Origo cooker - complaint

[mike uk]

This isn't a safety warning; but I just thought I should warn everyone that trying to buy an Origo cooker could damage your sanity.

After careful research, I recently chose an Origo single burner cooker, inset model which also has the options of a glass hinged lid and pan clamps.

Of course, it's just a metal box and 200 is a lot of money for a metal box. But it does the job, the admiral likes the glass lid, we need something to cook on, etc, etc - so that's why I chose it.

Then the problem started. The UK mail order retailer sent the wrong pan clamps so they had to go back. I could see they were wrong as there is no way they would fit under the glass lid. The retailer did not seem very familiar with the product so I verified with the official UK importer/wholesaler for Origo that the glass lidded version has its own pan clamp kit. These were then ordered via the retailer. They arrived and turned out to be the same as the others but with a metal fixing rail which needs to be screwed to the unit. So I now have a set of pan clamps and a fixing rail, none of which will fit under the glass lid.

More phone calls, more waiting, more failed promises to call me back. Is it just us Brits that have to take such dismal treatment?

Eventually, today, after phone calls to Origo in Sweden they have all decided that pan clamps cannot be fitted to the glass lidded model!

I ought to send the whole thing back to them, but I shall probably just go with what we've got and treat it as a lesson learned for the future about Origo (and about the UK retailer).

[Moe]

Thanks for the warning on the glass lid, Mike. The wood cutting board cover will slide under the pot holder arms.

--
Moe

[Divecoz]

Sorry to hear but, how well does the unit work? I am really leaning towards that burner for my boat as well. Dang One night and two post about Bad Customer service.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Why didn't you buy it from one of the local dealers. You can get them at West Marine and many others.

I am very happy with my two burner recessed Origo stove with a cutting board top.

[craiglaforce]

I just removed my flush mount single burner origo from the boat. Never liked it even a little. Cooks slow, hard to clean, hard to fill, the flame spreader makes it hard to get a lighter in there, and if you remove the spreader you just have a little point flame in the middle of the frying pan. Plus the alcohol is kinda smelly, and the little rubber disk is a pain and the shutter slide flame adjuster is like grating fingernails on a blackboard. And if you only use it rarely, the alcohol evaporates all out between uses and you have to refill it every time. Other than that it is great. Oh, and it was too expensive for a glorified can of sterno. Actually I think a can of sterno would be an improvement. Open the lid and there is the gelled fuel, right where you left it. Light the durn thing and cook. probably a bigger flame and everything. Just need a little tin box to put it in and a grid to hold the frying pan.

When I was installing my bar sink and it would not fit to the right of the Origo. I removed the Origo and put the sink in the Origo cutout. Looks like the sink was made to go there. Now I have 2 sinks and will use the little Kenyon butane stove for inside cooking and a Coleman propane grill/burner combo for outside grilling. The Kenyon is self lighting, very adjustable and puts out a beautiful perfect flame for gooking. The little butane can seems to be pretty leakproof and i might rig a little container for it so any leaks are directed to the original sink to drain the gas overboard out the sink drain (no water trap). The Origo is in the garage on its way to the attic to join its evil twin, the Magma grill.

[Andy26M]

I'm with Craig -

I never had an installed stove, I have one of those little Kenyon-type butane one-burner stoves that has a nice plastic storage case. It takes all of 20 seconds to install the canister and it is self-lighting, so no matches, no smells, no muss, no fuss. Cooks like a dream, and when not in use stows under the sink, freeing up the counter space fo other uses. The butane canisters are smaller than propane canisters so easy to store topside. But to me the biggest benefit: as long as it is not raining I can put it in the cockpit and cook outside, keeping the heat and odors out of the cabin altogether.

My only gripe with it is that my local Benny's stopped carrying the propane canisters, which they charged about $2 for, and now I have to buy the same canisters (different name on the label, but otherwise identical) at West Marine for $5.50 ...


