Trangia Mystery Hack… No More Center Hot Spot Cooking!! 🤨

[@dobrofool]

If you have always wrestled with the center hot spotting while cooking on a Trangia 25 or 27 (this video covers a mod I made to the 25)... then you will not want to miss this! Trust me! Please Like, Subscribe, and PLEASE comment what you think of this modification/hack! Thanks, and God Bless!

[@magiccarpet3.5]

TRADE SECRET GUYS!! Go to any laboratory supplies and you can get a gauze piece to fit a bunsen burner that is commonly used in science laboratories, schools etc. They commonly come as a square with or without a ceramic disc in the middle of the mesh. They cost 3 dollars in Australia. Bend each corner down and sit it in your trangia over the burner. Hey presto perfectly even heat. You can still use the simmer ring underneath the gauze. They are usually certified asbestos free for lab use. The plain gauze are also handy for toasting bread. Cheers

[@dobrofool]

THIS is golden! I forgot about those. Of course.. high school WAS only.. 🤔.. 40 years ago… 😂

[@pault1289]

That is a top idea, thanks!

[@LoneWolfExplorer]

What a wonderful idea, thanks 👍

[@johncarr513]

thats what I did as well, two great minds think alike😀

[@dobrofool]

@johncarr513 🥹😂

[@Sirrehpotsirch]

I appreciate your hack! I added a thin metal plate to both stoves that use the Trangia alcohol burners as well as the butane burner. It really solves the burn problem! Well done! Trangia needs to watch this video and add the modification to their sets.

[@dobrofool]

Awesome! Yes. It is a game changer. Be sure to check out my follow up video to learn more about concerns using the alcohol burner for grilling… NOT a good idea! Best!

[@lenrice7482]

An awesome video - top marks for research and thinking! Marvellous - you have solved my 'heating in the middle' conundrum! Cheers again from England!

[@dobrofool]

Wow. Warms my heart to know that there are others who think like me.. 🥹 Although now that could be just a little bit dangerous… 🤣 So happy you enjoyed, thanks for your comments, now you too, know how to meet the conundrum face on! 😆

[@lenrice7482]

@@dobrofool I can't believe how it's not all stuck too the pan at the end! Thanks again Brother

[@erkkikarvinen1783]

A simple way is also to 'play' with fire, flame, i.e. move the frying pan and thus regulate the heat in different parts of the pan...

[@dobrofool]

Exactly the issue this mod addresses 🤨😁

[@markmartello]

If you put three bolts through the larger holes, with nuts on the bottom, the steel plate will stand above the burner. You can use different length bolts for different hights. That way you can still use the built in tabs to hold the pan at the right height.

[@dobrofool]

Yes that would work too. I used to use a similar set up for mounting a Coleman Peak 1 stove! I have older videos with that set up! Good call! 😎

[@billwiley7216]

I like the ingenuity here and the sourcing of more budget options to try to get the desired results. But honestly one of the biggest issues is the backpacking pans are just too light of a material not to easily warp and to do so poorly at evenly distributing heat. You are trying to fix the problems caused more by one part of the kit by modifying parts of the kit that are fine as they are. Once you start adding in the weight of the steel disc, the weight of the mesh grate I would just forget all of that and get a small, shallow 8" aluminum non stick frying pan that is made out of thicker materials and which the non stick is better quality that you would normally buy to use at home and will hold up better and that thicker aluminum pan will distribute the heat much better. Even using a gas stove at home the burner flame is fairly central located as in relation to the pan but yet this type of pan still performs well. Using an ISO gas stove you can adjust the flame down to control the heat and in the case of an alcohol burner just carry one stove strictly to use a gelled fuel which you can make at home which burns at a lower temperature than straight alcohol and a second burner for straight alcohol. An Altoids tin which is basically free can be adapted to use as a gelled fuel burner. Also if using straight alcohol and trying to control the heat using diffusion then you are wasting fuel as the burner is still consuming the alcohol at it full burn rate. Granted you lose the smaller packability size with the different frying pan but I expect you are not gaining any extra weight as you can ditch the grate and the steel. Grilling over the burner is sort of overrated and just makes a mess which are you actually putting that back in your pack? Just use your frying pan to cook your burgers or hot dogs or cook them over the campfire which is really what it is all about. A decent non stick pan can pretty much be cleaned by just wiping out with a piece of paper towel!

