Lunch Box Cookers

brickies · Guru

Lunch Box Cookers

Clare46 · Senior Member

I saw it on the news saying butane stoves had been withdrawn from sale due to the risk of the canisters exploding if they get hot

-- Edited by Clare46 on Wednesday 4th of March 2015 11:19:51 PM

-- Edited by Clare46 on Wednesday 4th of March 2015 11:47:02 PM

tonyd · Guru

Here's the official report:

www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/About_us/News_and_events/Media_releases/2015_media_releases/20150304_public_warning_on_portable_butane.page

I've used one of these for ages. They MAY be dangerous if you use a big frying pan which overlaps the cylinder and heats it up.
But you don't, do you?

There's a whiff of the nanny state here.

Cheers, Tony

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I think Brickies may have been talking about the 12v one, that a lot of truckies use rather than the butane cookers.

jade46 · Senior Member

I have used one for years with a small BBQ plate.No problem.However I wonder if the cylinders will be taken off the market?

brickies · Guru

No Jules it is the Butane one , I had to Google it to see what they were talking about ,I found a Queensland Gov Ytube post about it it seem what Tonyd stated is one of the problem over hanging Frypan or pots which over heats the Butane cylinder

Oma · Guru

We have used them for years but only to boil the small kettle for our cuppa breaks instead of turning gas on for stove. Certainly does not overlap & never on long enough to get the canister hot. If camping use our 2 burner gas stove with normal gas bottles.

Phil C · Guru

We have had ours for years. We remove the canister when in transit and make sure it's cool before packing up. Maybe NSW has the problem?

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Margaret and I were close by when one being used by her brother exploded about 10 Years ago.
I would never use one and would advise others not to as well.
There are better options that are cheaper to run.

Cheers,
Peter

TropicalRose · Veteran Member

As a newbie I would love to hear more about the cheaper and easier options. Any advice welcome. Cheers

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

TropicalRose wrote:
As a newbie I would love to hear more about the cheaper and easier options. Any advice welcome. Cheers

https://www.google.com/search?q=single+burner+gas+stove

A single burner gas stove and a small refillable bottle will be much cheaper to run and much safer.

There are many available.

Cheers,

Peter

hako · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
TropicalRose wrote:
As a newbie I would love to hear more about the cheaper and easier options. Any advice welcome. Cheers
https://www.google.com/search?q=single+burner+gas+stove
A single burner gas stove and a small refillable bottle will be much cheaper to run and much safer.
There are many available.

Cheers,
Peter

The trouble with the ones you describe is that they are very inconvenient to use - you must have the cooktop on your camp table with a length of stiff high pressure hose to a chunky gas bottle sitting under the table ready to trip over. I've had a gas hose split and burst into flame so they are also not safe. Looks like more complication!

tonyd · Guru

I was in my local (Perth, northern suburbs) BigW today and they had racks full of the butane canisters for sale. Must stock up before the nannies arrive here in the liberated West.

And I'll get some fishhooks, too in case they are banned becos someone got one in a finger. And a new kitchen knife. My existing one cut me last week.

What's happening to this country? We need to toughen up, stop listening to the wimps and stand up for what we believe in. And stop doing stupid things like putting great big wide frying pans on small gas stoves and being surprised when the canister explodes.

There is an upside: it's improving the gene pool.

Cheers, Tony

Izabarack · Guru

Seems the non-compliant ones have been banned from sale. We have had a couple for years and no problems. I use a double burner one at least weekly. Have been aware of the safety considerations for years and take a bit of care to ensure the can does not get overheated. At a dollar a can for the gas, I won't be getting rid of mine.

Iza

wasn_me · Guru

Are there any out there that meet the standards. I have used an Oztrail one for many years without problem.

I had a stainless steel one in a yacht some 15 years ago. I paid $85 for it. I used to store the cartridge in an out side compartment.

The cartridges are used in other products. I have a companion heater that uses them.

They are so convenient.

