Requirement for new/unused wicks for stoves on planes

[calliejane24]

Hi all

I realise there is an existing thread regarding travelling on planes with camping stoves but nothing to specifically address Qantas' apparent requirement for new & unused wicks.

We will be flying from Brisbane to Adelaide in a couple of weeks time and we will have our (used) MSR Whisperlite International stove in our checked baggage. The current declaration form on the Qantas website (http://www.qantas.com.au/dangerousgoods/declaration-flushing-procedures-camping-stove-tank-fuel-containers.pdf) requires a new and unused mantle/wick. Does anyone have any recent experience of this with Qantas?

Obviously it is going to be a PITA to source a new wick every time we fly so I have tried to find an online supplier for new wicks for the MSR International and have come up with nothing - does anyone know where I might be able to source a few new wicks?

Thanks

Carla

[Moondog55]

What wick?
It isn't a wick as far as I know but a surge damper so you do not get a huge gush of fuel
Older style stoves such as the Optimus 111 use a wick / Extreme paranoia rules unfortunately

[calliejane24]

It's called a wick in the instruction manual and I'm pretty sure Qantas would consider it to be a wick.

[Moondog55]

Then take it out and put it somewhere else for the flight.
30 years on and we still don't have the explosion containment cargo canisters on airplanes as standard equipment

[stry]

Then take it out and put it somewhere else for the flight.
30 years on and we still don't have the explosion containment cargo canisters on airplanes as standard equipment

That's the best solution !!

Carry a new one in with the stove if you like, but don't sully it with use.

[johnrs]

Hi CJ
Travel with fuel stoves has become a pain
However Qantas will look after you.
Please follow the process in the attached link
http://www.qantas.com.au/dangerousgoods ... ainers.pdf.
If link does not work then google "qantas dangerous goods",find the page dealing with fuel stoves.
Once you have completed the process email the form back to the dangerous goods people at Qantas and they will, usually promptly, email back an approval document.
Make a couple of copies of the document and show it at checkin.
Keep your stove and fuel bottles accessible as they will be unpacked and inspected,
usually for fuel smells.
I find the best way to remove fuel smells is to leave equipment in the sun for a good few hours.
Repeat again just before the flight.
Your stove does not have a wick.
If you do not declare the stove and bottles in your luggage they may be found on XRay screening and you may be called to account, you will most likely then lose them.
Best wishes
John

[Gadgetgeek]

I think callie is referring to the priming wick that the international has. I can see how they might not like it, the good news is that because they are fiberglass, they don't hold smells, and you could very carefully clean the soot out of it. (they are not really something I'd want to replace all that often) If you know you are only using shellite/white gas, then you can probably get away without using it at all, or can just use another wicking material in the short term like some TP or the like to get the stove primed. If you are using kero in it, you will need a wicking material, but again, it really only needs to last the half minute or so, I'd try using paper towel, or even a bit of cotton cloth as an experiment before you go. worst case you could make a wick out of the fiberglass tiki-torch wick you can get at bunnings, a few clean chunks of that and it would be enough to get you by. Not as tidy as the regular one, but same effect for a couple bucks.

[RonK]

Time for a replacement stove I think. A nice little MSR Pocket Rocket or Kovea Spider.

[Moondog55]

Oh OK I call that the fibre priming pad as that's it's nomenclature in the spare parts section
On the XGK it just sits there and can be taken off easily and then replaced but if it tears they do cost a few dollars
Totally different thing altogether
Hot soapy water used to work for me

[calliejane24]

Thanks everyone.

I am aware of the process outlined in the flushing procedures outlined in the declaration form (see the link in my original post) and that I need to email a completed form to Qantas for pre-approval. The issue for me is Qantas's stated requirement for a new or unused wick. Yes, it is probably easiest to simply remove it and carry it separately. To my mind the declaration procedure is fairly clear - it says to 'remove the mantle/wick' in Step 1 and in Step 3, the wording is 'I have wrapped the camping stove, new and unused mantle/wick and tank/fuel containers in absorbent material...'.

I'm not wanting to argue about terminology but to be clear on what I am talking about, I've attached a screenshot taken from the manual showing the part I am referring to - the part is, indeed, a priming wick; the manual uses the terminology 'wick'. I understand that other models have slightly different parts that are referred to using different terminology.

Anyway, I suppose that I will remove the wick, give it a clean, stash it elsewhere and hope it isn't an issue.

Thanks again for the assistance.

