Jim Rice wrote:
>
> Immersion heaters are almost a relic from the past.....gone the way of the
> mess kit, which they supported.
Jim gave a very accurate description of how immersion heaters are
properly used. However, he failed to mention the fun quotient which
immersion heaters could add to setting up a mobile messing location.
For those unfamiliar with this piece of equipment, a short description
follows. Immersion heaters are composed of a large thin steel box
section 'donut' sized to fit a 40gallon steel trashcan. A box shaped
flue/chimney arrangement with a bracket to hold a one gallon can of
gasolene is welded to the donut and extends about a foot above the top
of the trashcan (4-4 1/2 feet). The gasolene can has a small needle
valve which allows gas to drip into the flue. There is a small grate at
the bottom of the flue which splatters the gas drops allowing the
flaming particles to burn in the donut thereby heating the water from
the bottom of the can upward. Two or three lengths of standard stove
pipe sections are fitted together and placed on the chimney extension
with a light friction fit.
The proper way to light the heater is to take a four foot steel rod with
a wick on one end, put some gas on the wick, light it and lower it into
the chimney to warm it and start it drawing air through the flue. One
then opens the needle valve a crack to start a SLOW DRIP and throw a
match into the flue, starting the first few drops to ignite and burn.
The rod with the wick is then withdrawn and the stove pipe sections
fitted to the chimney outlet. THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE CLEARLY PRINTED ON
THE LID OF THE HEATER. HOWEVER, there is allways some young SNUFFY who
decides to ignore or not read the instructions and, relying on pictures
of the setup that he saw in the manual or gleaned from basic training
association with the heaters, decides to fire the unit up!
Typically, he will fill the trashcan with water and mount the gas can
and stove pipe sections all in the operating position, open the valve
for a few seconds, letting a small STREAM of gas into the flue where it
splatters and partially VAPORISES in the donut. He then lights the wick
on the rod and thrusts it into the flue! The resulting explosion usually
launches the stove pipe sections like a rocket acompanied by a very
satisfying deep BOOM. This exercise was followed by much snickering from
the cooks and other KP draftees and allowed he Mess Sergeant to try out
all his old and some new terms of invective on the young Snuffy. Great Fun.
NOTE: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! ALL KIDDING ASIDE, THESE IMMERSION
HEATERS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF PROPER STARTING PROCEDURES ARE NOT
FOLLOWED. IF THERE IS TOO MUCH GASOLENE IN THE DONUT WHEN LIT THE THIN
STEEL CAN BECOME SHRAPNEL AND THE ONE GALLON GAS TANK COULD BECOME A
FLAMING BOMB. THIS USUALLY DOES NOT HAPPEN, BUT IT CAN. THE UNITS WORK
VERY WELL WHEN PROPERLY LIT.
NEXT WEEK WE WILL REVIEW THE REFUELING AND LIGHTING OF GASOLENE FIRED
FIELD KITCHEN BURNER UNITS........
Mel Miller
2 X M725
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