A good number of viewers observed that I did not clear away the forest debris under the stoves, I should have explained that it is February as I record this and the ground is frozen. Otherwise, I always place the stoves on a fire safe surface.
Dude, I own a similar stove, and I often thought about wood pellets, but never dreamed it would be 40 minute burn times! I will most certainly experiment with this now! Great video, thanks!
Great presentation. I love how you also replied to every single comment. That shows great appreciation for your viewers which so many UA-camrs forget about. I have recently gotten a solo stove titan and love it.
Thanks Mark, great video. We heat with wood pellets, about 8 tons per year. I’m sure I can bag up a few handfuls and take them on the trail to make coffee for my wife, I’d get ‘date points’, ya we have being married for over 30 years but still enjoy outdoor adventures like you promote. Thanks for what you do, it’s well done.
You can also use a smaller quantity of wood pellets to develop a coal base which will allow you to dry and burn twigs & sticks that would not otherwise work in the stove. Perfect for those days when dry standing is hard to find.
Thanks Mark. This just proves the added versatility of small gasifier stoves. My original Bushbuddy can be used with twigs, smaller split wood, Trangia burner, charcoal and just about anything flammable. Great video as usual.
Just got in 20 pounds of wood pellets today. I'll most likely start first burn with a single cup of the pellets and monitor that. I appreciate your videos! I'm using the older version lixada/gas one stainless steel stove. I love it!
this is a great idea. i'm not going to buy a stove but i will keep a container of these in my favorite camp site for building a fire when conditions are not great.
Happy new year from Norway. Great video. Hope you&yours are safe. You come across as a non biased, serious and reliable guy when presenting products. Glad I clicked on your video/channel, as I was searching for my first gas wood stove for an upcoming three week hike into the wilderness over here in Norway.
I tried the pellets on my stove. First time they didn't burn very long - turns out I put in too many. You don't need more than about 1/2 fill or so to get the best and longest burn.
I have found the same for most of the stoves I have tried pellets in. Filling a stove to capacity does not mean better performance or longer burn time. In fact, too many pellets usually results in a smokey fire and trouble keeping it going. Thanks for commenting
First off, great and comprehensive post... I don't mean to be disrespectful in any mean or comment . With the thoughts of controlling your heat/temps. You might put some thought into your thinking. Trivets are great pieces how ever it is something else to pack along. You can make up some sort of spit with sticks lay around but, you run the risk of them catching fire...I generally use rocks. In stacking them around your stove , you can block winds and shifting winds easily concentrating your heat.. You can adjust the height too. By adding more or less... Grilling is made a bit easier by using a stick made rack...you just have to know what the sticks are ...best to use greens off a hard wood....and of course packing a grilling rack .... Again thanks for the post
No disrespect taken. You suggestions are most welcome. I have been experimenting with a few ideas as well. One that I will be trying is an inexpensive heat diffuser intended for a home gas range. Having a few pieces of charcoal that could be dropped in on top of the dying pellets would extend cooking time as well. Thanks for commenting
I’m glad you brought up the Wood Regulations, not so much in other videos. Harvesting wood is frowned upon in most parks, as well as flowers and cactus. Of course I don’t agree with their goals, after the California wild fires, but they don’t argue. Follow the rules. I Cary this stove for emergency breakdowns, & pellets seem like a real good way to go, along with MRE’s, water & tools, axes & Knives included. Of course, wild horses couldn’t get me into California, again, even for Disney. Last time I was there, it was a layover, to a place that tried to kill me 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year! Thanks for the video!
Neat guy. Easy to listen to. Great info, and a mature-level broadcast that does not insult my intelligence by waving guns, swords and flippy-clippy knives around.
I have the Solo Titan and Campfire stoves. I like to keep the wood feed openings 90degrees to the winds...it helps to decrease flames shooting dancing out the back. I keep pot handles faced into the wind...less chance of handles getting too hot or burning plastic/rudder types. On the pot stand I cover the air hole with a heavy duty aluminum strip...it really helps as a windscreen and does not reduce gasification that much if any.
Good observation on the windscreen. They make a big difference with all my stoves. They can be made cheaply from aluminium oven liners or baking sheets and carried in all my kits. Thanks for commenting
It's about time! A 3 day paddle adventure-no problem. I use soft wood pine pellets commonly available for animal bedding or kitty litter. 40# goes along way. Not hard core bushcraft but so easy. Your rapidly becoming one of my favorite tubers!
Hey Mark, thanks for the kind words. Funny thing, I was thinking last night this is not very bushcrafty but I do like using my wood stoves and the time I save and the safety factor allows me to do other more bushcraft related activities...probably a rationalization ... Thanks for commenting
Thanks Mr. Young another great Idea and presentation. I will be buying a bag of pellets soon. It looks like a great cost effective option and you will always have a dry fuel source with you.
I just made a video yesterday in wet weather with another small woodgas stove. Pellets saved the day. But hardwood as opposed to softwood pellets. Work much better. Thanks for commenting
Backpacking trick from years past: chop one of those "matchlight" sticks (parrifinated sawdust?) sold as campfirestarters into small pieces, place or 4 little pieces on top of your wood & light. No need for liquid alcohol, just enough burn time to get wood started. I tried this is my Ohulu, w/ the chamber solid packed w/ end-up sticks, worked great. Pack you cut-up firestartes in a small 3x3 ziplock, store w/ your stove. Always used mine to pre-heat the gas stem on my SVEA123
Great idea. I have been using a similar commercial product like that lately. Very inexpensive to buy. I also make one from wood chips, candle wax and spruce resin that works really well. Thanks for commenting
What a fantastic idea for easily producing heat on a smaller scale than a fire or large wood stove, like a Gstove. I have a Helsport Lavvu that is designed to have an open fire or wood stoves inside, as they are fire resistant and well ventilated with side vents and a top vent like a traditional tipi. This will be perfect for taking the chill out of a late summer evening inside the tent. One caveat though to anyone reading this, DON'T try this in a traditional tent, you need a tent designed for open fires inside like a Helsport or Tentipi and you absolutely MUST also use a carbon monoxide alarm. I also don't use a groundsheet, so I've no risk or worry about burning a hole in the floor. So cover those bases and this is a great alternative to a full sized tent wood burning stove, if you aren't winter camping and just need to take the chill off. Being smokeless is even better . . . I have used open fires in my tent using a Hekla firebox, but there's always some smoke to deal with, but this is a brilliant and affordable alternative. Thanks Mark, your videos are my goto for honest and well researched information about stoves and outdoors equipment. You're always pushing the envelope to get the very best out of the gear you review, without any uneccesary waffle or annoying background music - that's quite rare and very much appreciated.
I just burned about a cup of pellets in my Progresso Soup wood gas stove. I found that I got a better burn with a chimney so that may have sped up the process but it was a fun experiment. My chimney has a row of vent holes around the top so I can put a pot on top without smothering the fire below and about 30 seconds after I put it on the flames were coming up out of it and looking down I saw a beautiful cyclone of gassification. Thanks for your videos and keep them coming. Peace.
Right on. Sound like a good design. I have found the chimney effect can really enhance a lot of stoves. I have been experimenting with a chimney on a number of stoves and as soon as our fire ban is lifted I will be making videos of them. Thanks for commenting
I like this video. I got a stove myself because of this video. I made a grill for my gasifier stove so I can now grill and simmer on my stove. Would like to show some pictures.
Mark I gotta say I’m very impressed with the amount of videos you have. You’ve really covered so many topics. Glade I found your site. Especially nowadays when many sites are just marketing for expensive brands. All these years and it never crossed my mind to use pellets. It’s always good to have options. Even if you never use them,just knowing there are options . Well it can change a bad situation into a fun time. Thank you for all the work you have done.
