Remember warm goes to cold. In winter set the stove on a square of cork to insulate the stove from the cold ground and that serves two purposes. It increases the base size adding stability and second it blocks the heat from moving to the cold. I've used this stove at -20 F with no problems. But first practice at home. In cold temperatures avoid spilling fuel on your bare skin. Or you can freeze the skin. Don't over fill the tank or there is no way the stove can self-pressurize.

I'm bookmarking this video, will definitely try this the day i buy one myself.

Great video! Great info, thank you! I picked one of these up at the Salvation Army for $10. I cant wait to try it out!

I saw this video about a year ago, tried the mod and it works VERY well in all temperatures. A pump is not needed at all. I've had my SVEA 123 since 1972, and I'd like to add a couple of tips: The original instructions said on priming it: open the cap to equalize the pressure in the tank. Use an eyedropper/straw whatever to drip fuel into the burner cap, let it run down the pressurizing tube into the cup on top of the tank. Close the cap, and ignite the fuel before it evaporates out of the burner. This quickly warms the whole thing, burner, tube and tank . Yes you will get a bit of a bigger flare up, but no problems there. Watch the height of the primer flame. the moment it begins to die down, just crack the valve open a little, and it should fire right up. Absolutely no need to reuse the lighter or reprime. If you get a bit of a flare up, just shut the valve and wait. It takes practice. I use alcohol as it doesn't soot up the stove so much. In very cold temperatures, I keep the container of alcohol in my sleeping bag at night so it is warm in the morning. Having the carbon felt is a brilliant way to extend the prime time and the stove is ready to go no matter how cold it is. Carbon felt can be found anywhere plumbing supplies are sold. It comes in a sheet, and is used by plumbers to protect flammable surfaces when sweating pipe. For a stove base, I have a piece of Duct Wrap insulation. I also have an aluminum wind screen, but you need to be VERY CAREFUL that the wind screen stays far enough away from the stove that it does not overheat. These are great stoves. My only issue with it in more than 40 years is they are susceptible wind. but after a while it becomes second nature finding the perfect spot to fire it up. My SVEA 123 (old version) weighs 1lb 3 oz with a full tank, usually enough fuel for a summer overnighter where I just boil water for a meal or two. Great stove, it has never once failed me in 40+ years, and the carbon felt is brilliant! I made the same mod on my Optimus 8R as well. Last tip: SVEA fits perfectly inside an Optimus Terra Weekend HE cook pot. Thanks!

I was issued the 'Number 7 cooker' for winter exercises in Norway, they looked like a smaller Svea in a metal box, we were supplied with 'Meta' tablets [slug poison] to ignite and build up the pressure for lighting. Any Hexamine or fire gel would do the job just as well. Still have a Number 7 cooker [fell off the back of a wagon] timeless design.

Very informative, thanks! I always wondered about the efficacy of repeatedly opening the cap to re-prime. This makes much more sense.

Wood stove door seal (fiberglass rope) works great, too.

I first used my Svea in the late 60's. I just took half a square of toilet paper, twisted into a rope then dipped it and wrapped the base like that. Never failed and you always (or better) have TP.

I agree with Shug, I am going to setup my Svea 123 today just like you invented. That is a super modification and provides wonderful fire protection as well! Thank you so much and happy winder usage for that great little stove!

The carbon felt has been on all my SVEA's from day one after almost torching a picnic table and myself at a camp ground, that white gas spreads out fast and you can't see it sometimes. It doesn't take much time to pressure up the tank so no need to soak the carbon felt to death with alcohol. I have switched the PITA twisted braided chain with a small link chain, doesn't bunch up as much. I also moved my chain forward and mounted it between the jam nut and the valve assembly seems the chain does not bunch up as much. keeping that key off the valve while cooking is a must as once or twice branded by the valve key is enough. I keep it off until I need it. Cheers..

That is brilliant and I am doing that for sure,. Makes so much sense. Will do it tonight. Heading out Sat for a couple of nights. The temps are not going to be too cold but bringing the Svea to play with anf get to know. Thanks a bunch and Whoooooo Buddy))))))

To prime you can use alcohol like Heet which produces less carbon, or hand sanitizer. My SVEA instructions say fill tank to 1/3 capacity maximum. I like this and the MSR Whisperlite up here in Alaska for very cold weather when canister type stoves like Jetboil do not work well in the cold.

