WARNING Butane Cookers

migra · Senior Member

WARNING Butane Cookers

briche · Guru

Thanks Migra, I have just come across the article on FB and thought I should put it on the site. It's a bit of a bummer as they are very good at what they do but if they are not safe, better safe than sorry.

briche

pricey43 · Guru

We were at Anaconda, Rays and a 4x4 store today. All were still selling stoves and cans.

jon641 · Veteran Member

I have heard of people blowing up lpg barbys as well, are they going to ban them as well? unfortunately there is no cure for stupidity, will keep using mine as long as they have the canisters, funny though, they took all the butane cookers off the shelves at the camping/fishing world in Rockingham yesterday,subject to investigation by some office clerk, but you could still buy the canisters.

D and D · Guru

The change is in the supply chain and it's now illegal to sell or stock this equipment - the alert does not ban their use by people who have already bought them although it does recommend that they do not continue to use them.

The alert has been issued by the NSW Office of Fair Trading and is only applicable to NSW so if you're in Queensland or WA or anywhere other than NSW the prohibition does not currently apply.

It really doesn't matter if you've been using this piece of kit since time immemorial and haven't experienced a problem, the NSW Office of Fair Trading and other regulatory agencies have deemed then unsafe and non-compliant with Australian Standards and, in NSW at least, have banned their sale to the public. If you have a problem with that take it up with your MP because whinging about it on internet forums is just a waste of time.

Dave

hako · Guru

We usually have trouble with the butane cans freezing up when they get near empty though we only travel in the colder months. Maybe there will be a black market for the cookers. The canisters are used in other devices so they should still be available. Pretty soon any type of open flame will be illegal and only because we allow it to happen.

Sheba · Guru

I've never had a problem with mine, and I even bought a Double one, for when I want to cook more than one thing at a time. Haven't done that yet though.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Izabarack · Guru

Things are different in NSW. In QLD they alert you to unsafe methods of use. Everything is dangerous to some extent and how you use it can make all the difference. It seems the NSW alert identifies that some models do not comply with standards and those models are the ones banned from sale.

Iza

NeilandRaine · Guru

Trouble is users not the machine. People put big pots or fry pans that extend out as far as the cylinder, when it is burning the heat and flame extend out to the sides, the gas bottle heats up and bobs your uncle. We have been using them since before sliced bread and never lost one. Better go out get some more cylinders.

Phil C · Guru

NeilandRaine wrote:
Trouble is users not the machine. People put big pots or fry pans that extend out as far as the cylinder, when it is burning the heat and flame extend out to the sides, the gas bottle heats up and bobs your uncle. We have been using them since before sliced bread and never lost one. Better go out get some more cylinders.

I can only agree wholeheartedly with that comment. This is about stupid people doing stupid things. Maybe not about dodgy products.

kiwijims · Guru

HMMMM, Makes you wonder, I can picture some big Co-op behind this scare, they get all available cookers off the market, then in a couple of months time they produce a "Super Safe Model" get it safety approved then capture the whole market. !!!

I wonder how many fools don't take the cooker out of the carry case while cooking, a great way to over-heat them ?

Like a lot of other people, we have been using this type of cooker for a long time but, maybe we have also been lucky,

They say that the cooker can over heat and become unsafe, is there any documented proof that this has happened ?

Any type of appliance will become dangerous if used incorrectly, like someone mentioned, how long before they ban BBQ's if they are more than, say, two years old, or a touch that has had batteries in it and may leak acid if left for a long period?

Visual Proof that the item is dangerous is the only way to ban it's use.

K.J.

Happywanderer · The Master

Hmmm, So do I rush out and buy another one while I'm in Qld including a box of canisters, before they completely go out of production?
Or is this warning a scam
So many different stories and different rules for each state. How does anyone know what to do.

Papou · Senior Member

Shyte , :) been using one of these for as far back as i can remember in my Boat for making my cuppa and cooking the odd fillet and now after all these years they have discovered they are not safe!!???.. What have they been doing all this time???.. Think if they are unsafe then they should also remove the gas bottles that go with them off the shelves...

aussie_paul · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:

So many different stories and different rules for each state. How does anyone know what to do.

I really dislike, no HATE is the word, National non standardisation of rule/laws!!!!!!!!!!!!! furious

Aussie Paul. smile

madaboutled · Guru

aussie_paul wrote:
Happywanderer wrote:

So many different stories and different rules for each state. How does anyone know what to do.
I really dislike, no HATE is the word, National non standardisation of rule/laws!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aussie Paul.

This is off topic but... I Have to agree with you there Paul, Australian Standards when complianced in other States is generally not recognised in NSW. When I inquired to do something recently that sholuld have been straight forward because the items were complianced to Australian Standards the official reply I got was " it's not NSW Australian Standards". Seems we live in Australia and must abide by 7 sets of rules/laws. What's the point of going to the expence of having something done to "Australian Standards" if it's not going to be recognised in all states?

Sorry, my gripe for the day.... had to get that off my chest (again).

Re the Stoves... Yeh, I have one too and never had any problems. Mine even came with s sticker that listed a whole bunch of stupid things not to do. Seems these days there are some generations that need a certificate to apply some common sence.

Regards Steve.

-- Edited by madaboutled on Friday 6th of March 2015 01:47:36 PM

jade46 · Senior Member

Took my unused one back to Bunnings QLD this morning with a printout of the problem.They new about the problem and have removed all from shelves.This is SE Brisbane Bunnings.Happy to give a refund for stove and cannisters

Sheba · Guru

madaboutled wrote:
Re the Stoves... Mine even came with a sticker that listed a whole bunch of stupid things not to do. Seems these days there are some generations that need a certificate to apply some common sense.
Regards Steve.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Totally agree there Steve. Mine had instructions on what not to do as well. I'm sure they all do.
Cheers,
Sheba.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Paul and Steve, and the others. My big hate about Australia is each State ad Territory has its own laws and regulations for the same thing.

Buy something which is legal in one State and its illegal in another and you need to PAY them money and spin on your head while filling in wads of paper.

Ive just got through the drama of increasing the ATM on my caravan - its different in each State - what a load of bollocks, but I guess it keeps 1000s of govt seat polishers in jobs who would be unable to get a job in private industry. To my knowledge, we are one of the few countries in the world who pay local council/shire rates, States taxes and then Federal taxes to keep all these chairs shining

johnq · Guru

I am another who is exasperated by the voluntary compliance, so often non-compliance - with the Australian Standards.

Government inspectors are diplomats who are interested in getting up their number of complaints to justify their roles, but are never proactive.

-Sorry to the government inspectors who endeavour to do a good job, but lack support from above.

ken thomas · Guru

I have been told this is a scam and is not on the govt recalls
Ken

kiwijims · Guru

I have just received the monthly emailed news letter from C.M.C.A.

Sure enough, there it is telling all Members Not to use the Lunch Box Cooker, nothing more added, only a copy of the news item.!!

Now wouldn't you expect a Mob like this would make more enquiries, just for the Safety sake of their Members, if nothing else.

I suppose this Elite group would not have many common cheap cookers in their Motor Homes anyway. yawn yawn yawn

K.J.

chaslib · Senior Member

You are right, they are not on the recalls.gov website but I guess it is possible for fair trading to take action without it being on the recall register. I subscribe to the website anytime I start researching particular brands for purchases I am interested in.