Glad you are liking my videos. I do review some pretty high-end stuff but try to balance it with more affordable stuff and DIY as well as skills. Thanks for commenting
Mark you made me run out and Buy one of these stoves! and as you said the pellets worked Great. Not as light as my back backing Jet boil but boiled a liter of water in no time. Great surveil stove ! Thanks again.
Wow! I just bought a Ohuhu stove and I use wood pellets for my cat litter. Lol I would have never thought to use wood pellets in my Ohuhu. Thank you for the idea!
Thanks for the research. Have often wondered if wood pellets would prove a viable fuel in a gasification type stove, but have never gotten around to conducting the experiment on my own; many thanks for answering the question, and for subsidizing my sloth ..... :-) :-)
I am finding pellets are a great fuel anytime. One way of using them I didn't mention is to put a small amount in the stove, get them going well and then start adding wood. This is helpful if the available wood is a bit damp. Thanks for commenting
Just bought a Lixada (similar) wood gas stove from Ebay for £11. The wood pellet idea is really good as they are quite cheap here in the UK. Thanks for the videos and I have Subscribed!
Thanks for doing the field test, I love both those stoves. Haven't ever used pellets. You could easily store your pellets on a cheap water/Gatorade bottleThanks again.
Wow man this is such a great idea! I never thought to use wood pellets! I made my own gasifier stove a few years back and it works awesome! Boils a quart of water in as little as 11 minutes with good fuel. But I always find myself just busy feeding it constantly wen I use it. Maybe pellets could work better! Great idea man! Thanks! Great vid!
Burn time is one of the best parts of using the wood pellets. The downside is carrying them with you. Although, they don't weigh much. Thanks for commenting
Great test. 2 or 3 years ago, I had hand-crafted a gasser stove out of tin cans. Probably not even as large as that Silver Fox. I had tried burning pellets in it and it would easily burn strong for as much as 45 minutes. I also tried lump charcoal. Boy HOWDY! Does that stuff burn HOT!. Burns so hot that the flame will turn blue. Short side-note; I discovered that it REALLY liked having a short chimney (6-8 inches) betwixt the burn jets and the bottom of the pot. Seemed that the extra "draw" kinda stoked the fire and decreased boil time. Without the pot on there, the flame would naturally resort to a full vortex that would stand several inches above the cook surface.
Thanks for your video. Bought one of these stoves. Not a camper, bought for an emergency . Was wondering if wood pellets would work. I need something I could store easy. Can't wait to try it out. Want to warm something. My thoughts was if I lose power for any length of time, I would be able to warm something. Again thanks
Given how little space the pellets take up, wouldn't a bag of them fit nicely into the Lixada so you could carry supplies for one good fire with you without taking up even a little extra space?
Hi Mark, I enjoy the subjects that you choose and your style of presenting them. I have a question about pellets in a gasifier stove. Have you tried softwood pellets? They have some advantages over hardwood but are not often chosen for cooking purposes because of the extra lignins and hence resiny smoke.
I was using softwood pellets in the stoves in this video. They work well enough but do leave a residue behind in the stove. Since I don't grill over the flames any resinous flavours are not an issue. I have switched to using hardwood pellets as they burn cleaner and the coals last longer. Pellets are cheap, at least here, so I would suggest trying both out and see what you like better. Thanks for commenting
Great video, Mark. It's always good to have as many alternative fuel backups as you can come up with. That burn time was amazing. I'll be waiting for your video on using charcoal with the wood gas stoves. You can also use a Trangia alcohol burner using the Solo Titan as a pot stand. Just put the cap of the Trangia on the inside bottom of the Solo Titan and set the Trangia on top of the cap giving you the perfect height. By the way, on your masthead for this video, you spelled "burning" wrong.
Ahhh...too funny..and your the first person to pick up my spelling mistake.. I have used my Lixada with my Alocs (Trangia knock-off) burner in just the way you mentioned. I'll be releasing my video using charcoal in the Solo somtime this coming week...Thanks for commenting
I got cast iron grates from my Solo Stove Bonfire and have been cooking on it with no issues. It's like cooking on a jet engine. I wait for the flames to die down and use the bed of coals. Meats sear in about 30 seconds with sear marks and no matter what you do, the meats are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. You would expect there to be a lot of grease dripping into the fire, but when the meats sear properly, there really isn't any liberated juices or grease. You don't even have to marinate, just put the meat on the grill right out of the package. I've cooked steaks, chicken, pork chops, ribs, and baked potatoes. You can't use aluminum foil directly on the grates, it will melt. You need long tongs and oven gloves. This is unlike any conventional charcoal or gas grill. Slow cooking meats on those dries them out. Hot dogs and hamburgers require special treatment. I sear them, and turn them frequently, then transfer them to a steel pot that reduces the heat and allows them to finish cooking. I also do that with the meats, but chicken cooks very fast and people like rare steaks, so it's not as critical. Hot dogs will turn black in the blink of an eye. The same goes for sausages, just watch them closely and move to lower heat after they are seared. Burgers cook fast too, even he frozen patties. Just watch them closely, but nothing beats a burger crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I like to cut off pieces of chicken or steak and give them to the kids and when you cut into the larger pieces you can see the juices on the inside. I'd never go back to regular grilling. The last time, I cooked over 12 pounds of meat. We had some for the meal and I froze the rest in zip lock bags. I get the family packs at Aldi, at really good prices. I cut up the large pieces of meat, so I had 6 large chicken breasts, a 6 lb chuck roast and 2 packs of country style boneless ribs, all in barbecue sauce.` I'd say, generally, you want to slice the meat down to 1/2'-3/4" thickness. I've tried large chunks, but you might have difficulty getting the center to cook.
@@MarkYoungBushcraft ....Thanks, Mark. cooking on the Solo Stove is not something that seems popular and the general feeling (e.g. video on the Solo Stove, by Canadian Prepper) is that you need less heat for cooking and possibly have to raise the grill. I would never recommend trying to fry foods in large quantities of oil, like french fries, etc. The oil will quickly reach the flash-point and become very dangerous. When I first bought the Solo Stove I wanted an extruded screen to put on it at night to prevent embers from flying around. I went to a local restaurant supply and bought one of those aluminum screens used for pizza. When I came out in the morning the screen was gone, ... it melted. However, I bought an 18" carbon steel wok and had excellent results, but balanced the small quantity of oil with soy sauce and the water released from the vegetables and mushrooms. The wok makes a tight seal around the top of the Solo Stove, so I added clips to allow a gap so the airflow is not cut off. I buy my pots and cooking pans at Goodwill, for a couple of dollars, so I'm not concerned if they become discolored. I have a medium-sized roaster pan with a lid that works well as a Dutch oven for baking potatoes and vegetables. I cut the potatoes into slices, but not all the way down, then make a longitudinal cut where I put a small piece of cheddar and some butter and then wrap it in aluminum foil. I put these in the roaster and they cook completely in about 35 minutes.
Nice video!thanks for the discussion, I've been thinking about getting one of those Lexadas. Great to know it can be used with the pellets! Greetings from the opposite side of the country! 🙂
I tried this, twice, but I never posted the video. 3 quarts of water took about 40 minutes to boil, and there was still lots of pellets left. I tried it again and it would not even burn the coating from the inside of some tuna cans. The coals in that case lasted at least one and a half hours. It could all be a difference in pellets. I bought mine at a yard sale for a dollar, and they have been hanging around for a while. I just lit the fire with a propane torch. With real wood, Lixada stove, same pot and 2 quarts of water it was less than 10 minutes to a boil. Hard to call. Thank you for the video, Mark. I will have to look at mine again.