[@dobrofool]

Thanks for your comments! Concerning the slight added weight of the metal disc, I believe I alluded to the fact that it doesn’t bother me. I go on short hiking trips out into the forest. It’s not a big deal. The system is working beautifully. I also mentioned that I do not intend not use it for grilling mainly because of the mess factor. That’s not my purpose. However I HAVE discovered an another useful benefit for the grate tho … making toast!!! With the heat shield under there it works super! Trust me. I have experimented with all kinds of cook set ups, including using regular pans. I happen to like this Trang system, however, Trangia simply falls short in some of their engineering as far as I’m concerned 🤷🏻‍♂️ Best!

[@eddyjoon-nl]

Instead of the standard alcohol and gas stove I use a Primus OmniliteTi with silencer with the "25". Trangia sells a special adapter to make Optimus and Primus multifuel stoves fit in the Trangia set. That is much better than the original Trangia solutions and spreads the flame much better. Also you will have full benefit of the fuel-energy. I admit, it is not cheap, but being able to use also gasoline and kerosene as fuel you will never be without fuel during a trip. If needed I also use my Trangia set as BBQ with charcoal on alu foil to cover the hole of the base or as a twig stove. Advantage of Trangia is that you can buy all parts separately. A life time lasting kookset. With a large enough round grill grate on the folded pot supports you can increase the distance between the food (meat) and the heat source and also use that same grate as support for your frying pan with the supports unfolded.

[@dobrofool]

Hot coals right on the aluminum (ok, tin foil between, but still..) 🤔 I’m guessing you’ve done it enough to recommend it.. I would have thought that much intense heat directly on that thin aluminum would warp and eventually melt through.. 🤔. I experimented with using aluminum as the heat shield before I went to steel, and that was the issue I had…

[@eddyjoon-nl]

@@dobrofool Not one layer. Just fold the foil a few times.

[@totoblaubar8393]

The main issue of the original trangia pan is the thin material. It's a good idear to use an additional heatspreader. Most easy way, would be to use a steel disc with the same diameter of the pan putting it directly underneath of the pan. Using the pan and the heatspreader in the original position. There is no need for the 2 meshes. The main issue of the original trangia pan is the thin material.

[@dobrofool]

Thanks for commenting! So my experience has painfully taught me that placing these very thin pans directly on a super hot steel plate warps the bottom of the pans. I actually was able to pick up a small metal reducer usually used on a stove for glass coffee pots. I will be experimenting with this, but I know it will work, as there will now be a nice air gap between the steel plate and the bottom of the pan. As far as the mesh is concerned, there is a benefit to this: for example, tonight I made myself some eggs and sausage, and then after I pulled the pan, I dropped two pieces of bread on the mesh. The metal plate down below reduces/removes direct flame spread, and just controlled heat from the gas stove browned up some perfect toast. So there’s a great reason to have a mesh! 😉

[@carot2003]

Interesting and helpful. Thank you..

[@TimM762]

FYI Just used my Trangia 27 this weekend with the same metal plate as used for the 25 in this video. It fits fine. Drilled holes 5/32” so a cheap tent stake I had fit to lift the plate out, cut a bit shorter to fit in the kit. Layed flat grill across top and made toast that was nice and evenly done using gas stove. Also, alcohol stove, for me, worked fine with simmer plate used to slow it done a bunch. Hope this helps

[@dobrofool]

Awesome! So this same steel plate works in a 27. That’s great news to help others. It’s funny you mentioned toast, because I made another very short video showing this too! 😁 My experiences with an alcohol burner have been very spotty though. It seems as though there’s way too much heat buildup, even when using the reducer ring. Flames come up around the sides of the steel plate. Whatever you do, I highly recommend you do NOT grill or even make toast over the alcohol burner. I have another video… it’s the one where I’m wearing my cowboy hat.. that video gets into this. Thanks for watching! Glad this clip is helping folks with their kits. I don’t understand why there’s a thumbs down on your comment (??🙄) Best! 👍

[@krimke881]

welcome back to the 90's =)

[@chado_outdoors]

Thanks for this. I'm actually going to buy these for my 25. I can cook like a pro on mine, but the ritni grill always piqued my interest as a grill, but was never able to get one. Grilling some fish on a camp would be perfect!

[@dobrofool]

Just remember: 1. The oxygen issue for cooking in a pan. So a grill sitting on “top” may be best. I’m going to see if I can source a flat one which sits on top like my rectangle one, but it needs to fit inside the pan for knock down. I’d have to create a thin outside edge protection for inside the non stick pan tho, not to interfere with closing (easy enough I think..) 2. The CLEAN UP from grilling: it REALLY makes a mess inside both parts of the wind screen. 3. **BURN OFF THAT STEEL FIRST!!! Let us know how it goes, and any mods you come up with for your own system! I’m so glad this video is exciting others to try this! Enjoy!

