be asbestos !!

[/ QUOTE ] Nasty thought, but I don't think it is. I've got an Origo stove and I'm pretty sure they are at pains to stress that the material is inert and doesn't contain asbestos.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I love my Origo. Best bit of git on the boat, apart from the bunk. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]Love the typo /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Having not come up with any way of storing gas that meets boat safety certificate standards (required on the broads) I was contemplating an Origo... but read they are not so good in cold weather...

Is that true? If so, how "not so good"? How low does the air temperature have to drop before you start wishing you had gas?
 
The freezing point of alcohol is minus a hundred and something, iirc. I've found that the warmth of a match and/or lighter is usually sufficient to warm and evaporate a little of the spirit, and get things going. The problem with gas bottles is not that the gas freezes, but that it liquefies at low temperatures and won't waft along the pipes and into the burners of your stove. (nb: this may not be an exact description of the scientific facts /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif)
 
Origo is fine at cold temps but you notice the boiling time more. It's slower than gas but because the temp of the cold water is so much lower in winter, the time to boil a kettle seems much longer. Having said that, I wouldn't have gas on board for anything! We occasionally miss an oven but not often. When on shore power we use one of those small table top electric ovens.
 
Hi Nathan, No, it is quite full but the thing just won't light without actually pouring fresh in and then it gets rapidly cooler. It takes about 20 mins to make a warm cup of water. I love the stove also, but tis has jiggered it. The gauze is square nd about 6" across and came out fairly easily. Going back in will be another issue I think.
Nicki
 
Thank you everyone for your thoughts. In the absence of any conclusive statements I went ahead with the proposed plan and it works a treat. Yippee. The Origo manufacturers site said that the contents of the tank is a "non-flammable wool type product". I went to the loft, grabbed a handful of rockwool, stuffed it in tightly, replaced the gauze (not too difficult as it turned out) and bob's yer uncle. Result.
Cheers,
NIcki
 
Glad things are now sorted. I have used an Origo stove in freezing weather with both achool brlee and meths without problem. This year I had problems with my gas (butane) cooker in very cold conditions.
Allan
 
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