Cheers Pete

Phil C · Guru

Is this issue about compliance to standards or stupidity in use? I'm sure as hell not going to chuck mine away as it is extremely handy, we put a small kettle on it to boil the billy.

One thing for sure, IMHO if these are used safely by wise people there should not be an issue.

Just my opinion guys, sorry can't agree to just up and chuck it away.

BTW I general use an induction cooktop when we have 240volts

-- Edited by Phil C on Friday 6th of March 2015 11:29:56 AM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Trouble maker biggrin biggrin biggrin

I had one for a while but never used it as I really didn't like it so got rid of it. I must be the odd one out, but then I am odd, beet ya Phil smile

Phil C · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
Trouble maker
I had one for a while but never used it as I really didn't like it so got rid of it. I must be the odd one out, but then I am odd, beet ya Phil

ODD? My mate Dougwe is far from odd, in matter of fact you are very even mate biggrin

D and D · Guru

Phil C wrote:
Is this issue about compliance to standards or stupidity in use? I'm sure as hell not going to chuck mine away as it is extremely handy, we put a small kettle on it to boil the billy.

One thing for sure, IMHO if these are used safely by wise people there should not be an issue.

Just my opinion guys, sorry can't agree to just up and chuck it away.
BTW I general use an induction cooktop when we have 240volts

-- Edited by Phil C on Friday 6th of March 2015 11:29:56 AM

Who's suggesting you should chuck it away? Nobody!

Dave

Phil C · Guru

D and D wrote:
Phil C wrote:
Is this issue about compliance to standards or stupidity in use? I'm sure as hell not going to chuck mine away as it is extremely handy, we put a small kettle on it to boil the billy.

One thing for sure, IMHO if these are used safely by wise people there should not be an issue.

Just my opinion guys, sorry can't agree to just up and chuck it away.
BTW I general use an induction cooktop when we have 240volts

-- Edited by Phil C on Friday 6th of March 2015 11:29:56 AM
Who's suggesting you should chuck it away? Nobody!
Dave

Nobody mate.

Wanderlust · Veteran Member

This is the link to DFT re butane cookers...

http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/About_us/News_and_events/Media_releases/2015_media_releases/20150304_public_warning_on_portable_butane.page

D and D · Guru

This link provides more info on the nature of the sales restriction and the reasons for it - hopefully it answers some of the questions asked in this thread: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/Consumers/Product_and_service_safety/Lunchbox_cookers.page?

Dave

HiAce98 · Veteran Member

Been using these regularly for a long time with no problem. There was always the story doing the rounds about dimwits leaving the trivet upside down and blowing it, but honestly! I disengage the canister as soon as I'm finished with it and have no intention of chucking it out in favour of the bulky LPG type stoves. I'll take responsibility for my own actions thanks.

Jaahn · Guru

Phil C wrote:
Is this issue about compliance to standards or stupidity in use? I'm sure as hell not going to chuck mine away as it is extremely handy, we put a small kettle on it to boil the billy.

One thing for sure, IMHO if these are used safely by wise people there should not be an issue.

Just my opinion guys, sorry can't agree to just up and chuck it away.
BTW I general use an induction cooktop when we have 240volts
-- Edited by Phil C on Friday 6th of March 2015 11:29:56 AM

HI confuse

I WILL QUOTE FROM THE STATEMENT;

What is the background to this issue?

Fair Trading has been concerned about the safety of these appliances due to several incidents of explosions resulting in injury. However it appeared that misuse rather than non-compliance with the Australian Standards contributed to these explosions. In 2014, in light of these incidents, state regulators including Fair Trading worked with two of the gas Certifying Bodies to re-test these cookers. These tests found the appliances to be non-compliant to the Australian Standards. This resulted in the Certifying Bodies suspending the approval certifications in February 2015.

It seem the incidents that bought this matter to their notice were caused by "misuse rather than non-compliance". Use properly people which is a universal statement. hmm

Jaahn