deep denial
Well-Known Member
Anyone use them? How efficient are they compared with gas - i am thinking of getting rid of gas for safety reasons, but don't want to if it takes forever to boil a kettle.
origo spirit cookers
- Thread starter deep denial
- Start date
Cloven
Well-Known Member
Very good. I used one for several seasons in a small boat.
Only problem is they run on denatured alcohol which is only obtainable in the UK as "meths" which can give off a bit of a smell. However, if you are ever in France, clear denatured alcohol is available readily in supermarkets and camping shops and it burns with no smell at all.
Hope this helps.
Only problem is they run on denatured alcohol which is only obtainable in the UK as "meths" which can give off a bit of a smell. However, if you are ever in France, clear denatured alcohol is available readily in supermarkets and camping shops and it burns with no smell at all.
Hope this helps.
G
Guest
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
Very good. I used one for several seasons in a small boat.
Only problem is they run on denatured alcohol which is only obtainable in the UK as "meths" which can give off a bit of a smell. However, if you are ever in France, clear denatured alcohol is available readily in supermarkets and camping shops and it burns with no smell at all.
Hope this helps.
[/ QUOTE ]
I use one on my boat, because I wont have gas on board at any price! They are very good indeed, if using Meths, yes they do smell slightly, but in the UK you can run them on IMS (Industrial Metholated Spirit) which is a clear meths and does not have ethonol added to it, or colouring. You cannot buy IMS over the counter, but you can obtain a licence to purchase it fron Customs & Excise, it is free and no hassle to get one just explain what you want it for, how much you want to purchase per annum, and they will send you the licence.
With either Meths or IMS, these cookers are very efficient, and will boil a couple of cups full of water in as many minutes, big plus is that should you get a fire, (very unlikely), you can extinguish it with water. Meths / IMS is soluble in water.
Very good. I used one for several seasons in a small boat.
Only problem is they run on denatured alcohol which is only obtainable in the UK as "meths" which can give off a bit of a smell. However, if you are ever in France, clear denatured alcohol is available readily in supermarkets and camping shops and it burns with no smell at all.
Hope this helps.
[/ QUOTE ]
I use one on my boat, because I wont have gas on board at any price! They are very good indeed, if using Meths, yes they do smell slightly, but in the UK you can run them on IMS (Industrial Metholated Spirit) which is a clear meths and does not have ethonol added to it, or colouring. You cannot buy IMS over the counter, but you can obtain a licence to purchase it fron Customs & Excise, it is free and no hassle to get one just explain what you want it for, how much you want to purchase per annum, and they will send you the licence.
With either Meths or IMS, these cookers are very efficient, and will boil a couple of cups full of water in as many minutes, big plus is that should you get a fire, (very unlikely), you can extinguish it with water. Meths / IMS is soluble in water.
Helina
Well-Known Member
In my previous boat I had Origo and I noticed that the best fuel is spiritus fortus but then I tested it and ever since I've drunk the spiritu fortus. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Allan
Well-Known Member
I have used one for a number of years. As it is right near my head when I'm sleeping I have some veiws on the smell. I agree with the comments above, when it comes to cooking. They are reversed when the spirits are cold. There is more smell from the French Alcool brulee. I don't find the smell when cooking a problem and if the smell when cool starts to notice I just cover the cooker with a damp tea cloth. As far as speed of cooking is concerned, it is not as fast as gas but I find it plenty fast enough.
jenku
Well-Known Member
Origo also has it's own brand of fuel for the cookers, called Origonol. I am not sure if it is available in the UK though.
IzzyDeadyet
Well-Known Member
I'm another satisfied customer. I add 10% water to the meths (a tip I learnt at scouts centuries ago) it supposedly speeds up cooking reduces soot and smell. I'm gullible enough to believe anything Arkela told me - the same goes for the scoutmaster /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
stevieee
Well-Known Member
Ah glad this question came up as was going to post something similar ...
How do you get a licence from C&E, and any links on how these things work/where to purchase from?
Many thanks.
How do you get a licence from C&E, and any links on how these things work/where to purchase from?
Many thanks.
Cobra
Well-Known Member
Yes...just converted over from Gas to a twin burner Origo this season. It is fair to say that it is a bit slower brewing up than with gas, but what price for essentially a very safe cooking system? A full fry up (oh so essential!!) again will take a tad longer, but when you are not in a hurry it is really no major problem!
The down side of the smell of meths is definitely somewhat overcome by the addition of 10% water to the fuel.
The Origo cookers are very well manufactured bits of kit, and are well worth the almost negligible cost!
The down side of the smell of meths is definitely somewhat overcome by the addition of 10% water to the fuel.
The Origo cookers are very well manufactured bits of kit, and are well worth the almost negligible cost!
G
Guest
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
Ah glad this question came up as was going to post something similar ...
How do you get a licence from C&E, and any links on how these things work/where to purchase from?
Many thanks.
[/ QUOTE ]
Just contact your local office, tell them what you are after. The office that deals with the IMS licences is in Glasgow, so you could try phoning C&E at Glasgow? Once you have the licence, you buy it at your local chemists, just show them the licence, they usually make a copy for their records. If they don't stock it, they will order it up for you. You will probably have to collect it when they tell you, because of their fire regs concerning storage. I buy about 5 litres a year, and just for safety, I colour it with about a half pint of standard meths.