Mine were hardwood as well, but probably not stored as well as yours. I found real wood much hotter, but I was trying to boil a lot of water, and it was a cooler day. I may try it again. Still, as a transportable source of wood, you could take the extra time, no problem. Thank you for the reply, Mark.
Excellent vid Mark, as always. Great alternate fuel for park restrictions. Another option is real wood charcoal, very light, and can be made at home as well, and I used charcoal briquettes now and again as well but I liked the real charcoal much better. I'm going to try the pellets now as well. Looks like they worked fantastic!
Thanks Randal. I did a couple of more videos at home (couldn't get out to the woods) using Kingsford charcoal in a couple of my stoves that I will be releasing shortly. Would have loved to use real charcoal but didn't have any
I love what you have been doing with the coffee series and stoves, great info. Hey, once we get moved and settled, we should have you come out for a few days and we can explore some charcoal production methods, as it'll be something I'm be doing regularly in any case for the shop. Maybe play with a knife or two while we're at it. :0)
I came across this video randomly. I am glad I did. You make a very well done and professional video. I have always been a fan of the wood gas twig stoves, but I never got one since I don't do alot of camping. I always wondered how wood pellets would work. Glad too see they do so well. I was curious about something. Since I am quite new to these twig stoves this maybe common knowledge that I am overlooking, but if you end up using to much wood or don't use all of it, how do you put the fire out? Or do you just let it burn out and write off the fuel as wasted?
I am glad you found the video helpful. It is rare that a fire in a small wood stove like these will last longer than 20 minutes even when fully loaded to start. The burn time can be adjusted through experience as to how much fuel you will need for the cooking you are doing. Same for wood pellets. It is not a good idea to pour water on the stoves if they are hot to extinguish as this will likely cause damage to them. You could tip them over to empty them but again I would advise against it. Hope this helps
Glad you enjoyed. The pellets really worked well for me. Hearing from other people I understand it is important that the pellets are real dry for the best performance... 40 minutes impressed me as well. Thanks for commenting
'Just found this - Thanks for the very helpful video, after just purchasing my first wood gas stove (Solo Campfire). I hadn't even known about packaged wood pellets.
This was very helpful. I have watched a few videos on using wood pellets in a stick stove but this one was the most helpful. Certainly economical for sure compared to many other types of cooking fuels used by hikers. These stoves are my personal favourite because you get to cook on a fire without leaving a trace!
Hi Mark. Great video. I've just ordered one of the Lixada stoves from Amazon, 15 euros with free next day delivery. Interestingly, the pictures show a grill plate, hopefully it will be supplied with the kit. I will certainly try the wood pellet, I use them to heat the house in winter so I have plenty. 200grams works out at less than 6 euro cents.
Hey Mark, I just watched this video for the second time and I have a thought. You wanted to grill a steak or hamburger but concluded that this may not be the best setup for that. I'm going to try my method of a 1.5 cups wood pellets and 5-6 hardwood sticks (maybe a few more) cut about 3" long. Let that burn down to coals and place a screen on top. Then you may have enough heat without flame to grill. When I give it a try I'll let you know how it turned out.
Thanks for the video , I know you said you had 40 minutes of burn time off the 2 cups . How long did the coals last and produce heat , I ask because I wonder if this is a way to turn the stove into a small shelter heat source .. (ventilated safely and all other safety issues addressed ) .. Thanks for the Video !!!
The coals are quite hot but only last maybe 5 or at the most 10 minutes. I could probably grill a burger but not much more. I have been thinking about shelter heating as well. So far I can't see anything that would work as well or as safe as a small wood stove with chimney. Unless you make an open top teepee type shelter that would draw the smoke. Let me know what you come up with. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft I see ...so this is probably going to take some experimentation! Thanks for responding ,I will let ya know when I found something out as well !!
For sure I have the same stove by that maker and 2 others too by them. Pellets seem to burn clean without smoke and easier for sure I'm going to have to try it.
Good job Mark! I only have one stove so can't do a comparison. I am trying to reduce the weight in my pack just to see if I really need all this stuff, so I won't be carrying wood pellets, but I think its a great idea for a weekender. Mike B. MWW
I'm interested in trying the pellets in my Stratus wood stove. It doesn't gasify, but it does breathe well. I will need to create a grid to keep the pellets inside. Nice video!
I have been intrigued by the Stratus Trail Stove. I don't see a lot of reviews on them. Would be interesting to know how pellets work in it. Thanks for commenting.
Hi, Mark. Thanks for a great video. I know you made it a long time ago, but it really was helpful. I was curious. Have you tried to replenish the pellets while the stove is burning? I was wondering if adding pellets would just snuff the fire out. I am interested in using a couple of these for long-term boiling of sap, in a small pot, of course. i have severe asthma and cannot tolerate a lot of wood smoke, so our old trusty outdoor stove is problematic. I thought a couple of these might be an answer......as long as I could keep the fires going all day with the pellets.
Great question and an interesting use you want to try with the stove. Yes, I have added pellets but only in small amounts at a time for fear of smothering the active ones. Pellets do leave a residue that will likely build up over time so I am not sure many reloads you could make. Wondering if it may not be easier to us a small stove with an attachment to a large propane tank. Just a thought. Thanks for commenting
Hey mark matt from Australia here. just a thaught you may be able to use some fine mesh from a camp toaster placed either between the pot stand and the body of the stove or on top of the pot stand with a pan on top. This may dissipate some of the heat and allow you to grill up a steak
Since watching your vid the other day I have ordered a little Chinese stove looks exactly like your little Lixada stove in this vid I like that it fits inside your msr pot and you can also drop a trangia alcohol burner in it so thanks for the vids that helped me decide
Any concerns about food grade vs woodstove pellets? For boiling water it won't matter, but for grilling the extra cost of BBQ pellets could be peace of mind for some folks.
Could you please provide a link to that specific Lixada stove? I can't find one with the large cutout. All I'm seeing is one with a very small oval port for feeding sticks, so you're severely limited to size (and I don't feel like modifying). I currently own the Ohuhu, but the design is fairly flawed, and I'd like one that I can feed while using. Working my way up to the Solo price-wise. Thanks, great video!
There a great number of variations of this stove on Aliexpress you may like to look at. Here is a link I found on Amazon www.amazon.ca/Lixada-Folding-Camping-Gasifier-Backpacking/dp/B0868M6XFD/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=lixada+wood+stove&qid=1604064832&sr=8-14. Thanks for commenting
Nice video! I started using these wood pellets about 8 months ago, with my bushbuddy stove and I really like it too! I gotta use cast iron if I want to grill or cook/bake without burning. The heat is intense, like you said.
I agree, cast iron is about the only thing you could use over this hot flame. Another choice might be to suspend something over it with a tri-pod. Thank you for commenting
I've been using pellets in my commercial smoker for 16 years . Your right , burning wood gets hot . I have found , the cook temp is easily regulated by the amount of AIR you introduce to the burn chamber . This applies to all fires .
I agree. I bought Tractor Supply 100% hardwood pellets. They smelled like chemical burning them, and left a horrible sticky chemical smelling soot on my pot. I would avoid them
awesome...I have a soleader gasifier that looks to be the same as the lixada and a solo light. Gonna give this a try. and just recently realized the importance of a wind screen for these...great vid sir!.
I tried my Lixada gas stove and was impressed with how it burned pellets. Easily will hold 3 cups which I think will extend burn time considerably! Surprised by the amount tar/soot on my pot though. Wonder why?
