PORTABLE GAS BUTANE STOVES

Annie8702 · Veteran Member

PORTABLE GAS BUTANE STOVES

hako · Guru

Check this link Annie and read all about it:
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t59867859/wa-list-of-faulty-non-compliant-lunchbox-cookers/

aussietraveller · Guru

NSW RFS have told all Brigades in The state to properly dispose of these type of units as several have exploded in fire and obviously there is a serious risk of injury.

kiwijims · Guru

Here is an up to date report from the W.A. Dept of commerce................

http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/public-warning-portable-butane-lunchbox-cookers

It seems that W.A. has gone a step further by banning six models, not only from sale, but use of them as well.

I have noticed Kmart have now cleared the shelves of all these Lunch box cookers but, they have heaps off the dangerous type of gas canisters still on the shelf for sale, going by one report, it is the cylinder that is the danger not the cooker, have a read of this statement...........

http://www.elgas.com.au/blog/1419-nsw-bans-portable-butane-stove-cookers-lunchbox-cookers

I've still got my cooker and not parting with it just yet.

K.J.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

We've been using these single burner stoves for about 20+ years now with no problems. Our current stove is 5+ years old. So its either a problem with the gas cannisters or frypans which are too wide and direct heat down onto the cannisters causing them to rupture.

We're in VIC now and noticed in both this State and NSW the dept stores like K Mart have heaps of cannisters in cardboard boxes for sale saying they are explosion proof, they have no stoves for sale

I expect we will see new stoves out soon

Pete49 · Senior Member

Companion and another brand use these canisters for small portable heaters so they are still available.

Having said that I still use our single and double cookers and never had a problem but then I don't use oversize pots and pans on them which is what the manufacturers say you shouldn't do. Ever since the nanny state mentality started everybody now needs some-one to blame for their own stupidity rather than take responsibility for their own actions.

Pete

pawsoz · Senior Member

I can not understand why these cookers have suddenly become so dangerous, I have had one for a great many years and never had any problems.....

Annie

Annie8702 · Veteran Member

Thanks everyone. We just weren't sure if we should bring it with us on our trip. It comes in handy sometimes. Maybe we'll just bring it and if the authorities want us to throw it away then we will.

NeilandRaine · Guru

pawsoz wrote:
I can not understand why these cookers have suddenly become so dangerous, I have had one for a great many years and never had any problems.....

Annie

What happened is a few people have put large pots on the cookers and the heat spread across the base thus putting heat directly on the gas bottle. Only takes a few fools to stuff the world

Cupie · Guru

I have first hand info on only one explosion.

They were using a very large pan/pot to heat up stew or similar.

The explosion ejected the canister which caused an injury to the adult's leg. A child standing nearby got severe burns to the face.

Fortunately neither injury resulted in permanent damage.

I still use my Ubute double burner but I face the control side away from me and use only the new vented canisters.

I also keep others well away when cooking. I might dig out my old primus set up.

hako · Guru

Cupie wrote:
SNIP I might dig out my old primus set up.

We used them in the early 50's in Sydney when a Mr Condy used to turn the electricity off at Bunnerong powerhouse (strike action?)....anyway quite a few time I remember seeing it erupt in flames when no enough pre-heating with the metho had been done....and also remember using a p-r-i-c-k-e-r quite often. I always figured them dangerous but maybe it was just the way my parents used it.

Regards

kiwijims · Guru

This might be slightly off topic ( oops ) but, who can remember the early kero heaters, the very old ones used a glass bottle inserted upside down in the back, I can remember the old man fitting the full bottle and always managing to loose some of the contents over the floor.

then the new heaters came out with the metal kero tank below the burner, these would rust through in no time and leak kero everywhere.

I don't recall a Major Nation-wide panic and recall at that time, maybe the Nanny State was asleep.

K.J.

Nomes · Senior Member

My neighbour is a fireman Sydney.

There has been a huge increase in fires from people using these burners in home units/apartments where there are no gas stoves for wok cooking. They are called to 5 fires a week just from his station alone.

In one case they were using the porta gas burner with bottle in the lounge, the outcome was catastrophic for all the people in the building.

Too many lives are being risked, especially dangerous in the many high-rise buildings now in Sydney.

I used to have one for making my morning cuppa when camping but I always worried about those little containers in the back of my car.

-- Edited by Nomes on Friday 24th of April 2015 08:41:39 AM

BruDi · Senior Member

Agree totally

Di