About Bibler Hanging Stoves...

I bought a Bibler hanging stove a few years ago, after they had gone out of production, but before the hanging JetBoil came into existence. I am trying to get my systems in place for some long routes, and thought it time to spark up the stove.
I have a lot of experience with MSR XGK's and Whisperlites, both liquid fuel stoves, but have never used/ lit/ cleaned a butane/ iso-butane stove. I checked out the o-ring (good condition) and jet nozzle with a magnifier (quite clean & free of carbon). I can't really see that there is any more to a gas stove than screwing the canister on (checked the threads with a pin micrometer, then gently tried screwing canister to stove) till it stops, and opening the valve, and lighting the thing.

My questions, before I blow the roof off my garage...
- Is there any more to a gas stove than what I've described?
- Once the canister seal has been pierced by the (?) stem of the stove, can the
canister be removed?
- What keeps the valve from opening while that cheery little
bottle of explosive is in my haul bag?
- I'm assuming iso-butane burns pretty clean, aka, not a lot of soot, but H2O,
CO2 and monoxide? Would this stove would need some sort of venting at the
bottom of a closed portaledge (assuming it's otherwise battened down for a
storm) to let out the heavier-than - air poisonous gasses?

I welcome responses from anyone who can speak to iso-butane in general, and/ or
Bibler Stoves in particular.

Is this the stove you're referring to? larsonweb.com/stoves/id1.html

If so it looks like it's a standard Primus burner with a Bibler-designed hanging kit/windshield/pot support.

Q. Is there any more to a gas stove than what I've described?
A. Not really.

Q. Once the canister seal has been pierced by the (?) stem of the stove, can the canister be removed?
A. Yes. All standard canisters have an internal valve (a Lindal valve) that prevents gas from escaping.

Q. What keeps the valve from opening while that cheery little bottle of explosive is in my haul bag?
A. See above. Best to remove the canister from the burner when not in use, that way you avoid the risk of the burner control being turned open when it's jostling around inside your haul bag.

Q. Would this stove would need some sort of venting at the bottom of a closed portaledge to let out the heavier-than-air poisonous gasses?
A. **YES**

BTW if you're planning to make extensive use of this then why not invest in a JetBoil or MSR Reactor + hanging kit? Lighter, more compact and more fuel-efficient.

The new Primus eta lite comes with the hang option and the support feet for using a larger pot.

Martin,
-Yep, that's the Bibler in question. Hallelujah on being able to remove the canister while hauling, that was my main concern. Thanks for the link. The Reactor sounds like the way to go, over all, although it sounds kind of like an XGK - no simmer, all boil. Given the wall I'm looking at, I may have the option of melting snow part of the time, so the Reactor might be it.

Lot of reasons I'm not running to get a JetBoil, mostly, I'm cheap, and already own the Bibler. Although... ten ounces is quite a difference on a wall. I don't know whether or not I'm going to make extensive use of a hanging stove - one big route and I may whimper my way to flat ground permanently, but after 2 walls, I'd probably upgrade.

Rockin',
- Thanks, I'll add the Primus to the potential replacements for the Bibler, should I decide to do more than two walls. Check out Martin's link there, some pretty thorough reviews of stoves.

Gerard

Well, Keep it Simple is the word for walls.

I've hauled this jetboil up 12 walls in the last five years and it works fine. In an enclosed fly, out in the open, breakfast and dinner, 100% success.

To hang the stove, I folded down the neoprene and simply duct taped the cords to the pot. I've used it like that for a few years now. It never gets hot enough that high on the pot to melt anything.

Coffee on El Cap

I don't usually take a fuel cartridge as big as the one in the photo but it was the only one I could get at the time. I'm sure we used less than half of it to boil two mugs worth of coffee every mooring and two dinners every night for 9 days on the wall.

My needs for it are pretty simple. I don't "cook" with it, just boil water. I don't need it to melt snow either.

Hey Mark,

Good to hear from you, and another voice in favor of the JetBoil. I'm using the Bibler on a daily basis, and so far so good. The drawback seems to be the weird bulk of the reflector, but it'll do for a first wall.

I'm mostly trying to keep my life simple and avoid the "Constant Upgrade" disease that will have me endlessly upgrading gear, and not getting out climbing... if the Bibler turns out to be a total pain, I'll shift to the JetBoil or the Reactor. So far though... coffee and Muesli on vertical terrain on the back wall of the Mountaineers with zero problems.

A semi-side track: I'm using Jet Boil canisters, and seem to get a reasonable amount of cooking time from them. I haven't tried the MSR canisters yet, but it would be kind of fun to do a burn time test, and compare them. All in all, them seem stunningly simple compared to the 'ol MSR Saturn V...

I've never done a big wall, but I think you're fine. Light that bitch up. If it works in the garage, great. If not drop some bones on a jet boil, or eat cold foods. (We do it all the time backpacking in the desert under fire restrictions.)
Don't burn anything.
-PBR

I hear ya on the never ending upgrade thing.

I have many , many techniques that can make wall climbing and life easier and more enjoyable. They work for me but if they don't fit in with the way someone else thinks or approaches walls, they ain't worth diddly.

Fiddling with gear to find the absolute best piece is a rather sisyphuian task. Sometimes, "yeah, I like that color" is the best way to go!

Cheers!

Recently built DIY Bibler copy.  Takes about $16 

in parts.  Built as replacement for stove stolen from my truck.