Wondering if it makes a difference if the pellets are made from softwood VS hardwood. They should be dry so moisture should not be a cause. I know if the pellets are loaded up over the secondary gas ports the stove won't gasify. Let me know your thoughts
Just another tip I've just found out that it works really well with an alcohol burner made from brass out of the old Danish cook sets. One fill boils up a big sauce pan. I just use the stand and the bit it sits on. This is with my silverfire those things look like you can use the just as. The brass fire gives a good base Ballance too
I find if you use hardwood pellets you can grill over the coals at the end of the burn. The flame is too intense to grill over unless you use a heavy cast iron pan. Hope this helps. Thanks for commenting
Found this and a very good review. Have you tried solid fuel tabs? I like the burn time and heat result which would be handy in a shelter scenario with these little jet burners going and radiating heat. I may give this a go. Got mine on order. Well done sir.
Glad you like the video. I would be interested in hearing how you make out with solid fuel. I have not had good experiences with it so far. Thanks for commenting
I really am enjoying your videos! Keep up the great work! I have a Solo Stove Campfire and have had good success grilling steaks using larger chunks of hardwood e.g. hickory, applewood, etc. (Normally used for smoking in BBQ grills like the Weber.) The chunks burn slower than smaller twigs. I have also put a few briquettes in with the wood chunks to even out the heat. I cook using an adjustable height wire grill that I can place over the Campfire. The grill is a 'Bedroll Cooker' kit from Self Reliance Outfitters. I also cook oysters on the half shell using this setup and method.
Love me some oysters. Yes, larger wood would be better for grilling. I have also found that hardwood pellets work better than softwood. I still have to wait for the flame to die down but I get much more grilling time. Thanks for commenting
Glad you liked the video. In this case I used a dollar store BBQ grill to test out how well it would work. Something in stainless steel would be more durable. Thanks for commenting
Toaks Titanium small wood burning stove...can this stove be used with out adding the top part and using a separate pot stand? Would you try it...and make a video of you doing it...
I don't have the Toaks but I do have the Lixada versions in stainless steel and titanium. In the review of the titanium version I talk about using it without the top portion to act as a wood gas stove. Thanks for commenting
Hope I understand your question correctly. If you are asking if using the pellets in the Solo Stove as just a fire to sit around then yes, they would work well. Thanks for commenting
I am using the Canway gasifier. I still prefer alcohol but the gasifier with pellets gives an awesome burn time that is, as you said, inexpensive. I did a test today in 27F degree weather and medium wind and, with a wind screen, I got 50 minutes of gasification cooking time. I filled my stove to just below the gas vents so I suspect that is why I got longer burn time. What's more, there were coals for another hour and I could have simmered/warmed my coffee that whole time. The Canway (and others) have pegs that can raise your pots a little. I have used them when burning thicker pieces of wood and have been able to easily fry up lunch. I think I need to do a test with the pellets to see if I can successfully fry with them. My biggest concern with these is that you still get soot on your pots/skillets. I don't care for that but the technique is still a good one.
Perhaps you've done this and I've missed it. I would be interested in seeing a wood gas stove (fueled with wood pellets or other fuel) as the heat source for a Kelly Kettle. Would the very efficient, high heat production of the wood gas stove, through the internal heat-catching design of the Kelly Kettle, be a good combination, or would the chimney-like draw of the Kelly Kettle not work as well without the more-nearly-open fire as its heat source?
You have not missed it but I am planning on doing that with an update video for the Kelly Kettle. The Trekker fits on top of my Lixada perfectly. Thanks for commenting
A good number of viewers observed that I did not clear away the forest debris under the stoves, I should have explained that it is February as I record this and the ground is frozen. Otherwise, I always place the stoves on a fire safe surface.
Dude, I own a similar stove, and I often thought about wood pellets, but never dreamed it would be 40 minute burn times! I will most certainly experiment with this now! Great video, thanks!
For sure. Let me know how it works out for you. Thanks for commenting
Great presentation. I love how you also replied to every single comment. That shows great appreciation for your viewers which so many UA-camrs forget about.
I have recently gotten a solo stove titan and love it.
Thank you for your kind words
Mr. Young, you have the most fantastic voice and screen presence I have seen in a long time!
Thank you. I am humbled by your kind words
I concur. You could narrate those old PBS documentaries I used to lull me to sleep on the couch when I was a teen. Great stuff here. Thanks.
Thanks Mark, great video. We heat with wood pellets, about 8 tons per year. I’m sure I can bag up a few handfuls and take them on the trail to make coffee for my wife, I’d get ‘date points’, ya we have being married for over 30 years but still enjoy outdoor adventures like you promote. Thanks for what you do, it’s well done.
Date hike. That is the best use of wood pellets I have heard yet. Thanks for commenting
Holy cow this works great in my Ohuhu. I camp in the swamps of Florida where dry wood is scarce. Problem solved. Thanks!
Wood pellets are a great fuel. Thanks for commenting
You can also use a smaller quantity of wood pellets to develop a coal base which will allow you to dry and burn twigs & sticks that would not otherwise work in the stove. Perfect for those days when dry standing is hard to find.
Good tip...in fact I have starting carrying a small bag of wood pellets with me for that reason...thanks for commenting
Thanks Mark. This just proves the added versatility of small gasifier stoves. My original Bushbuddy can be used with twigs, smaller split wood,
Trangia burner, charcoal and just about anything flammable.
Great video as usual.
Right on. Thanks for commenting
Solo titan is a copy of Bush buddy
Just got in 20 pounds of wood pellets today. I'll most likely start first burn with a single cup of the pellets and monitor that.
I appreciate your videos!
I'm using the older version lixada/gas one stainless steel stove. I love it!
Right on. Pellets work so well in these stoves. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft so you know, ali express has stainless steel drain covers in almost every size square and circle. Perfect for keeping pellets in.
this is a great idea. i'm not going to buy a stove but i will keep a container of these in my favorite camp site for building a fire when conditions are not great.
Right on. Great back up fuel. Thanks for commenting
In another life Mark was a presenter on PBS. Nicely done.
Thanks for commenting
The discoloration of the stoves only gives them a character 😎
I agree. Both stainless steel and especially titanium change colours nicely. Thanks for commenting
I had a good 40-45 minutes burn time with wood pellets in my hobo stove with about the same amount of pellets you used. Definitely a viable fuel.
I agree. I carry pellets any time the weather looks like making a fire from found wood will be a problem. Thanks for commenting
You answered some questions I had. Thanks. Someday I hope to make it to Nova Scotia. Perhaps I will see you there.
You never know. Thanks for commenting
Happy new year from Norway. Great video. Hope you&yours are safe. You come across as a non biased, serious and reliable guy when presenting products. Glad I clicked on your video/channel, as I was searching for my first gas wood stove for an upcoming three week hike into the wilderness over here in Norway.
happy New Year to you as well. Let me know what stove you choose and how you like it. Thanks for commenting
Hi from Ontario. Thanks for the great tip and detailed video.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for commenting
I tried the pellets on my stove. First time they didn't burn very long - turns out I put in too many. You don't need more than about 1/2 fill or so to get the best and longest burn.
I have found the same for most of the stoves I have tried pellets in. Filling a stove to capacity does not mean better performance or longer burn time. In fact, too many pellets usually results in a smokey fire and trouble keeping it going. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft try mixing the pellets with a few charcoal briquettes perfect
This has inspired me to experiment using different fuel types together in the burn chamber eg. wood pellets & charcoal.
Glad you found it interesting. Thanks for commenting
Excellent video. You are very good at presenting information. This could have been a segment on a TV show. Thank you. Subscribed.
Thank you for your kind words
Agreed
First off, great and comprehensive post...
I don't mean to be disrespectful in any mean or comment .
With the thoughts of controlling your heat/temps. You might put some thought into your thinking. Trivets are great pieces how ever it is something else to pack along. You can make up some sort of spit with sticks lay around but, you run the risk of them catching fire...I generally use rocks. In stacking them around your stove , you can block winds and shifting winds easily concentrating your heat.. You can adjust the height too. By adding more or less...
