Portable butane cooker ban

[Lophophaps]

This is unlikely to affect anyone but car-based campers. "NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe is warning consumers not to buy portable butane ‘lunchbox’ type cookers due to safety issues, including overheating."

http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/About_us/News_and_events/Media_releases/2015_media_releases/20150304_public_warning_on_portable_butane.page

[perfectlydark]

Yeah saw that yesterday. I take mine car camping/kayaking but it broke anyway a month ago. Looks like no replacement anytime soon!

[Gadgetgeek]

I feel like anyone buying a 10$ stove that looks like it was stamped out of old soup cans shouldn't be all that surprised when it turns out to be not so safe.

[perfectlydark]

Never had any issues with the several ive owned, no heating up etc. I can see how it could happen, but unless your doing something stupid or are unlucky 98% of the time like anything else they are safe enough

[Nuts]

Not loading the cans into the stove properly, hitting the piezo with the gas not directed through the jet. I read of this from a court transcript when looking into using the stoves (the canister exploded). Unfortunately it's probably going to mean the cheap canisters go as well as there wouldn't be a lot of other bulk users.

[perfectlydark]

Hope it doesny mean a price spike in the squat shaped cansiters

[Snowzone]

We own several of these and the only problem I've ever had is running out of gas at breaky time. There must be thousands of these cookers in use out there for very few problems. Are they going to ban BBQ's next because I'd imagine there is more injuries from them.

[Supertramp]

..........................

[keithy]

Never had any issues with the several ive owned, no heating up etc. I can see how it could happen, but unless your doing something stupid or are unlucky 98% of the time like anything else they are safe enough

I agree. It seems the NSW govt is erring on the side of caution? Have they made the independent safety certifiers reports available? Was it some form of defect in the manufacture that they discovered?

Gas safety QLD put out this video showing circumstances where these cookers could overheat and explode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKpbS0RhOfw, and these scenarios are outlined in the manuals/warning stickers as well on my cooker.

This US based chap has a website he's investigated exploding cookers before (the website is a bit old) - http://www.chemaxx.com/butane_explosion.htm, but examples of previous cooker explosions are of cookers of similar design. And the examples seem to point to incorrect usage of some form.

I wonder if this will extend to other states?

[Moondog55]

We have one of the listed GasMate 1080 and it has an Australian Gas approval sticker on it it also has very clear warnings about the maximum size of pot that should be used on it
It is a Darwin Award cooker
Not going to stop using ours when we picnic

[neilmny]

We have one of the listed GasMate 1080 and it has an Australian Gas approval sticker on it it also has very clear warnings about the maximum size of pot that should be used on it
It is a Darwin Award cooker
Not going to stop using ours when we picnic

We have the same one Moondog and as you say clearly marked regarding pot size. Maybe people are trying to make Paella on one of those monster dishes
If the canister is not properly engaged...........risk is similar to not doing up the fittings properly on any portable or otherwise gas BBQ.

[walkerchris77]

..........................

+1

[neilmny]

Worth a look

[Moondog55]

I was under the impression all of the stuff on sale here was CRV
Just as an aside I can remember as a kid they used to burn all the rubbish at the local tip and we could see exploding spray cans all the time, even empty cans contain enough butane propellant to go off like a hand grenade

[neilmny]

Just checked my stock of cans and noticed reference to AS 2023.3 on the can.
Google it and you get a whole heap of links about the Holden 202 3.3 litre motor.
Google is #%@!&! but that is a whole other topic.

[Snowzone]

Just checked my stock of cans and noticed reference to AS 2023.3 on the can.
Google it and you get a whole heap of links about the Holden 202 3.3 litre motor.
Google is #%@!&! but that is a whole other topic.

Lol, running a 202 in a box like that, you would have a serious overheating problem. Better to run Ford.

[neilmny]

Just checked my stock of cans and noticed reference to AS 2023.3 on the can.
Google it and you get a whole heap of links about the Holden 202 3.3 litre motor.
Google is #%@!&! but that is a whole other topic.

..........................Better to run Ford.

Mind your language

[drewmac]

That was funny..........thanks.....needed a laugh...

[harpo-the-hiker]

Many asians use this stove for hot pot. But I dont think anyone uses aluminium foil to reflect the heat back into the cannister as depicted in the video.
This video is basically set up to fail.

[Analog6]

I have three and I am not about to stop using them! You do have to be a little careful when engaging the cylinder but if you are sensible they are not dangerous. The nanny state strikes again. And just in case it spreads to Tassie I bought 6 cans of butane today

[Strider]

Bought a box of gas yesterday from Big W...just in case. Would be a shame if this format was to become discontinued.

[Moondog55]

Bought a box of gas yesterday from Big W...just in case. Would be a shame if this format was to become discontinued.

Half the chefs and cooks in OZ use those cans for the burners we use to make caramel toppings on desserts so I guess I better buy up big just in case I get a job

[Strider]

Haha good call MD

[keithy]

Noticed that Tassie has banned these cookers from sale as well:

Link to pic of newspaper ad from someone on another forum: http://gyazo.com/6edc9f40d2ce465293b1da114802dc68

[Snowzone]

Noticed that Tassie has banned these cookers from sale as well:

Link to pic of newspaper ad from someone on another forum: http://gyazo.com/6edc9f40d2ce465293b1da114802dc68

Yes Victoria has taken them off the shelves as well.

[north-north-west]

Amusing. I notice all the stores now have their entire stock of these canisters on sale.

[keithy]

Anyone noticed that these have been back for sale again? On the Gasmaster ones, the packaging says "New Design" but the re-design isn't much. The burner rack is now permanently in the upright position (no more flipping the pot holders around), and apparently they now include a piece of paper saying the max diameter of pan/pot is 20cm.

So this now adheres to AS2658-2008. And they are around the $25-$30 mark now.

[Gadgetgeek]

cool, as long as the cans are the same so I can drain them into other type. I'm good. Of course, that's a hypothetical, I wouldn't recommend anyone do anything dangerous like move butane from one container to another. Thats just silly (right?)

[MeanderingFlyFisher]

I heard on the weekend that the cans are made now with a crimped fitting on the lid to stop it exploding like a hand grenade.Now it just pops off when it is over heated.Can't confirm this as yet as I still only have the old cans.