[@chado_outdoors]

​@@dobrofoolwhat I was thinking is I could take a cutoff wheel and cut notches directly under the rolled edge around the entire circumference. That would let air in at the top without having any consequence on the flame. And then the grill could still fit inside the upper when packed. As far as the dome of the grill, if used for fish that wouldn't be such an issue, but if it is, there are always trivets like used in an instant pot that one may be able to find the right size in for this purpose.

[@dobrofool]

Yeah. I was thinking similar. Drilling may be 1/2“ or 5/8” inch holes at 12 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 9 o’clock positions, just below the rim 🤔 One thing I realized, after making this video, is that by installing the grill with concave up, for grilling purposes anyway, that would help prevent any rounded foods from rolling off the edges! 😉

[@erniethecat198]

I like to be traditional and not use gas just down to personal choice, I used my trangia for the first time at a motorcycle festival this summer and it worked well I cooked all weekend for between 3 and 4 people, both the flat plate and the grid plate offer improvement please could you list the item numbers so that I can further improve my trangia experience. Nicely presented video.

[@dobrofool]

Go back to the description, and you’ll find a time link for both the grill and the plate. I just edited it because I forgot to put the grill in there. So thanks for your question which got that edited in! The only thing I’m going to say, is that it has a rounded surface, which is a bit of a pain in the butt to work with. You may wish to try and find one that is flat, but just make sure it’s 19 cm in diameter. Otherwise you can get a rectangular or square one like I showed later in the video. That one is part of my bushcraft kit. Those little grills are a dime a dozen on Amazon. Thanks for your comment and compliment! 😎

[@KasperLidegaard]

Cool video for USA, almost everyone else uses the metric system

[@Magoo652]

Well done, Heat needs to be diffused. Short of constant lifting pan of & moving around. It's the bane of Trangia users. Thank you for sharing 👍

[@dobrofool]

You’re very welcome. I hope more users see this and gain this benefit. The heat shield alone is only $2.99 plus a cheap shipping rate through eBay. The hack is so inexpensive, it’s a joke, compared to what Trangia charges for their stuff. Appreciate the comment!

[@Magoo652]

@dobrofool You would think Trangia would have done something in-house, they put out Stainless steel versions. Then Duossal with the aluminium causes alzheimer scare period. Then they made more durable, lighter UL models. I'm hearing you.👍

[@dobrofool]

Not to mention the problems with non stick. Scrapes off at the edges, because no silicone protection on the pot grips, and worse yet on the Mini.. the nubbed indentations used to snap the kit together “flake” completely away INSIDE the pan! I have an upcoming video on how to get around THAT too! So if you have one of those, stay tuned! 😎👍

[@Magoo652]

@dobrofool Yes! I do have T28 Mini, a great little cook set with an extra windscreen. Yes, exactly, as you describe with it's Non-stick too.

[@dobrofool]

@Magoo652 I have the video session recorded, just need to get it edited down! Thanks for the feedback. Encourages me to jump on the bandwagon and get-r done! 🤨

[@sg7392]

I use the mesh off of an old open flame toaster to diffuse the flame seems to help. Cheers Steve from Aus.

[@dobrofool]

Nice! Diffusion is the key, any way it can be accomplished. Thanks for sharing that!

[@sg7392]

Lighter to carry . ​@@dobrofool

[@questions6746]

What Trangia do you have? 27 or 25?

[@sg7392]

25 . Just bend the mesh a bit so it stands over the burner​@@questions6746

[@steamboatmodel]

I have picked up a clone system from firemaple that uses bent wire spacers to hold the top pans they should work on The transea too.

[@george12954]

Absolutely brilliant and thanks for sharing. Also many thanks for including all the dimensions. I have the 27 series and wondered if a stainless steel or perhaps brass or copper plate would work instead of mild steel. Would appreciate your thoughts before I ordered my metal disc. Again many thanks from Australia 🇦🇺

[@dobrofool]

Unfortunately, I can’t answer to brass or copper. I did try aluminum, however, it was on the thinner side and it just melted eventually. Again, as I referred to in the video, I copied this concept from the company (I think in the Netherlands). I’m pretty positive they use a steel plate. It weighs more, but I know it’s not gonna melt. As far as dimensions, my dimensions are for a T-25. You would have to figure the measurements on the T-27 and then maybe have to convert down to millimeters like I did. If you go to the same eBay seller that I provided, they have different dimensions to purchase. I love mine. It has changed my whole Trangia cooking experience. Read down in the comments, one fella says that he’s been using a thin deflector from something he had kicking around. Best wishes in your journey on this in the land down under… 😁! Thanks for your comments!