[Moondog55]

As above, if you use Shellite you can get along without the wick, a small bottle of metho helps a lot. All the old kero stoves just had a shallow pan [ priming cup] and never had a problem. I honestly think the people at qantas do not know what they are talking about here

But they do write the rules

[johnrs]

Thanks for the diagram CJ
Once you go through this process
including removing the wick!
You still have to deal with the check in staff who have varying but basic levels of knowledge.
Take along the instructions as well as the approval and persist politely.
Make sure the approval is recorded
so the baggage folks with the XRay machines also know.
The XRay machines will also pick up lighters.

Its the international regulations not the airline.
Virgin is more difficult, there is no preapproval and the staff are less experienced
but follow the packing instructions and go through them with the check in staff.
As Moondag says there is no need for a wick with Shellite.
I find the check in process quite stressful
Best wishes
John

[Aidan]

Hi CJ
Travel with fuel stoves has become a pain
However Qantas will look after you.
Please follow the process in the attached link
http://www.qantas.com.au/dangerousgoods ... ainers.pdf.
If link does not work then google "qantas dangerous goods",find the page dealing with fuel stoves.
Once you have completed the process email the form back to the dangerous goods people at Qantas and they will, usually promptly, email back an approval document.
Make a couple of copies of the document and show it at checkin.
Keep your stove and fuel bottles accessible as they will be unpacked and inspected,
usually for fuel smells.
I find the best way to remove fuel smells is to leave equipment in the sun for a good few hours.
Repeat again just before the flight.
Your stove does not have a wick.
If you do not declare the stove and bottles in your luggage they may be found on XRay screening and you may be called to account, you will most likely then lose them.
Best wishes
John

Qantus will not look after you at all.
They will likely make an uninformed decision based on safety of the aircraft.
You stove will likely be confiscated never to be seen again.
Called into account?
More likely fined at least.

My "declared" water filled Optimus 111T was confiscated and lost to me flying from Sydney to Perth after having travelled to such places as the Ireland, UK, Switzerland and repeated trips between Aus. and NZ, thanks to Qantus despite the tank being filled with water for my intended journey

Maybe just post the stove ahead of you (nationally).

Edit:
I didtn have a pre-approval but wonder if one would help.
Around five levels of supervisor came to look at my stove due to them being unable to agree on the danger.
I was nearly arrested by flicking my lighter at it to prove the lack of likely combustion.

[Aidan]

Time for a replacement stove I think. A nice little MSR Pocket Rocket or Kovea Spider.

I think this is the easiest approach if you don't want to risk losing that multi-fuel stove.
With the Kovea looking like the most stable and therefore safest pick of the bunch (IMHO).
They can be found on ebay for $62.50 with a ignitor.

[johnrs]

That's a sorry outcome Aidan!
I like to have a copy of the hazardous goods regulations
to present to the checkin folks.
And comply meticulously
And, at least for Quantas, have a copy my preapproval document.
But it feels like my day will come sometime..............

Often we are cooking for a family group on long trips
so gas is not not quite the complete solution
John

[icefest]

I've used the whisperlite internationale, and flown with it too (jetstar). I've found it works almost as well without the wick, you just need to make sure it's on level ground or the fuel spills. This was promising with both shellite and method (shellite if it's really cold as it has a lower flash point and is easier to light).

Just remove it and use it like that.

[calliejane24]

Thanks everyone.
We have now returned and made it through Qantas check-in at both Brisbane and Adelaide. Brisbane was definitely more vigilant than Adelaide.

We did have to pull it apart and give it a really good clean for both the outward and return flights. We ended up using it without the wick and with shellite as a fuel, after having previously only used ULP (ULP had been recommended to us by a seasoned hiker, on the basis of it being cheaper and able to be sourced more easily) - we will never use ULP again (amongst other reasons, the smell was still really noticeable after cleaning it and we would never have gotten through with it without thorough disassembly and cleaning. The ULP seems to 'soak' into the rubber seals and even after cleaning, they still had a noticeable fuel smell). The shellite was also extremely efficient (and obviously burns cleaner). So we now feel confident of doing it all again in September when we head to WA...yay!

[Gadgetgeek]

are you meaning Unleaded Petroleum? I wouldn't use that very often, only in an emergency. There are a lot of extra additives that are great in cars (some are there to make it burn less easily.. anti-knock and other technical stuff), but are pretty toxic. not that other fuels are inert, but I'd like to stick to the stuff that is as much just carbon and hydrogen as I can get. I spent a couple years soaked in engine oil and gasoline, and I'm pretty sure it did some bad stuff.
I think you've made the right call to go with just shellite. Having the spare jet, and knowing that the stove will burn unleaded, kero, or diesel if you need to is great for emergencies (I've run Jet B in a whisperlite, sooty as all heck but it works) but I think you'll have a better time overall. besides, its not like you are running 100L a week through the stove, cost isn't going to be that huge.