- AndyS

[Andy26M]

Oh, by the way:

If you are looking for a butane one-burner, don't buy the $65-$70 Kenyon at West marine. The following unit is virtually identical except for the label on the front and the shape of the rubber feet at the bottom (I took my Vector to West Marine and compared them side-by-side):

http://www.pipeshop.com/Ultimate-Portab ... 6C381.aspx

Even if this thing wears out in 3 years, and even with butane at $5.50 per canister, it is going to take me a long, long time before this method adds up to be less economical than an alcohol stove at $200+.

- AndyS

[DLT]

Well, being the cheap b*st*rd that I am, I bought a $10 sterno-type grill thing at Walmart from their clearance aisle and then bought a $3 trivet from Target.

The grill thing has a chromed rod circular frame that supports the sterno can up off the deck/counter/whatever, and even includes a chromed holder with a sliding lid to snuff the flame. After use, the fiberglass counter I put it on was not even warm...

Out of the box, the frame supports a teflon coated frisbee looking disk that acts as a grill. Well, as you can imagine, the grill surface wasn't very good for heating my morning coffee. So, the first time, is just used the skewers that can with it to support the coffee.

Then, I got the trivet which fits within the frame to act as a grating upon which the coffee (or whatever else) can now sit.

Yeah, I know, I know, this is real hard to picture...

Here is a picture of the grill, or one real close to it... Actually, here is a better picture...

The trivet is just a chrome ring/grating that fits without the chrome frame...

Yes, this is the cheap way to go and I don't pretend that you can do any sort of real cooking. But, it is a real cheap way to make that coffee in the morning...

It is real small and stows away just about anywhere... But no, I wouldn't use it in rough water/weather...

I also found a $1 clay pot at Walmart that fits snugly into the frame for a cheap (although likely rather ineffective) radient heater...

So, I have a <$15 setup, which is technically similar (same fuel type, same operating principle, etc...) to the Origo stove. I can stow it out of the way and reclaim the counter space rather easily. Like anything else, it could be permanently mounted, but I see no reason too... It takes regular sterno cans, which are likely a bit more expensive than bulk alcohol fuel, but alot cleaner and easier to deal with... They store real easy in the fuel lockers, out of the cabin, while unused fuel in the Origo remains in the stove in the cabin (yeah, until it evaporates...)

While I'm sure there are reasons why the Origo stove commands the price it does, it simply isn't worth it to me... Your mileage may very...

Ok, so let me have it... Why is this the wrong way to go?

[Randy Smith]

I use a butane stove. Had a propane fixed to the counter. It was great, but like already stated, it is nice to reclaim the galley. The Vector Butane goes on the counter, then I pack it up when done with the coffee, counter space returned. "Heavy Cooking", is done on the BBQ Stove out on the stern.......I purchased the butane stove at Sportsman Northwest for 19$ and the butane canisters for around 2$....I have two canisters on the boat, they last a long time. If going on a long trip, I stock up......I really like the butane system and the ability to pack it up and put it away. For 19$, I will toos it at any sign of wear or rust and get another........ah, the consumer society. Randy

[MAC26X]

I do like the Origo stove, in spite of its limitations. Yes, unused alcohol will evaporate if you leave it in the stove for a few days. Yes it is primitive and somewhat expensive. Yes, it produces fewer BTUs than a propane or butane stove. But it does heat well, burns clean, has zero maintenance and uses a fuel that is safe in the cabin. I like the fact and safety that it is built-in and can secure pans. When not in use, a cutting board or cover "reclaims" the counterspace.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Remember, both propane and butane are heavier than air and being stored in pressurized containers, far more dangerous to use down below than alcohol. Even small leaks will build up in the bilge and go boom if exposed to a spark. The Origo with it's non-pressurized alcohol is much safer. It will not ignite with a spark, it takes an open flame. Being harder to light is actually a safety feature. We have a nice skinny butane match that lights it easily even with the flame spreaders.

I've had no problems at all with evaporization. Even on our 3-1/2 week trip last summer I only filled one of the two canisters one time. We use 3 times a day for days on end without problems. At the end of the summer it was left to sit until our New Years Eve trip and the stove still lit up just like always. I don't even know where the little rubber covers are, we never use them. We just close the shutters. While not as hot as propane or butane, the stove easily boils our large kettle full of water thats big enough we can drop 2 Dungeness live crab into at the same time.