Lighting a Trangia

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Sweep
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Lighting a Trangia

Post by Sweep »

A pretty basic question I know.

I use a cheapo disposable fag lighter.

But the flame on these things is typically rather short.

Which means I have to fill the trangia burner to the top/3-4 full to get it to light without burning my finger on the lighter flame.

I used to have a rather wonderful Zippo lighter in my student days of posing with Camel non filters but it has mysteriously disappeared.

Can anyone suggest anything with a long flame that is simple and reliable?

PS - I have a strange intuition that gatto, as that most English of Italians, may be able to help.
Sweep
bikerta
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by bikerta »

A match :lol:
landsurfer
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by landsurfer »

bikerta wrote:A match :lol:

+1
That's what I use :lol:
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Sweep
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by Sweep »

er ta folks.

But I try to avoid matches these days.

Not terribly compact all things considered.

And somewhat prone to failure/multiple attempts.
Sweep
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horizon
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by horizon »

You can get extra long matches (which are therefore also stronger and better). You used to be able to get windproof matches as well. My question to lighter users is, what do you do with the empty (usually disposable) lighter?
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
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meic
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by meic »

I had this problem and when it is cold and windy it can be a devil to light the Trangia with a lighter.
In warmer weather enough evapourates for the vapour to catch.

The trick that I found was to use a small amount of toilet paper as a wick dipping in the meths and then it sticks to the side of the burner as it is wet and easily catches fire which it spreads down to the meths.
The paper doesnt even burn away and you can knock it into the liquid to use again later, though it will make things sooty if you burn the meths away down past it.
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Tigerbiten
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by Tigerbiten »

Think outside the box.

If it's not too windy, just remove the top half of the Trangia body.
That lets you keep your hand at almost the same height of the flame, not above it.
Thats what I do if I'm trying to light one with the silly short eco-friendly matches ..... :D
Aushiker
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by Aushiker »

Image

My stove lighter of choice is a Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel ...
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foxyrider
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by foxyrider »

I have no issues whatsoever but there again I don't use a Trangia but a gas stove with integrated piezo starter.

Trangia - how to make life difficult for yourself! :lol:
Convention? what's that then?
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Heltor Chasca
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by Heltor Chasca »

A steel as mentioned upthread. Or take the burner out, tilt at 45 degrees, light and carefully put back into the wind guard / support.
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meic
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by meic »

Or take the burner out, tilt at 45 degrees, light and carefully put back into the wind guard / support.


I was doing all of that, if it is cold it can still be difficult to light even then and almost impossible with a bit of wind. Even allowing some meths to spill over doesnt lead to a lit burner.
Making a wick works quickly and easily.
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horizon
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by horizon »

Did you ty the Trangia winter preheater?

http://trangia.se/en/burners-and-burner-accessories/
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
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meic
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by meic »

Not me.
A centimetre of toilet paper is cheaper, lighter, expendable, negligible volume and almost universally available while touring.
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Sweep
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by Sweep »

Tigerbiten wrote:Think outside the box.

If it's not too windy, just remove the top half of the Trangia body.
That lets you keep your hand at almost the same height of the flame, not above it.
Thats what I do if I'm trying to light one with the silly short eco-friendly matches ..... :D

Yes i did do that on my most recent trip a few times but would prefer not to.

Other than this small problem I must say i have no great problem lighting meths. Love my trangia, and its relative slowless rather suits my faffing around style in camp. I have the gas converter but never actually used it yet and can see myself only using it when I have temporarily run out of meths. Saves the gas for my vital espresso fuel.
Sweep
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Sweep
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Re: Lighting a Trangia

Post by Sweep »

Aushiker wrote:Image

My stove lighter of choice is a Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel ...

Yep, i have one of those in my kit. Never yet managed to light meths with it. I suspect it's far better with a gas stove (i have managed that) as in that pic.
Sweep
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