Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Simmer ability- Dragonfly vs Whisperlite Help
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Banksiana |
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BrianDay |
The Dragonfly will simmer all the way down to a candle flame. The Dragonfly is LOUD. I prefer the Whisperlite for most uses because it is lighter and quieter. If you know the Whisperlite trick you can simmer pretty effectively with the stove. Prime the stove, get it up and running, turn it off, blow out the flame, burp the fuel bottle and relight at the burner. With no air pressure in the bottle the stove will still draw fuel and will burn at a VERY low simmer. I'll attach a link to a review with a video that shows this process. I like to use a heat diffuser between my fry bake and stove, regardless of whether I'm using a Dragonfly or Whisperlite. It spreads out the heat across the pan and makes for more even cooking. A simple heat diffuser is the top of an MSR Alpine Cookset placed on the stove with the opening upward. This creates an air space between the stove and transfers heat to the pan more evenly. This will burn and warp the heck out of the lid but it does work. Even with an XGK. I currently use an old Outback Oven diffuser that is excellent if a little heavy. Whisperlite Review with "Simmer Trick" Fry Bake Review with Heat Diffuser Brian |
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gotwins |
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BrianDay |
gotwins: "Thanks for the trick, Brian. Tried it last night with my Whisperlite, and it worked like a charm! I might even take the Whisperlite on my next trip instead of the Dragonfly!" You're welcome! Pretty slick isn't it? Never imagined you could get the Whisperlite to simmer that well. Brian |
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Frenchy19 |
Dragontamer |
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Jackfish |
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gotwins |
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billconner |
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billconner |
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gotwins |
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butthead |
Simmering with a Whisperlight can be done, but is somewhat tricky. Low fuel pressure is the key. This also works with XGK's and Simmerlight's. May be a quirk with my stoves but I have found removing the "shaker Jet" needle to help simmer and general stove function. I have pulled the needles from all my MSR stoves since. I do regular maintenance on them and have no clogging issues. butthead |
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Savage Voyageur |
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BrianDay |
Savage Voyageur: "I really have no idea why MSR just doesn’t redesign just the burner part to be quiet? " MSR builds white gas stove parts in house and there is a lot of conservation of parts across the MSR stove family with ported burners used on Whisperlite family of stoves and bell/plate burners used on the XGK and Dragonfly. They've been making these parts for YEARS and I anticipate the reason they haven't gone to a redesign is an effort to keep the cost, complexity and weight of the final product down. The Dragon Tamer seems like a cool accessory. Brian |
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gotwins |
butthead: "A flame burning inside/under the cap is underburn and can damage the cap and stove. That is why I always let the prime burn till fully out. Then light the burner at the top of the cap with a low setting on the flame control. My whisperlite is so old it is pre shaker jet! |
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butthead |
BrianDay: "Savage Voyageur: "I really have no idea why MSR just doesn’t redesign just the burner part to be quiet? " That's the reason. All the bell&plate burners Firefly/XGK/Dragonfly share dimensions, with the XGK (Model 9) released in 1973. Add to that the cap does make maintenance and the lighting procedure more complicated. MSR is also quite serious about liability, which is why the parts are difficult to source. butthead |
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butthead |
butthead |
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butthead |
I had to replace the original hose due to leakage hence the red abrasion sleeve. butthead |
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THEGrandRapids |
I cook eggs, pancakes, and occasionally fish (if no campfire) on my whisperlite, essentially using the wind screen as an elevated stand and my FryBake pan to cook. I will also do a twiggy fire on top to bake brownies or cake or sweet potatoes pie (again generally over a campfire). I haven't had a total collapse yet, but it does require someone to help with cooking, as I am gripping the pan with my pot grippers and holding 4-6" off the burner so I don't warp the pan and burn the food. Long story short- If I bought a dragon fly would I be able to skip the balancing act and just cook those food with the pan resting right on the burner, or will I not be able to get the flame that low? I figure I waste a bunch of fuel by using my elevated method, but it was how I learned to use it. |
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Banksiana |
It is possible to simmer with the Whisperlite but it requires great patience and frequent adjustment of valve and pressure. There is considerable delay between valve adjustment and change in flame level, one must work in incremental adjustment followed by a thirty second to a minute wait for the results of adjustment. |
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unshavenman |
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gotwins |
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gotwins |
butthead: "Like this early Whisperlight with the small fuel tube and rubber fuel line? A little later than that, circa 1995. It has the brass braided fuel line, but no shaker. It’s also the standard Whisperlite, not International. |
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gotwins |
Here it is. The tank I bought with it says 25th anniversary of MSR, which based on Wikipedia, would date this as 1994 (started in 1969). Since I have the 25th anniversary tank, I decided I needed the 50th anniversary tank they made a couple years ago and ordered it last night. :) |
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gotwins |
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butthead |
I will suggest a new style "seahorse" pump. Those old grey pumps get brittle, the new ones at a nylon impregnated plastic and more durable, in spite having a bit less compression. Newer "seahorse" New just under $40 or look thru Ebay, you may find a new pump in a used stove combined under $50. All MSR pumps are the same except for the Dragonfly which has an internal fuel disconnect and fuel line fitting. Old Dragonfly pump Newer Dragonfly pump butthead |
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Model94 |
Banksiana: "Maybe I just got lucky, but my Dragonfly is not that loud." Loud? Vivid memories of a SVEA 123 "taking off" |
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billconner |
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