Grilling is made a bit easier by using a stick made rack...you just have to know what the sticks are ...best to use greens off a hard wood....and of course packing a grilling rack ....
Again thanks for the post
No disrespect taken. You suggestions are most welcome. I have been experimenting with a few ideas as well. One that I will be trying is an inexpensive heat diffuser intended for a home gas range. Having a few pieces of charcoal that could be dropped in on top of the dying pellets would extend cooking time as well. Thanks for commenting
40 minutes for 2 cups ? Sounds like a winner to me !
Right on. Pellets work great in a number of stoves but especially well in woodgas stoves. Thanks for commenting
Excellent video. You answered a lot of the questions that I have had about these type of stoves.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for commenting
I’m glad you brought up the Wood Regulations, not so much in other videos. Harvesting wood is frowned upon in most parks, as well as flowers and cactus. Of course I don’t agree with their goals, after the California wild fires, but they don’t argue. Follow the rules. I Cary this stove for emergency breakdowns, & pellets seem like a real good way to go, along with MRE’s, water & tools, axes & Knives included. Of course, wild horses couldn’t get me into California, again, even for Disney. Last time I was there, it was a layover, to a place that tried to kill me 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year! Thanks for the video!
I was so sorry to see the devastation caused by the fires in California. Yes, both these stoves work great with pellets. Thanks for commenting
Neat guy. Easy to listen to. Great info, and a mature-level broadcast that does not insult my intelligence by waving guns, swords and flippy-clippy knives around.
Thank you again for the kind words and for watching the video
Flippy clippy knives!
waving guns insults your intelligence,sorry to hear that.
@@cojo582 That would make sense.
How do guns, swords and knives insult your intelligence?
I have the Solo Titan and Campfire stoves. I like to keep the wood feed openings 90degrees to the winds...it helps to decrease flames shooting dancing out the back. I keep pot handles faced into the wind...less chance of handles getting too hot or burning plastic/rudder types. On the pot stand I cover the air hole with a heavy duty aluminum strip...it really helps as a windscreen and does not reduce gasification that much if any.
Good observation on the windscreen. They make a big difference with all my stoves. They can be made cheaply from aluminium oven liners or baking sheets and carried in all my kits. Thanks for commenting
It's about time! A 3 day paddle adventure-no problem. I use soft wood pine pellets commonly available for animal bedding or kitty litter. 40# goes along way. Not hard core bushcraft but so easy. Your rapidly becoming one of my favorite tubers!
Hey Mark, thanks for the kind words. Funny thing, I was thinking last night this is not very bushcrafty but I do like using my wood stoves and the time I save and the safety factor allows me to do other more bushcraft related activities...probably a rationalization ... Thanks for commenting
Thanks Mr. Young another great Idea and presentation. I will be buying a bag of pellets soon. It looks like a great cost effective option and you will always have a dry fuel source with you.
I just made a video yesterday in wet weather with another small woodgas stove. Pellets saved the day. But hardwood as opposed to softwood pellets. Work much better. Thanks for commenting
Backpacking trick from years past: chop one of those "matchlight" sticks (parrifinated sawdust?) sold as campfirestarters into small pieces, place or 4 little pieces on top of your wood & light. No need for liquid alcohol, just enough burn time to get wood started. I tried this is my Ohulu, w/ the chamber solid packed w/ end-up sticks, worked great. Pack you cut-up firestartes in a small 3x3 ziplock, store w/ your stove. Always used mine to pre-heat the gas stem on my SVEA123
Great idea. I have been using a similar commercial product like that lately. Very inexpensive to buy. I also make one from wood chips, candle wax and spruce resin that works really well. Thanks for commenting
My favorite fire starter is wax poured over dryer lint, stir. Break or cut into desired size.
What a fantastic idea for easily producing heat on a smaller scale than a fire or large wood stove, like a Gstove. I have a Helsport Lavvu that is designed to have an open fire or wood stoves inside, as they are fire resistant and well ventilated with side vents and a top vent like a traditional tipi. This will be perfect for taking the chill out of a late summer evening inside the tent. One caveat though to anyone reading this, DON'T try this in a traditional tent, you need a tent designed for open fires inside like a Helsport or Tentipi and you absolutely MUST also use a carbon monoxide alarm. I also don't use a groundsheet, so I've no risk or worry about burning a hole in the floor. So cover those bases and this is a great alternative to a full sized tent wood burning stove, if you aren't winter camping and just need to take the chill off. Being smokeless is even better . . . I have used open fires in my tent using a Hekla firebox, but there's always some smoke to deal with, but this is a brilliant and affordable alternative.
Thanks Mark, your videos are my goto for honest and well researched information about stoves and outdoors equipment. You're always pushing the envelope to get the very best out of the gear you review, without any uneccesary waffle or annoying background music - that's quite rare and very much appreciated.
Hi Tim. Glad you are enjoying my videos. You have me interested in the Helspot and Tentipi lavvus. I will be looking them up. Thanks for commenting
I just burned about a cup of pellets in my Progresso Soup wood gas stove. I found that I got a better burn with a chimney so that may have sped up the process but it was a fun experiment. My chimney has a row of vent holes around the top so I can put a pot on top without smothering the fire below and about 30 seconds after I put it on the flames were coming up out of it and looking down I saw a beautiful cyclone of gassification. Thanks for your videos and keep them coming. Peace.
Right on. Sound like a good design. I have found the chimney effect can really enhance a lot of stoves. I have been experimenting with a chimney on a number of stoves and as soon as our fire ban is lifted I will be making videos of them. Thanks for commenting
I like this video. I got a stove myself because of this video. I made a grill for my gasifier stove so I can now grill and simmer on my stove. Would like to show some pictures.
You could find me on FaceBook or my email is on my YT channel page under the "about" header. Thanks for commenting
Mark I gotta say I’m very impressed with the amount of videos you have. You’ve really covered so many topics. Glade I found your site. Especially nowadays when many sites are just marketing for expensive brands.
All these years and it never crossed my mind to use pellets. It’s always good to have options. Even if you never use them,just knowing there are options . Well it can change a bad situation into a fun time.
Thank you for all the work you have done.
Glad you are liking my videos. I do review some pretty high-end stuff but try to balance it with more affordable stuff and DIY as well as skills. Thanks for commenting
Mark you made me run out and Buy one of these stoves! and as you said the pellets worked Great. Not as light as my back backing Jet boil but boiled a liter of water in no time. Great surveil stove ! Thanks again.
LOL...The power of UA-cam. Glad it is working our for you. Thanks for commenting
Wow! I just bought a Ohuhu stove and I use wood pellets for my cat litter. Lol I would have never thought to use wood pellets in my Ohuhu. Thank you for the idea!
I think you will love it well pellets work. Thanks for commenting
Thanks for the research. Have often wondered if wood pellets would prove a viable fuel in a gasification type stove, but have never gotten around to conducting the experiment on my own; many thanks for answering the question, and for subsidizing my sloth ..... :-) :-)
I am finding pellets are a great fuel anytime. One way of using them I didn't mention is to put a small amount in the stove, get them going well and then start adding wood. This is helpful if the available wood is a bit damp. Thanks for commenting
Just bought a Lixada (similar) wood gas stove from Ebay for £11. The wood pellet idea is really good as they are quite cheap here in the UK. Thanks for the videos and I have Subscribed!