[@georgemarchesi8506]

⁠Thanks so much for your prompt reply. My plate needs to be 120mm about 4.7 inches in your language. I finally found one in Stainless Steel at 120mm all the others were 100mm then 150mm next size up. BTW Ali express has the grill like yours in various sizes that are flat. Looking forward to its arrival. Thanks again and happy days from the lucky country or as you know it “the land down under”

[@dobrofool]

@georgemarchesi8506 Excellent! I’m going to record those dimensions for a future update (for visitors using the 27). Thanx for the tip on the grill. After you receive that and confirm it fits, would you kindly update with that grill diameter? 😁 I’ll add both to my update! Thanks a bunch cobber… 😎😂 (Howz that.. am I fitting in..? 😂)

[@dobrofool]

@@georgemarchesi8506 (I only ask because you’re the second Ausie in this thread.. and so I’m learning lucky country lingo… 😂😂)

[@esl9295]

Ooh man! Ooh man! Little more paprika! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@dobrofool]

What is life without paprika … 😂 In my defense… it just doesn’t want to come out of that ridiculous shaker.. so it looks like we are using more than we really are! 😂

[@esl9295]

@@dobrofool I also like paprika 😋 Cheers 👋🏻

[@journeymanadventure]

The tucker looks good cobber. I carry powdered milk as it's more conveneant than fresh or UHT.🍺

[@dobrofool]

Not sure I quite understand the first sentence, bro.. 😂. But the powdered milk thing yeah. I thought about that too!

[@journeymanadventure]

@@dobrofool ha ha Aussie slang. Tucker is food and cobber is friend, buddy or similar 🤠

[@dobrofool]

@@journeymanadventure 😂 Look at that! I just learned some Aussie lingo for my own “bush” journeys up here… 😆 Noice! lol

[@mastabas]

Awesome, I need to figure out which plate fits the 27

[@dobrofool]

I wish I had those diameters. If you figure it out and verify with a plate, please let us know. I will try to update for future viewers! Thanks for watching! 👍

[@questions6746]

I have not had the heat ring with my 27. The system is designed for the best heat distribution and efficiency. How high do you you run the spirits. No need to have it on full. Right?

[@dobrofool]

I am so sorry I did not see your comments until just now. KZbin algorithms with this stuff are not very efficient… 🙄anyway… I have mixed feelings about whether or not their stuff is made to be efficient. Alcohol cooking can be tough sometimes, even with a simmer ring as there can be issues with that too. What you don’t see in this video is a lot of activity removing the pan from the flame because it just gets too dang hot, and flames become quite untamable… so this is your only regulation. That’s not efficient. And if you’re not watching closely, you’ll end up burning stuff real fast. Alcohol burners in my opinion do one thing and one thing really well, boil, water! Check my other latest videos. I have been experimenting with heat shield underneath the 25. It makes a world a difference. However, there’s still an issue controlling heat using alcohol burners in this set up, which is revealed in another video. If you’re set up for gas, you always have the best control. From my experience that’s all I can offer, I hope this helps! Thanks!

[@questions6746]

@@dobrofool Thanks for that, much appreciated.

[@yulbrowe]

After watching your video, I've been trying to Seach for the round screen you have as grill. Any suggestion? Thank you

[@dobrofool]

Go to 1:13 time mark, pause video. If you have an iPhone (not sure if this works with Android, I’m guessing it does..?) simply take a screen shot of the eBay page. Open the pic and you should be able to highlight the text description, copy, and then paste into eBay search. It should pop right up. Check the seller name against the pic or the video. You’ll have to use the scroll down box on the sales page to choose a size. It will be 19cm for a Trangia 25. I don’t know the size for the 27. Disclaimer: This will be a China direct purchase. Unfortunately it was the only one I liked that I could find for 19cm. So I gave it a shot. Took about a week or so to get it, but no issues. The only thing I didn’t realize up front was the concave / convex design. The steel plate (also e-Bay) is at 4:17.

[@yulbrowe]

@@dobrofool Thank you. I'm not sure how I kept missing that screen shot.

[@dobrofool]

😎

[@questions6746]

Too many mods and over thinking it seems. It is a tried and proven 80 year old system with just the original alluminium, and spirit fuel. The flip out stands are there for a purpose. It is efficient without burning it up too high. Keep it half way and let the heat accumulate around the pot, which should not be elevated above its design level.

