Volcano Stoves ~ anyone use one?

[Sugarfoot]

OK, it's y'all's fault . . . sorta.

I got to reading the Dutch Oven thread (a good thread, BTW) and went investigating Dutch ovens on the web when I ran across this little gem. It's called a Volcano Stove. Albeit, not the cheapest camp kitchen item on the market, it looks to be extremely versatile. It can be fired with wood, charcoal brickettes, or with an optional propane burner attachment. It can be used as a portable campfire similar to Campfire-in-a-Can, Yukon Legend, or Port-a-Fire. There is even a collapsable version for saving packing space.

Yep, had to have one, it's on it's way. But I'm curious to know if anyone in Airstream land has had experience with this stove. I found the best prices and free shipping at EndlessVariety.com.

[DJ Bassett]

Originally Posted by Sugarfoot

OK, it's y'all's fault . . . sorta.

I got to reading the Dutch Oven thread (a good thread, BTW) and went investigating Dutch ovens on the web when I ran across this little gem. It's called a Volcano Stove.
Yep, had to have one, it's on it's way.

That Dutch oven thread got me to pull out my ovens and get them ready for the season. I also saw that Volcano Stove. Lots of gadgets out there, but this one looks like it would be quite functional, especially where friends and campground operators would take exception to one digging a Dutch oven cook hole in their lawn.

I'll be looking for your reports on the new stove!

DJ

[Jimandrod]

Looks pretty interesting - I'm lookng forward to hearing more about it.

[Foiled Again]

I saw something very similar last year. It was bigger and I just couldn't figure out what was so familiar about it, so I asked the owner where he'd gotten his neat fire basket/stove. Turned out he'd gone to the junkyard, taken the basket out of an old washer, drilled three holes through the bottom, and made legs out of old bolts, then used it as a fire basket for over four seasons. slap a grill on top and it was a cookstove. Said his was almost burned through by now so he would be looking at curbs and dumps for a replacement.

I like the look of this though, and I agree it's a decent thing to use when the campground objects to on-the-ground cooking. I plan to use my Weber baby-Q the same way. Hope it's sturdy enough.

Paula

[Excella CM]

You can do some pretty efficient cooking on just a large size barbeque lighter-sort of a lower tech Volcano stove.

[Sugarfoot]

The Volcano arrived. I bought the collapsible one and just from looking at it out of the box it's pretty cool and I'm looking forward to using it. The stove is 12.5 inches across so a 12" dutch oven ought to fit in there just perfectly above the coals. But I don't have a dutch oven (yet) and probably won't get a chance to try it before the Cherry Blossom Rally.

I'll get some pics up when I start experimenting.

[Sugarfoot]

Last week I finally got a chance to play with the Volcano when camping at Shellmound on Nickajack Lake. Yeah, right, try it at the Cherry Blossom Rally ~ what was I thinking?

Here's what you get in the box: The stove itself, a propane burner with hose, regulator, and attachments (if you ordered it), a small grate, and larger grate, and a heat diffuser that fits over the propane burner when used. The grates and difuser are heavy-duty weighing as much as the stove itself. All fits nicely into the zippered balistic nylon storage bag.





When lifted by the bail handle, the stove opens easily and the legs extend. The top of the stove is 12.5 inches in diameter. You can compare the size against a fairly standard camp fire ring.





I set up to cook with a charcoal fire. The small grate fits into the bottom of the stove and the large fits on top to act as your grill or cooking surface. I used a charcoal chiminey starter to make coals than placed the appropriate on the lower grate. There is a vent at the base that can be adjusted for more or less air flow.



Stay tuned . . . .

[Sugarfoot]

OK, I’ve NEVER cooked with a Dutch oven before. I went to the Lodge factory in South Pittsburgh, TN, just a few miles from my campsite. Those Lodge camp ovens are HEAVY. So I’ve wimped out for now with a GSI anodized aluminum #12 Dutch oven. I would really like to have a well-used vintage #12 Griswold or such, but I’m still searching. I swear the old ones are lighter weight than the newer Lodge versions.

Remove the upper grate and a 12 inch Dutch oven fits perfectly into the Volcano. So I mixed a quick test batch of biscuits, inverted a pie pan in the oven, preheated the oven, and placed them on foil in it. In about 20 minutes this is what I had. Not the best batch I’ve ever made, but certainly not the worst. I need more Dutch oven practice ~ it really is an art. I have since been told that several Mason jar canning rings in the bottom make the best trivet ever for Dutch ovens.




Then I fired up more coals and tried a rice/vegetable dish in my trusty #8 Griswold skillet. It turned out perfectly.



Bottom line: So far I love it, glad I bought it. If you use Dutch ovens, this is your answer when you can’t dig a pit.

I’ll try the propane next time. It stands to reason temperature control would be similar to any other gas stove and easier to manage. Eventually I’ll try using the Volcano as a free-standing wood campfire pit, but it will require appropriately sized wood.

[Spiffy Gem]

I have one. Very nice to have when you are trying to use a 12 inch dutch oven when it's windy. You don't spend all your time getting a new batch of coals going to keep the heat, and it doesn't require as many brickets to cook with as it traps the heat and keeps the wind from cooling the pot.

It's very easy to setup and collapse.

My only beef with it is it's made by Camp Chef for Camp Chef dutch ovens: Lodge and Cabela's 12 inch dutch ovens don't fit like they should.

[tin sista]

Sweet!! we tried using our dutch oven this spring when it was super windy, and being total dutch oven newbies even with a wind shield and oven thermometer, it didn't work so great the temps were too hard to control for us (recognizing our newbie status here) so I'm thinking this volcano thing looks good!! thanks for the great thread and photos sugarfoot!!

[DJ Bassett]

Thanks for the report and the fine photos! Looking forward to more of both.

DJ

[Sugarfoot]

No photos right now, but I've tried the propane attachment. It assembles quickly and easily. Regulating cooking temps are naturally easier and more precise with the propane. Cooking is basically the same as your gas stove. We didn't do anything fancy this time, only popcorn in the dutch oven which we ate in short order.

It has an air intake mechanism below the burner that can be adjusted with a thumb screw. Interestingly, if you close it completely to air and it becomes a tall inefficient but fuel-rich flame just like the propane portable campfires. Kinda gives a whole new meaning to the name "Volcano" stove. Eventually I'm going to try some ceramic logs and push the multitasking on this thing a little further.

[Griller]

I was reading your post and followed the link you gave but the page it went to said it could "not load the infomation requested." So, I found the people who make the Volcano. They're here.

[Kevin245]

Ummmm.....I'm thinking that some of Dacia's "Bread Pudding" sure would be good about now.