Excellent. Just did this mod. I used denatured alcohol and it works great

Good idea. I have seen a firewall flying through the air from to much fuel used in the priming bowl. fortunately it was the middle of the winter in the tetons.

My Svea is like close to fifty years old in use. From day one, I've always primed it by cracking open the valve a little, then briefly holding a match or lighter to the underside of the fuel tank. Even on very cold days it takes like a minute or less to get fuel coming out of the nozzle to light. You just have to be careful about not having too much fuel pumping out and running down the stem before lighting. That method might have even been in the original instructions the I don't have anymore,. You can do it with the outer body on the stove. If you set the stove on a warm surface it will prime as well. Depending on how warm a surface determines the time. Works for me.

Awesome idea! Thanks for sharing.

Glad I subscribed to your channel. I am a newbie trying to learn prior to blowing myself up. lol. looks like a great idea for even warmer outside temps. thank you.

I've used my Svea123 a lot since I bought it in 1967. I carry two other pieces of equipment with it: a half-liter fuel bottle and a Bic lighter. Before each use, I top up the fuel tank and PUT THE WINDSCREEN BACK ON. Then I place the stove on a heat- and fire-resistant surface (needs to be heat-insulating, too, if it's cold) and dribble a little fuel from the fuel bottle into the flame spreader until enough of it runs down the stem to fill the priming reservoir. After capping the fuel bottle tightly and setting it well aside, I strike a spark from the Bic somewhere in the vicinity of the windscreen and watch. I usually open the needle valve before the priming fluid is entirely consumed, so there's seldom any need to flic my Bic a second time.

Badass mod brother. I've been wanting to do this to my Svea 123 since I saw HiramCook's vids on carbon felt and the Trangia stove. He cut a long strip of carbon felt to match the height of the trangia, rolled it up, and stuffed it inside to extend the burn time of the alcohol. Pretty cool. Thanks for a great vid!

I use a small strip of ceramic fiber cloth. It is 1/4" thick and I cut it out in to a little disk that is slightly smaller than the indent that holds the priming fuel. It is the same stuff that you see used in metal melting forges, kilns and ovens. (it is not asbestos).

brilliant idea :) thanks for the tip.i tried it and is very effective.

Great modification!

Question! Would this work with a wound up piece of glass wool as well?

I use alcohol gel made to prime stoves or warming it with my hands. In sub zero temps I use the priming pump I have for mine.

the tank insulator is really the more important modification, because these stoves are brass they conduct heat very easily and if you place the tank directly on frozen ground or ice or snow the tank will cool rapidly and all of your pressure will go away. in the 70's we used to carry circles of closed-cell foam cut from old sleeping pads as stove insulators which worked very well.

Sorry for such a late response but have only just found this great channel! First class video with great info, here in the U.K. carbon felt is probably as rare as chickens teeth 😂 so initially substituted with firebox rope, worked ok, but have now switch to using a small squirt of ethanol fire gel, the stuff is being used more and more by Scouts and other youth movements to keep them away from liquid fules☹️!! I have to say the newer 123R stoves are of lesser quality than the originals, the brass of the tank is clearly not in the same ball park although it has to be said it still roars like the 70’s one I use to use back in the day! I still use my optimus 8R in its little blue box when the mood dictates 😎 once again many thanks, kind regards Clive from deepest Dorset 🇬🇧

Great idea. Better than my approach, which was to use a donut shaped piece of felt with a slit to get it over the shaft. Yours uses less material and can't fall off.

amazing old stove! the best!!!

Thanks for the update

Thanks for the video you are a real inventor lol

A square of cork makes a good insulation base. and a wind screen should be all you need to get the stove going. I've never had a problem starting mine at -20F

You can also use fine steel wool if you can't find the expensive carbon felt.

That's cool! I bet you could use a piece of fiberglass wick or stove door gasket as well. I'm not sure where you'd ever get this carbon felt stuff from. I've never heard of it before this video.

Good job love it

Absolutelly a wonderfull idea, I have an old Meva 2140 from Tchécoslovaquia very similar to the one you have and I'm going to make the same mod that's sure.

Brilliant 👍

good idea. think I'll try it.

