How do we shut off this portable stove??

June 28, 2015 5:40 PM

We just tried out a previously unopened Sterno brand portable butane stove. It lit itself fine, but the dial to moderate the flame doesn't affect it all and now we have no idea how to turn it off. We followed the instructions to turn the flame all the way down and no effect. Husband just tried calling the corporate number and I don't think he's getting through to anyone. He also did some googling and looks concerned. I said, "This is a question for metafilter!" What do we do?
posted by stowaway to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

Is there a bit of a click when you turn the flame adjustment knob all the way to its lowest setting? I believe there should be, and that turns it off.
posted by BillMcMurdo at 5:50 PM on June 28, 2015

I've had a butane torch refuse to shut off, and in that case giving it a sharp knock against a hard, non-flammable object jarred loose whatever valve part was sticking. So, maybe that's an option.
posted by jon1270 at 5:53 PM on June 28, 2015

Response by poster: It clicked on to light, but no clicking, we both tried turning it as far back as it could go. While I was posting my husband used our fire extinguisher on it.
posted by stowaway at 5:53 PM on June 28, 2015

If it has a fuel canister, you can just take that off.
posted by ftm at 6:01 PM on June 28, 2015 [2 favorites]

Best answer: The manufacturer's instructions said explicitly not to remove the fuel canister while the stove is lit. And I just did some googling and apparently this stove was subject to a recall. I'm glad we have plenty of fire extinguishers handy.
posted by stowaway at 7:07 PM on June 28, 2015 [1 favorite]

Long shot, since I don't have that stove but: sometimes, with fuel knobs, you have to either press it in or pull it out a little to get it to click to off at the end of the turn. That may be worth a try, see if it presses in or wiggles out a little at the end of the turn.
posted by zinful at 7:33 PM on June 28, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Be careful in case it is a "poke"-style canister - in that case you can't remove the canister. If you simply extinguished the flame the gas is still coming out and might collect/explode in combination with a neighboring flame/light switch.. Take care!
posted by mathiu at 2:50 AM on June 29, 2015 [2 favorites]

Best answer: What mathiu said. Make sure the extinguished stove is outdoors, preferably in a breeze, so the butane can dissipate without causing an explosion.
posted by bricoleur at 6:50 PM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]