Volcano Grill (Read 4694 times)

ImKu

Volcano Grill
« on: September 11, 2012, 08:39:35 PM »
http://bereadyinchawaii.squarespace.com/volcano-portable-cooking-stove/

I'm still trying to get my emergency supplies together and thought I could use some help.

I've been eyeing this grill because of the apparent versatility of the unit.  Found great reviews online, but the price is a little steep.  Anyone with personal experiences?  This looks like a good option for emergencies due to the ability to use different types of fuels. 
On the side question, how much propane do you keep saved up for emergency use?
The mind acts like an enemy for those who do not control it.
- Bhagavad Gita

Tom_G

Re: Volcano Grill
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2012, 08:45:26 PM »
This is nearly a joke.  You can use charcoal or wood in any container, including one that has a propane burner in the bottom.  Or, to look at it another way, any grill that uses propane can also be used with charcoal or wood.  You're right, it's pricey.  That's because it's nothing but marketing.
The difference between theory and reality is that, in theory, there is no difference between theory and reality.

ImKu

Re: Volcano Grill
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2012, 09:15:20 PM »
Excuse my lack of experience in this field,  wasn't meant to come off as a joke...  tryin to start somewhere.  Here's my reasoning for wanting something smaller (recommendations/alternatives would be nice), I already have a large propane grill, but my thought on using it in emergencies is that heating up something small would use up more fuel because of the large surface area.  Like if I just wanted to boil a small pot of water, I think I would be wasting fuel.  So, i'm guessing that your recommendation would be to just by a smaller propane grill.

My other question still applies of how much propane do you save for emergency use? 
The mind acts like an enemy for those who do not control it.
- Bhagavad Gita

jc2721

Re: Volcano Grill
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2012, 09:30:20 PM »
Buy one of those portable butane stoves--around $20 new, $5-$10 at the swap meet.  Cartridges are about $1.29 each, easy to find, and they last for a good long time.  Perfect for boiling water and cooking 1 pot dishes (I use mine to make stir-fry all the time, electric range not so good for wok use).

Tom_G

Re: Volcano Grill
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2012, 09:40:08 PM »
I didn't mean that your question was a joke, but that the product itself  is. 

Now, propane is a much more efficient heat source than charcoal or wood, if you look at it as a BTU/volume ratio.  That being said, there are some advantages to wood and charcoal (particularly wood) in that you can continue to find them after a SHTF scenario. 

How much propane?  That's a lot like asking "how much water" or "how much food?"  If you expect the interruption in services to last a relatively short time, and the only thing you;re using propane for is heating food/water (not running a generator), 10 gallons should be sufficient.  I figure 5 gallons a week is enough to cook 21 meals and boil a couple of gallons of water per day.  That's based on years of backyard bar-b-queuing, not on recommendations from outside sources.  If you see yourself becoming the center of civilization for your neighborhood, you might want to think more along the lines of 5 gallons per day. 

Propane lighting doesn't take a lot.  A little Coleman-sized can will keep a single-mantle lantern burning most of a night.  You can buy adapters to refill those little cans from a larger tank (although I've never tried one).  I'd estimate an extra gallon a week for each lantern.

Propane generators, well, that's a completely different beast.  Consumption rates would be available in the instruction manual. 

I once lived in a house that had an outside propane tank.  It ran the stove, oven, hot water heater, bathroom heaters and central heat.  It was in to 250 gallon range.  Typically, we'd fill it once at the start of winter, and again at the start of spring.  That 250 gallons would easily last the 8 months of spring-summer-fall, and keep us comfy-warm all winter without threat of running out.  Peak consumption during non-heater months was around a gallon a day. 
The difference between theory and reality is that, in theory, there is no difference between theory and reality.

TeamMidori

Volcano Grill
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2012, 09:44:34 PM »
It's not a joke. I had one years
Ago. We kept it in our work truck cabinet. It probably is still there(dont work there anymore) It was just the Regular one though. Not propane. It was solid and fit in a bag.

ImKu

Re: Volcano Grill
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2012, 09:52:53 PM »
Thanks for your input Tom_G.  I'm just looking for a good solid month supply of everything my family needs.  Based loosely on your BBQ usage, I think I have a rough idea of how much I want to store.  As far as the butane stoves, I'll look into that since I was planning on going to the swap meet this weekend anyways.  The ability to boil water and cook small meals efficiently is important to me so more research is needed on my part...
The mind acts like an enemy for those who do not control it.
- Bhagavad Gita

jc2721

Re: Volcano Grill
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2012, 05:57:42 PM »
I saw a couple of butane stoves for $5 each at the Aloha swap meet today.