Glad you liked the video. Thank you for subscribing and commenting
Excellent and informative.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for commenting
I bought a TOMSHOO like your Lixada, excellent vid for me to start my adventures, thanks a lot Mark! cheers, Keith
I am sure the Tomshoo will serve you very well. I have a few of their products and like them a lot. Thanks for commenting
Thanks for doing the field test, I love both those stoves. Haven't ever used pellets. You could easily store your pellets on a cheap water/Gatorade bottleThanks again.
The water bottle is a goo idea...Thanks for commenting
Great American Survival l
Wow man this is such a great idea! I never thought to use wood pellets! I made my own gasifier stove a few years back and it works awesome! Boils a quart of water in as little as 11 minutes with good fuel. But I always find myself just busy feeding it constantly wen I use it. Maybe pellets could work better! Great idea man! Thanks! Great vid!
Burn time is one of the best parts of using the wood pellets. The downside is carrying them with you. Although, they don't weigh much. Thanks for commenting
thank you. i enjoyed your tutorial! you have a wonderful, calming speaking voice 👍🏻
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for commenting
Nice to have options when it isnt possible to use deadfall. Good job!
Options is what its all about...Thanks for commenting
Great test. 2 or 3 years ago, I had hand-crafted a gasser stove out of tin cans. Probably not even as large as that Silver Fox. I had tried burning pellets in it and it would easily burn strong for as much as 45 minutes. I also tried lump charcoal. Boy HOWDY! Does that stuff burn HOT!. Burns so hot that the flame will turn blue.
Short side-note; I discovered that it REALLY liked having a short chimney (6-8 inches) betwixt the burn jets and the bottom of the pot. Seemed that the extra "draw" kinda stoked the fire and decreased boil time. Without the pot on there, the flame would naturally resort to a full vortex that would stand several inches above the cook surface.
Interesting results with your DIY stove. I agree that charcoal can be an amazing fuel in the right stove. Thanks for commenting
I have just ordered my first gasification stove and I look forward to trying it out. I may even try the pellets. Thanks!
Let me know how it works out for you. Thanks for commenting
Wood pellets work great in these small stoves
Thanks for your video. Bought one of these stoves. Not a camper, bought for an emergency . Was wondering if wood pellets would work. I need something I could store easy. Can't wait to try it out. Want to warm something. My thoughts was if I lose power for any length of time, I would be able to warm something. Again thanks
Excellent choice for your intended purpose with a benefit of being almost smokeless. Thanks for commenting
Given how little space the pellets take up, wouldn't a bag of them fit nicely into the Lixada so you could carry supplies for one good fire with you without taking up even a little extra space?
Absolutely. That is usually where I carry them. Thanks for commenting
Hi Mark, I enjoy the subjects that you choose and your style of presenting them. I have a question about pellets in a gasifier stove. Have you tried softwood pellets? They have some advantages over hardwood but are not often chosen for cooking purposes because of the extra lignins and hence resiny smoke.
I was using softwood pellets in the stoves in this video. They work well enough but do leave a residue behind in the stove. Since I don't grill over the flames any resinous flavours are not an issue. I have switched to using hardwood pellets as they burn cleaner and the coals last longer. Pellets are cheap, at least here, so I would suggest trying both out and see what you like better. Thanks for commenting
Just ordered a solo stove lite and gsi kettalist from mec. $182 cad shipped to my door :) thankyou sir. From Nb :)
I am sure you will enjoy both items and you can't beat MEC for after-service or returns. Thanks for commenting
Awesome. I have learned something new. I used vaseline soaked cotton wool balls to light. Using alcohol gel to light wood pellets is a great idea.
Glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for commenting
I cut a hole in a stainless steel bowl and took a small grilling flat rack to make a "grille bowl" for my stove. Works amazingly.
Interesting idea. I might have to give that a try. Do you have any pictures?
@@MarkYoungBushcraft I do! I'll send you one this evening.
Great video, Mark. It's always good to have as many alternative fuel backups as you can come up with. That burn time was amazing. I'll be waiting for your video on using charcoal with the wood gas stoves. You can also use a Trangia alcohol burner using the Solo Titan as a pot stand. Just put the cap of the Trangia on the inside bottom of the Solo Titan and set the Trangia on top of the cap giving you the perfect height. By the way, on your masthead for this video, you spelled "burning" wrong.
Ahhh...too funny..and your the first person to pick up my spelling mistake.. I have used my Lixada with my Alocs (Trangia knock-off) burner in just the way you mentioned. I'll be releasing my video using charcoal in the Solo somtime this coming week...Thanks for commenting
I got cast iron grates from my Solo Stove Bonfire and have been cooking on it with no issues. It's like cooking on a jet engine. I wait for the flames to die down and use the bed of coals. Meats sear in about 30 seconds with sear marks and no matter what you do, the meats are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. You would expect there to be a lot of grease dripping into the fire, but when the meats sear properly, there really isn't any liberated juices or grease.
You don't even have to marinate, just put the meat on the grill right out of the package. I've cooked steaks, chicken, pork chops, ribs, and baked potatoes. You can't use aluminum foil directly on the grates, it will melt. You need long tongs and oven gloves. This is unlike any conventional charcoal or gas grill. Slow cooking meats on those dries them out. Hot dogs and hamburgers require special treatment.
I sear them, and turn them frequently, then transfer them to a steel pot that reduces the heat and allows them to finish cooking. I also do that with the meats, but chicken cooks very fast and people like rare steaks, so it's not as critical. Hot dogs will turn black in the blink of an eye. The same goes for sausages, just watch them closely and move to lower heat after they are seared. Burgers cook fast too, even he frozen patties. Just watch them closely, but nothing beats a burger crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
I like to cut off pieces of chicken or steak and give them to the kids and when you cut into the larger pieces you can see the juices on the inside. I'd never go back to regular grilling.
The last time, I cooked over 12 pounds of meat. We had some for the meal and I froze the rest in zip lock bags. I get the family packs at Aldi, at really good prices. I cut up the large pieces of meat, so I had 6 large chicken breasts, a 6 lb chuck roast and 2 packs of country style boneless ribs, all in barbecue sauce.`
I'd say, generally, you want to slice the meat down to 1/2'-3/4" thickness. I've tried large chunks, but you might have difficulty getting the center to cook.
You have a lot of experience cooking on these stoves. It inspires me to try a few of your suggestions. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft ....Thanks, Mark. cooking on the Solo Stove is not something that seems popular and the general feeling (e.g. video on the Solo Stove, by Canadian Prepper) is that you need less heat for cooking and possibly have to raise the grill.
I would never recommend trying to fry foods in large quantities of oil, like french fries, etc. The oil will quickly reach the flash-point and become very dangerous.
When I first bought the Solo Stove I wanted an extruded screen to put on it at night to prevent embers from flying around. I went to a local restaurant supply and bought one of those aluminum screens used for pizza. When I came out in the morning the screen was gone, ... it melted.
However, I bought an 18" carbon steel wok and had excellent results, but balanced the small quantity of oil with soy sauce and the water released from the vegetables and mushrooms. The wok makes a tight seal around the top of the Solo Stove, so I added clips to allow a gap so the airflow is not cut off.
I buy my pots and cooking pans at Goodwill, for a couple of dollars, so I'm not concerned if they become discolored. I have a medium-sized roaster pan with a lid that works well as a Dutch oven for baking potatoes and vegetables. I cut the potatoes into slices, but not all the way down, then make a longitudinal cut where I put a small piece of cheddar and some butter and then wrap it in aluminum foil. I put these in the roaster and they cook completely in about 35 minutes.
Nice video!thanks for the discussion, I've been thinking about getting one of those Lexadas. Great to know it can be used with the pellets!
Greetings from the opposite side of the country! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the video. How far west are you?