Cool mod! I think the pumps are overrated too. Mostly because people misuse them. They tend to want to pump it up till its stiff just like stoves that require pumps. The svea 123 and other similar stoves like the optimus 80 or primus 71 self pressurize. Therefore if it is fully pressurized at the start it can over pressurize as it runs. Someone may ask "why don't you just take the fuel to prime it from your reserve fuel bottle?" The answer is that you always want to open the fuel cap on the stove before priming it to equalize the pressure. You did this... I'm just pointing it out and emphasizing it.

Great ideas, my stove has a hand pump fits over the full cap? Does that eliminates the well preheat?

I keep a small eye dropper with white gas or alcohol. That's what I use to prime the stove so that I don't have to open the lid, and I don't have to get any fuel on my hand.

The alcohol stovebrigade go on and on about the weight. I have been using primus since I ran away from home at 17. The power to weight ratio wins every time. I like the alcohol stove for emergency coffee in the tent and the quietness

I use a piece of old political plastic yard signs wrapped in foil for my stove bases. It's corrugated so good insolation. Carbon felt is a great idea. Thanks.

So I subscribed. You have some great info. It appears there’s soot build-up with this modification but only on the bottom of the bell due to incomplete burn of the carbon in the fuel, and once the jets are lit it gets a complete combustion resulting in zero - or near zero - soot build-up. Is that a fair assessment? Reason I ask is twofold: 1. I dislike soot on my pots, and why I don’t use wood or Esbit generally and 2. Am considering this modification on my SVEA 123, once she gets here. Thank you for all you do. Much appreciated.

Their is a cap and pump kit makes lighting much easier.

ive never heard or seen of carbon felt before? its a great idea where could you possibly aquire a small amount?

i dunno CC about it being a good time on EB to look for a 123 stove. looks like to me EB is going nuts on selling stuff high with xmas 2 weeks away? i'll just keep watching and on through the new year and we'll see what happens? maybe starting about feb things will go back to norm?

Hi! Really like your informative video. I struggle whit my Svea to get it work well. When I pre-heat my Svea, I use the fuel from the stove, just like you. I use chemically pure gasoline but my pre-heating goes much faster and more explosive than yours wich results in a second round, and that is really annoying. What cind of fuel do you use? // Jonas

The stove that you have there is in fact a Svea 123R just thought I'd let you know, as the throttle is slanting down, it is this that informs you of this, so if you turn it all the way to the left, you will get the jet needle pricker come up through the jet. I don't know if you was aware that you have the "R" stove, also the key is a different size. (just my opinion) good informative video as well.

I use fiberglass battery terminal "washers"....same thing as fiberglass rope, just little stamped donuts.

What tin do you use to house the Svea, by the way? I've been trying to find something that will fit just right. In all honesty, I started a project a while ago to "recreate" the Sigg Tourist windscreen out of #10 cans. After several prototypes I ran out of #10 cans lol, so I haven't finished the idea. Not to mention I don't have a dremel, so the result was crude at best.

Where do you get carbon felt?

CC, this is a nice mod to this stove. I don't have 1 yet, but I'm interested in this stove and also in the 8R, too. just as you know...more toys! share with you 1 thing I recently built from a YT video and I was very disappointed with..... it was a wood gas stove made from a new 1 quart paint can and an inner 20oz. pineapple can as the burn chamber. it worked very very poorly and was made correctly to the instructional video. the over-all size of the stove is too small, (Period). IMO, it was a waste of time. I made it because I thought the SS smaller "Solo Stove" looked neat on video, but the one I made (the homemade one) was just simply way too small for using for anything I would be interested in. as far as hiking, anything larger wouldn't be feesable to carry, IMO. I like it when you go car camping and have cooking fire pits already there (like your car camping video in Yellowstone). that's convenient and useable. as far as a 1 qt. wood gas stove I give that idea 2 thumbs down (respectfully).... just simply way too small and not useable enough. however, as far as alcohol stoves go.... your 1/2 capacity FF stove I use regularly! I love that 1/2 capacity version! super nice idea! I love it! so, thanks again, martina

I just use hand sanitizer or fuel paste. That is a good hack though.

Remember to take the key out!

상향식저소음 연소캡이 잇써요

I apoligize, I have them round the wrong way, that is in fact the Svea 123 that you are showing here, Sorry, groval, groval.

These stoves have been used for decades by me and longer by others in real life outdoor locations, no "suburbanite mods" needed or required at any temp or altitude..

TUCK FRUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just use hand sanitizer gel