Practical stoves "contest"

["Paul S. Anderson" <psanders@ilstu.edu>]

Stovers and other friends,

Several messages have gone around about the "fastest boil" stove contest 
that Kevin is graciously offering to sponsor or conduct or coordinate or 
facilitate (I am not trying to define what he will be doing.)

Other messages (such as Crispin's and mine) have sought a more "practical 
stove" focus, to which Kevin has responded with encouragement that Crispin 
or I or another person(s) should sponsor / organize such a contest for a 
practical stove.

In several ways I consider that the entire history of the Stoves list serve 
has been directed toward the "practical stove for people in developing 
areas".  And maybe no contest is needed.

On the other hand, perhaps we should have a "practical stoves" contest, and 
I hereby offer to be ONE of the possible coordinators.

What I envision is the EARLY stage of a contest to just get some progress 
noted, and to get some order to the contest and candidates.

In principle, I like Crispin's categories of reds and blues and times.  but 
I think we need to go further to help create meaningful categories.

As I have written before, I think that the "combustion chamber" action is 
(or can usually be) quite separate from the cooking area.  For example, 
Crispin's "basket grate" combustion chamber can be:

A.  in a free-standing can-type container or

B.  attached to a cooking unit that has a metal plancha-type hot metal 
cooking surface PLUS an oven, and with a chimney.

I am NOT offering prize money, and I am NOT setting this up for ME to head 
it.  I have NO conditions to be a judge/evaluator.

Instead, with others I will help develop a set of criteria, including costs 
and materials, and fuels and mobility and control-ability and several 
amount(s) of heat in several time constraints, and with practical results 
among the key criteria, including the different styles of cooking needed.

And when we eventually have 2 or 5 or 10 stoves that seem to be in about 
the same category (or categories, as determined by the makers), we could 
have them assembled at a location to have an independent panel of 
evaluators.  But until then, the candidates will only need to be in the 
ballpark of category X or Y or Z or .....

Just think of the number of "camp stoves" that recreational campers 
use.  Here portability and cost and fuel are major factors.

But in a refugee camp (not permanent residence) the characteristics of an 
appropriate stove are different from those for an adobe hut that is 
occupied by successive generations.

I think that INDIVIDUALS  or small groups could define their target stove 
type(s) and encourage others to make "entries" to meet the 
criteria.   There do not need to be "first prize" etc, but rather "meets 
the criteria at the gold, silver or bronze levels".  So there could be 
several at the gold level.   And ONE stove might be silver for type R, and 
bronze for types  S and T, but not meet the standards for types U, and V.

I think my comments come in part from hearing about so many stoves but 
hardly understanding how and where each is able to be used.  For example, I 
SUSPECT that Crispin's Basinthutu stove and Aprovecho's Rocket stove (and 
my Juntos stove WHEN I actually have a reasonably defined stove) are aimed 
at similar user-conditions.   And what about the Volcano stove and the 
Wings Kayak stove and so many more.

Another category involves the "fixed-position" brick and mud (and other 
materials?) stoves (with or without chimney?),

And the charcoal-burner stoves

and the camper stoves

etc, etc.

So, please consider this as an "idea message" for discussion.  I will 
participate in my very limited way.  But I hope that others will step 
forward to cover different aspects.

Finally, so far, Kevin is far ahead in the definition of his field of the 
contest, that is, the "fastest boil" contest.  I look forward to progress 
reports in that area.

Paul
Paul S. Anderson, Ph.D.,  Fulbright Prof. to Mozambique 8/99 - 7/00
Dept of Geography - Geology (Box 4400), Illinois State University
Normal, IL  61790-4400   Voice:  309-438-7360;  FAX:  309-438-5310
E-mail: psanders@ilstu.edu - Internet items: www.ilstu.edu/~psanders


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