@@MarkYoungBushcraft almost all the way west: Vancouver! 😁 Thinking of relocating, though, and NS is in the top three choices
I tried this, twice, but I never posted the video. 3 quarts of water took about 40 minutes to boil, and there was still lots of pellets left. I tried it again and it would not even burn the coating from the inside of some tuna cans. The coals in that case lasted at least one and a half hours. It could all be a difference in pellets. I bought mine at a yard sale for a dollar, and they have been hanging around for a while. I just lit the fire with a propane torch. With real wood, Lixada stove, same pot and 2 quarts of water it was less than 10 minutes to a boil. Hard to call. Thank you for the video, Mark. I will have to look at mine again.
wow, lot of variations in performance. Could be that my pellets are hardwood and very dry. Thanks for sharing
Mine were hardwood as well, but probably not stored as well as yours. I found real wood much hotter, but I was trying to boil a lot of water, and it was a cooler day. I may try it again. Still, as a transportable source of wood, you could take the extra time, no problem. Thank you for the reply, Mark.
Excellent vid Mark, as always.
Great alternate fuel for park restrictions.
Another option is real wood charcoal, very light, and can be made at home as well, and I used charcoal briquettes now and again as well but I liked the real charcoal much better.
I'm going to try the pellets now as well. Looks like they worked fantastic!
Thanks Randal. I did a couple of more videos at home (couldn't get out to the woods) using Kingsford charcoal in a couple of my stoves that I will be releasing shortly. Would have loved to use real charcoal but didn't have any
I love what you have been doing with the coffee series and stoves, great info.
Hey, once we get moved and settled, we should have you come out for a few days and we can explore some charcoal production methods, as it'll be something I'm be doing regularly in any case for the shop.
Maybe play with a knife or two while we're at it. :0)
Looking forward to it brother
I came across this video randomly. I am glad I did. You make a very well done and professional video. I have always been a fan of the wood gas twig stoves, but I never got one since I don't do alot of camping. I always wondered how wood pellets would work. Glad too see they do so well.
I was curious about something. Since I am quite new to these twig stoves this maybe common knowledge that I am overlooking, but if you end up using to much wood or don't use all of it, how do you put the fire out? Or do you just let it burn out and write off the fuel as wasted?
I am glad you found the video helpful. It is rare that a fire in a small wood stove like these will last longer than 20 minutes even when fully loaded to start. The burn time can be adjusted through experience as to how much fuel you will need for the cooking you are doing. Same for wood pellets. It is not a good idea to pour water on the stoves if they are hot to extinguish as this will likely cause damage to them. You could tip them over to empty them but again I would advise against it. Hope this helps
Great demonstration of them stoves with the wood pellets wow 40 minutes great time on them
Glad you enjoyed. The pellets really worked well for me. Hearing from other people I understand it is important that the pellets are real dry for the best performance... 40 minutes impressed me as well. Thanks for commenting
I wanted the titan....after your vid...now I want the lexada! ....and I can afford it! Yay! ....sending you love from of the UK ❤
The Titan is a good product but the Lixada is much more affordable. Thank you for commenting
'Just found this - Thanks for the very helpful video, after just purchasing my first wood gas stove (Solo Campfire). I hadn't even known about packaged wood pellets.
The Campfire looks like a great stove. Glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for commenting
This was very helpful. I have watched a few videos on using wood pellets in a stick stove but this one was the most helpful. Certainly economical for sure compared to many other types of cooking fuels used by hikers. These stoves are my personal favourite because you get to cook on a fire without leaving a trace!
Thanks Jeep... would pellets are turning out to be a great carry fuel in most of my stoves....thanks for commenting
Great stoves presentation!
Thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting
Hi Mark.
Great video. I've just ordered one of the Lixada stoves from Amazon, 15 euros with free next day delivery. Interestingly, the pictures show a grill plate, hopefully it will be supplied with the kit. I will certainly try the wood pellet, I use them to heat the house in winter so I have plenty. 200grams works out at less than 6 euro cents.
Right on. I understand most new stoves do come with the grate. Useful for very small pots. Thanks for commenting
Hey Mark, I just watched this video for the second time and I have a thought. You wanted to grill a steak or hamburger but concluded that this may not be the best setup for that. I'm going to try my method of a 1.5 cups wood pellets and 5-6 hardwood sticks (maybe a few more) cut about 3" long. Let that burn down to coals and place a screen on top. Then you may have enough heat without flame to grill. When I give it a try I'll let you know how it turned out.
I would be interested in hearing how this works out. Thans for commenting
Well done Sir !
Thanks for commenting
Great video and informative.
Thanks!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for commenting
Thanks for the video , I know you said you had 40 minutes of burn time off the 2 cups . How long did the coals last and produce heat , I ask because I wonder if this is a way to turn the stove into a small shelter heat source .. (ventilated safely and all other safety issues addressed ) .. Thanks for the Video !!!
The coals are quite hot but only last maybe 5 or at the most 10 minutes. I could probably grill a burger but not much more. I have been thinking about shelter heating as well. So far I can't see anything that would work as well or as safe as a small wood stove with chimney. Unless you make an open top teepee type shelter that would draw the smoke. Let me know what you come up with. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft I see ...so this is probably going to take some experimentation! Thanks for responding ,I will let ya know when I found something out as well !!
Great vid, great narrative. Yes I use and like pellets. No muss no fuss. EASY....I'm getting too old to do things the hard way. I like "easy"..thanks.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Pellets are a inexpensive, convenient and ecologically sound (better than isobutane) source of fuel. Thanks for commenting
For sure I have the same stove by that maker and 2 others too by them. Pellets seem to burn clean without smoke and easier for sure I'm going to have to try it.
Ok very good demo! Thank you for sharing.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting
Good job Mark! I only have one stove so can't do a comparison. I am trying to reduce the weight in my pack just to see if I really need all this stuff, so I won't be carrying wood pellets, but I think its a great idea for a weekender. Mike B. MWW
Glad you enjoyed the video. Using pellets are great for places you can't use found wood. Thanks for commenting
I'm interested in trying the pellets in my Stratus wood stove. It doesn't gasify, but it does breathe well. I will need to create a grid to keep the pellets inside. Nice video!
I have been intrigued by the Stratus Trail Stove. I don't see a lot of reviews on them. Would be interesting to know how pellets work in it. Thanks for commenting.
@@MarkYoungBushcraft I've tried lately to find the Stratus Trail Stove online. They don't seem to be available.
Hi, Mark. Thanks for a great video. I know you made it a long time ago, but it really was helpful. I was curious. Have you tried to replenish the pellets while the stove is burning? I was wondering if adding pellets would just snuff the fire out. I am interested in using a couple of these for long-term boiling of sap, in a small pot, of course. i have severe asthma and cannot tolerate a lot of wood smoke, so our old trusty outdoor stove is problematic. I thought a couple of these might be an answer......as long as I could keep the fires going all day with the pellets.
Great question and an interesting use you want to try with the stove. Yes, I have added pellets but only in small amounts at a time for fear of smothering the active ones. Pellets do leave a residue that will likely build up over time so I am not sure many reloads you could make. Wondering if it may not be easier to us a small stove with an attachment to a large propane tank. Just a thought. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft - Thanks for taking the time to respond.
Hey mark matt from Australia here. just a thaught you may be able to use some fine mesh from a camp toaster placed either between the pot stand and the body of the stove or on top of the pot stand with a pan on top. This may dissipate some of the heat and allow you to grill up a steak
Hi Matt. Great idea and worth a try. Thanks for commenting
Since watching your vid the other day I have ordered a little Chinese stove looks exactly like your little Lixada stove in this vid I like that it fits inside your msr pot and you can also drop a trangia alcohol burner in it so thanks for the vids that helped me decide
Any concerns about food grade vs woodstove pellets? For boiling water it won't matter, but for grilling the extra cost of BBQ pellets could be peace of mind for some folks.