[@dobrofool]

No overthinking. Experience is the mother of invention. The main issue addressed is the notorious central hot spotting and over heating. “Half flame” doesn’t cut it. The purpose for the design of the flip out stands are recognized and addressed… they are 1. To accommodate the larger diameter pan 2. Provide oxygen to the flame. But they also set the pan too high above the burner (esp a spirit burner) and therefore even flame spread is non existent. Only the central location of the pan gets blasted from a tall, untamed flame… even when using a simmer ring. Trangia is not as smart as most give credit for.

[@questions6746]

@@dobrofool Thanks. Would you say it is more obvious or prevalent with the 25 than the 27?

[@dobrofool]

@@questions6746 I only have the 25 and the mini. However, I believe consensus would agree the same issue exists with the 27. I began with the basic aluminum set, which scorched eggs something fierce if I wasn’t pulling the pan off the heat on a regular basis. Then I moved to the nonstick. The center of that pan took such a hit, that sausage, steak, etc., now sticks to the center of the pan sometimes.. hence my mission to create a heat deflector above the flame… 😎

[@cobscamping6909]

I been using the bottom of a loose bottom cake tin on my acahol stove for years.

[@questions6746]

Is that with a 27 or a 25

[@cobscamping6909]

@@questions6746 . It works with any trangia cook set you just have to measure it and get the cake tin.

[@lutomson3496]

meanwhile a lot easier solutions out there then this, years ago when i first started distilling my heater burned the bottom of my thin stainless tank as it was not evenly dissipating heat, got online found a metal fab shop that made circles had one made out of steel that matched my tank and problem solved, so I had others made for camping same concept you use stainless aluminum steel, titainium etc and any thickness so you are not beholden to some proprietary equipment..and you also can use directly over a fire to cook on also..just my own experience

[@Oldsparkey]

10;11 mark. You can grill or bake over alcohol burner if you use a food grade alcohol. I use the 163 Diesel ( Grain natural spirit ) from the liquor store. If you are lucky you can get the 190 proof Everclear and use it. Never , Never , Never use any denatured alcohol or others with additives . Only food grade from a liquor store and to be really safe have one burner designated for only that use.

[@dobrofool]

Wow! This is very interesting because the company I’m copying this idea from, I don’t think they’re even aware of this. On their website, they give a warning about using alcohol fuel, but I don’t recall them offering the information you just provided! Now I gotta go back and look at it. Very interesting. You know, on that note, I wonder about the heat coming from a brass cylinder. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but it’s just another thought. Brass is very soft. There are never ending debates and concerns about cooking food inside aluminum pans, because aluminum can leach into the food. Just wondering about brass deposits maybe coming off the burners and leaching into grilled foods with this set up 🤔 I don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t go there… 😂. Thanks so much for this input! I hope others find this really helpful. Best!

[@dobrofool]

Bingo.. I just looked it up. Their user manual online literally says this: “When grilling with a Sprii burner, you should use the purest possible ethanol as fuel…” Yeahhhh. Nooooo… I don’t think so. That is a little scary. Which is why I purposed in my own mind to never use it for that purpose, and I also drew attention to that in the video. Excellent excellent advice coming from you on this! 👍👍

[@Oldsparkey]

@@dobrofool I have not grilled with that set up. I have seen it done , it makes a mess of your burner , yuck. Baking is a different story , works really well. Also when heating a pot of Ramen in the tent I use the food grade alcohol and not the denatured alcohol because of the fumes that would fill the tent. Denatured has a poison in it to keep anyone from drinking it.

[@dobrofool]

Yes. The mess is real. The burner, the windshield the whole 9 yards. I have yet to bake on mine, but I’m getting ready to try that! Good thoughts on use of a safer fuel, however, I never do open flames inside my tent. Tarp tent with no ground cover.. I’ve done that a few times in rain situations. Good stuff!

[@dobrofool]

Heads up! I just uploaded a follow up video on this (Part II) covering my experience trying a spirit burner with the steel plate. I did not use it for grilling.. but… I was sure to give a big shout out to @Oldsparkey in the video AND in the Description for your invaluable and critical input on this! I also did some research on neutral grain spirits, and added a link in the Description to a web site covering just about everything pertinent to the subject matter! And all this.. because of your important comments. So once again, Thanks Bro! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpWsXo2AbZpqkNUsi=KYHbvxnhTyi2cAl4 Interestingly I also experienced another huge issue to health (if grilling).. totally not expected and revealed in the video… 😬 Now. If only my channel had more traction, the word would get out to more folks… 🙄