Ah glad this question came up as was going to post something similar ...
How do you get a licence from C&E, and any links on how these things work/where to purchase from?
Many thanks.
[/ QUOTE ]
Just contact your local office, tell them what you are after. The office that deals with the IMS licences is in Glasgow, so you could try phoning C&E at Glasgow? Once you have the licence, you buy it at your local chemists, just show them the licence, they usually make a copy for their records. If they don't stock it, they will order it up for you. You will probably have to collect it when they tell you, because of their fire regs concerning storage. I buy about 5 litres a year, and just for safety, I colour it with about a half pint of standard meths.
Spyro
Well-Known Member
How much does IMS cost?
stevieee
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
How much does IMS cost?
[/ QUOTE ]
One of the previous posters said it was free.
How much does IMS cost?
[/ QUOTE ]
One of the previous posters said it was free.
G
Guest
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
How much does IMS cost?
[/ QUOTE ]
The last lot I bought was about £11.00 for 5 litres. I forgot to mention, that when it is lit, it has quite a pleasant odour, not like the meths at all, more a sort of warm alcohol smell??
IMS, as far as I know is 100% alcohol, it's used by French Polishers, and the like.
By the way, if you have an Origo, don't be tempted to use the cheap meths that you can by from ironmongers and B&Q's etc. it's utter rubbish! Smells pretty awful when lit too.
How much does IMS cost?
[/ QUOTE ]
The last lot I bought was about £11.00 for 5 litres. I forgot to mention, that when it is lit, it has quite a pleasant odour, not like the meths at all, more a sort of warm alcohol smell??
IMS, as far as I know is 100% alcohol, it's used by French Polishers, and the like.
By the way, if you have an Origo, don't be tempted to use the cheap meths that you can by from ironmongers and B&Q's etc. it's utter rubbish! Smells pretty awful when lit too.
G
Guest
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How much does IMS cost?
[/ QUOTE ]
One of the previous posters said it was free.
[/ QUOTE ]
NO! I said the licence is free /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
[ QUOTE ]
How much does IMS cost?
[/ QUOTE ]
One of the previous posters said it was free.
[/ QUOTE ]
NO! I said the licence is free /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
graham
Well-Known Member
We have had one for 7 years. Were really pleased with it but we do miss the grill.
Smell isnt a problem for us.We normally have the hatch open to let out cooking smells anyway.It takes a bit longer to boil the kettle but not really an issue.
Meths costs about £1.50 /half litre bottle which is enough for a couple of weekends. Alcol Abrooler (excuse spelling) is about half the cost in French Hypermarkets.
For us the convenience of not needing gas bottles and pipework is the deciding factor .Also it is a very safe cooker due to the fuel not being pressurised.Also a meths fire can be put out with water.
Smell isnt a problem for us.We normally have the hatch open to let out cooking smells anyway.It takes a bit longer to boil the kettle but not really an issue.
Meths costs about £1.50 /half litre bottle which is enough for a couple of weekends. Alcol Abrooler (excuse spelling) is about half the cost in French Hypermarkets.
For us the convenience of not needing gas bottles and pipework is the deciding factor .Also it is a very safe cooker due to the fuel not being pressurised.Also a meths fire can be put out with water.
Otter
Well-Known Member
We have used one now for a couple of years and love it for all the reasons already stated - BUT - it's only draw back is that a kettle of water at this time of year takes an age to boil. Cooking food you don't notice any difference, but when the water in the tanks is as cold as it is now, the Origo really struggles. As we are in a marina and have shore power we use the hot water from the calorifier to fill the kettle.
bumblefish
Well-Known Member
I have one and have yet to be aware of the smell problem, however following the advice i might contact the Revenue and Excise if this is the right place?
kds
Well-Known Member
"a kettle of water at this time of year takes an age to boil"
Hi Simon,
I suppose you have a large family aboard. I have found that I now only put in what water I need. I suppose that it also saves the planet !
Ken
Hi Simon,
I suppose you have a large family aboard. I have found that I now only put in what water I need. I suppose that it also saves the planet !
Ken
Andrew_Fanner
Well-Known Member
Had one for several years, it came with the boat. Safer than gas but not so quick, should you every be on waters subject to Boat Safety the Origo cooker does not feature on their list: immune
I can't get bacon crispy enough in a frying pan compared to a grill though:-(
The oven is second mortgage (or lucky on Ebay) time, wrong side of £600.
I can't get bacon crispy enough in a frying pan compared to a grill though:-(The oven is second mortgage (or lucky on Ebay) time, wrong side of £600.
boggybrn
Well-Known Member
I am thinking about switching to an Origo - to get the gas bottle out of my anchor well (don't ask!)
One concern I have is whether the flame from this will be sooty? i.e. will I have to clean soot off the kettle?
Does the trick of adding 10% water to the fuel prevent this?
Thanks
One concern I have is whether the flame from this will be sooty? i.e. will I have to clean soot off the kettle?
Does the trick of adding 10% water to the fuel prevent this?
Thanks
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