I have moved to using only hardwood pellets with no added fillers. I do recommend using BBQ pellets for grilling over. Thanks for commenting
Great video Mark. Very timely for me as I just got my Lixada Wood gas stove.
Glad you enjoyed. Hope it helps. Thanks for commenting
Waiting for mine to arrive.
Very good instructional video. Very helpful on the journey to evolve my system. New subscriber. Thank you for sharing.
I am glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for commenting
Awesome video, watching you from Puerto Rico it’s not cold at all here but we do have places to camp.😄 Thanks a lot I will definitely try this.!👍
Glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for commenting
Great video, thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom.
Thank you for your kind words and for commenting
Love them wood pellets! Very reliable. Mark could you through a top of a small tin can on the wood pellets as they are burning to calm down the burn?
Interesting idea. Have not considered that before. I will give it a try. If it works out, I will make a video on it. Thanks for the suggestion
Could you please provide a link to that specific Lixada stove? I can't find one with the large cutout. All I'm seeing is one with a very small oval port for feeding sticks, so you're severely limited to size (and I don't feel like modifying). I currently own the Ohuhu, but the design is fairly flawed, and I'd like one that I can feed while using. Working my way up to the Solo price-wise. Thanks, great video!
There a great number of variations of this stove on Aliexpress you may like to look at. Here is a link I found on Amazon www.amazon.ca/Lixada-Folding-Camping-Gasifier-Backpacking/dp/B0868M6XFD/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=lixada+wood+stove&qid=1604064832&sr=8-14. Thanks for commenting
Great video! Getting pellets tomorrow
I think you will enjoy using them. Thanks for commenting
Subscribed. Great solution for this stove.
Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for the sub!
Nice video! I started using these wood pellets about 8 months ago, with my bushbuddy stove and I really like it too! I gotta use cast iron if I want to grill or cook/bake without burning. The heat is intense, like you said.
I agree, cast iron is about the only thing you could use over this hot flame. Another choice might be to suspend something over it with a tri-pod. Thank you for commenting
I've been using pellets in my commercial smoker for 16 years . Your right , burning wood gets hot . I have found , the cook temp is easily regulated by the amount of AIR you introduce to the burn chamber . This applies to all fires .
I think a small grill or dutch oven suspended from a tripod might do the trick.
I assume that the wood pellets are made from sawdust. What binder is used to hold it together? Is it toxic?
My understanding is that wood pellets are formed under high pressure with steam and do not use any binders. Thanks for commenting
simon4043 that depends on the kind you use the one that you buy for your pellet stove do normally have binders so be werry of that
I agree. I bought Tractor Supply 100% hardwood pellets. They smelled like chemical burning them, and left a horrible sticky chemical smelling soot on my pot. I would avoid them
Brilliant, thanks for the tip!
Most welcome. Thanks for commenting
awesome...I have a soleader gasifier that looks to be the same as the lixada and a solo light. Gonna give this a try. and just recently realized the importance of a wind screen for these...great vid sir!.
Glad you enjoyed. Thank you for commenting
Great info I have a solo and will try the wood pellets...
Wood pellets work great in the stove and very cheap to purchase. Thanks for commenting
If you let the pellets burn down to a bed of coals would the heat be less intense?
Yes. Use hardwood pellets and they will last a bit longer as well. Takes time for them to burn down though. Thanks for commenting
I tried my Lixada gas stove and was impressed with how it burned pellets. Easily will hold 3 cups which I think will extend burn time considerably! Surprised by the amount tar/soot on my pot though. Wonder why?
Wondering if it makes a difference if the pellets are made from softwood VS hardwood. They should be dry so moisture should not be a cause. I know if the pellets are loaded up over the secondary gas ports the stove won't gasify. Let me know your thoughts
Just another tip I've just found out that it works really well with an alcohol burner made from brass out of the old Danish cook sets. One fill boils up a big sauce pan. I just use the stand and the bit it sits on. This is with my silverfire those things look like you can use the just as. The brass fire gives a good base Ballance too
Excellent idea. Thank you for sharing
Have you tried steak or cooking with the pellets yet? I'm interested
I find if you use hardwood pellets you can grill over the coals at the end of the burn. The flame is too intense to grill over unless you use a heavy cast iron pan. Hope this helps. Thanks for commenting
Found this and a very good review. Have you tried solid fuel tabs? I like the burn time and heat result which would be handy in a shelter scenario with these little jet burners going and radiating heat. I may give this a go. Got mine on order. Well done sir.
Glad you like the video. I would be interested in hearing how you make out with solid fuel. I have not had good experiences with it so far. Thanks for commenting
I really am enjoying your videos! Keep up the great work!
I have a Solo Stove Campfire and have had good success grilling steaks using larger chunks of hardwood e.g. hickory, applewood, etc. (Normally used for smoking in BBQ grills like the Weber.) The chunks burn slower than smaller twigs. I have also put a few briquettes in with the wood chunks to even out the heat. I cook using an adjustable height wire grill that I can place over the Campfire. The grill is a 'Bedroll Cooker' kit from Self Reliance Outfitters. I also cook oysters on the half shell using this setup and method.
Love me some oysters. Yes, larger wood would be better for grilling. I have also found that hardwood pellets work better than softwood. I still have to wait for the flame to die down but I get much more grilling time. Thanks for commenting
Very informative. Thanks 🙏
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for commenting
Great analysis! Thanks! What type of material was the screen you put in the bottom of the one with the large holes in the bottom?
Glad you liked the video. In this case I used a dollar store BBQ grill to test out how well it would work. Something in stainless steel would be more durable. Thanks for commenting
Toaks Titanium small wood burning stove...can this stove be used with out adding the top part and using a separate pot stand? Would you try it...and make a video of you doing it...
I don't have the Toaks but I do have the Lixada versions in stainless steel and titanium. In the review of the titanium version I talk about using it without the top portion to act as a wood gas stove. Thanks for commenting
Do you think the pellets would be good for just a campfire in the solo stove?
Hope I understand your question correctly. If you are asking if using the pellets in the Solo Stove as just a fire to sit around then yes, they would work well. Thanks for commenting
Mark Young thank you. Yes, that's what I was asking.
I am using the Canway gasifier. I still prefer alcohol but the gasifier with pellets gives an awesome burn time that is, as you said, inexpensive. I did a test today in 27F degree weather and medium wind and, with a wind screen, I got 50 minutes of gasification cooking time. I filled my stove to just below the gas vents so I suspect that is why I got longer burn time. What's more, there were coals for another hour and I could have simmered/warmed my coffee that whole time. The Canway (and others) have pegs that can raise your pots a little. I have used them when burning thicker pieces of wood and have been able to easily fry up lunch. I think I need to do a test with the pellets to see if I can successfully fry with them. My biggest concern with these is that you still get soot on your pots/skillets. I don't care for that but the technique is still a good one.
Great results from your Canway. Personally, I don't mind the soot on my pots as I carry them in stuff sacks. Thanks for commenting
Excellent information!
Glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for commenting
Outstanding. Well done video.
Glad you liked the video. Thanks for commenting
Perhaps you've done this and I've missed it. I would be interested in seeing a wood gas stove (fueled with wood pellets or other fuel) as the heat source for a Kelly Kettle. Would the very efficient, high heat production of the wood gas stove, through the internal heat-catching design of the Kelly Kettle, be a good combination, or would the chimney-like draw of the Kelly Kettle not work as well without the more-nearly-open fire as its heat source?
You have not missed it but I am planning on doing that with an update video for the Kelly Kettle. The Trekker fits on top of my Lixada perfectly. Thanks for commenting