This is the second post of our two-part series. Navigate over to our previous post-Camping Gaz Turbo 270 Conversion for Threaded Fuel Canisters.
Along with my Camping Gaz Bleuet 270 Micro Stove, I always wanted a Camping Gaz Bivouac 270 lantern. To be a part of my camp kitchen. For whatever reason, at the time, I never purchased one. It seemed to make sense to have a small backpacking-style lantern. That could use the same fuel canister as my stove. With fall and winter camping, you could usually get the cooking done before it would get dark. But clean-up was always a different story. A lantern would aid in lighting up the camp kitchen for clean-up.
Since I was able to successfully convert my Camping Gaz Turbo 270 to threaded fuel canisters. I should and could do the same thing with the Bivouac 270 lantern. I was able to source a package deal online and purchased another Turbo 270 along with a Bivouac 270 lantern.
I know people have comments on why spend the money on doing the conversion. That lantern weighs too much for backpacking! Some headlamps give off more light than that lantern. These are all good comments. The best answer on why to make the conversion is this. I always wanted a Bivouac 270 lantern, and now I have a matching stove and lantern set. Sometimes it's not about weight, distance, or the trail. It's about the meal and the people you share it with. I can see using the Bivouac 270 in an area where you cannot have a campfire. But the glow of the lantern provides that light that people hang around to share a meal and tall tales. That is what we remember, which is why I am doing this conversion.
The Bivouac 270 Lantern and the Camping Gaz Bleuet 270 Micro Stove. Both use sealable CV270 220-gram or CV470 450-gram canisters. As with the stove, the disadvantage to this lantern is. Where you could only use the Camping Gaz canister with this lantern. All other manufacturers use a threaded connector canister.
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| The Bivouac 270 Lantern. |
The Bivouac 270 Lantern comes with a plastic storage case. This helps protect the lantern in transport inside your pack or bag. There is limited movement inside the case and one of the simple features that I like about the lantern.
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| Bivouac inside its plastic storage case. |
For this conversion, I needed a donor stove for the valve that is required for this project. The Coleman Peak 1 (3001 series) stove is what I am going to use. The stove can be found and runs for under $20.
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| Coleman Peak 1 is needed as a donor. |
The Coleman Peak 1 is right out of the box. I was a little taken aback at the general quality of this stove.
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| Coleman Peak 1 out of the box. |
Step #1: Remove the red plastic housing.
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| One side of the plastic housing is off. |
Step #2: Once the housing is off, remove all other parts of the stove. What's that blue that I see?
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| All the parts of the stove. |
Step#3: Remove the black dummy cap from the blue turn knob.
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| Guess what, that is a Camping Gaz valve. |
Disassembly of the Bivouac 270 is straightforward. Remove the reflector, and the globe, and then unscrew the burner from the valve.
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| Bivouac 270 disassembled. |
Reassembly is as simple and a little different from the steps of disassembly. First, screw the new Camping Gaz valve from the Colman Peak 1 stove to the lantern body.
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| The old Camping Gaz valve was removed and the new Camping Gaz valve was installed place. |
I found it easier to mount the lantern body to the threaded fuel canister before slipping the mantle.
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| A new valve and lantern burner is mounted to the threaded fuel canister. |
Replacement mantles have been a little difficult for me to find. I found Coleman #51, which comes with two mantles per pack. Primus also carries its thorium-free mantles for its mini lanterns. Which come in three per pack. Prices seem to vary quite a bit. You should be able to find the Coleman #51 mantles for around $3 a pack, and Primus list theirs for $6.95. If you could source the Camping Gaz mantles they would be a size S. But any slip-on mantles should work.
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| Coleman Slip-On #51 rosette-style Mantles. |
The mantle is designed to slip on the lantern burner post and needs to be unfolded in a sphere-like shape. It can be a little trying to get on the post. Make sure you cover all the burner jets with the mantle. In the picture below the green end of the mantle is pre-tied and the other end is open.
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Make sure the mantle is covering the hole on the lantern burner.
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Pre-burn the mantle in a well-ventilated area. Once the pre-burn is completed, carefully install the globe. The mantles can be damaged after the pre-burn, so having spare mantles on hand is a good idea.
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Prepare the mantle by pre-burning.
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The finished conversion test lighting was a success! It took me far longer to get everything needed than to do the actual conversion. A word of warning. Both times that I lit the lantern, I did it by opening the reflector. The lantern lights fast and also flames up at first. It is a little difficult to close the reflector once lit. There are holes at the bottom of the lantern housing, and that might be the best way to light the lantern. This is still an open flame, and rules in high fire-threat areas should be followed.
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| Conversion Complete. |
There you go! I was able to take the lantern that used a non-threaded fuel canister. Convert it over to accept threaded fuel canisters. I am sure this lantern sat in someone's garage or gear closet for years. Because fuel canisters could not be sourced. The lantern fired up like it was used on a backpacking or canoeing trip last week. Just goes to show you how dependable of a canister lantern the Bivouac 270 is.
Update note: The Reader left a comment that this conversion will also work with the Camping Gaz Lumostar C270 lantern. I have not independently confirmed that conversion. That gives me another reason to purchase a lantern! Warning-The reader assumes the potential for damage during this conversion.
Now It's Your Turn-
Leave a comment about your Camping Gaz Bivouac 270 Lantern. Do you still use it today? Did this post save your lantern from the trash and back to many more years of lighting up the campsite?
Comments
Happy camping
I do see the overall size of the two is different but is the jet it's self a different size? It looks to be the same size.
Thanks for your comment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyfyX-pOChg
Happy camping
You are welcome! Glad to hear that the lantern fired up.
The valve of Coleman Peak 1 is a Camping Gaz valve. What "Anon" was referencing was the brass jet in the valve. The small hole in the jet is a different size. Take the jet from the new valve out and replace it with the original jet from the lantern. The Coleman valve matches up to everything so this conversion works. I don't know where the guy in the video sourced the adaptor or if he made it. I hope this helps.
It is the brass hex-looking nut with a small hole in the center. On the top of the valve opposite of the blue locking ring that attaches to the gas cartridge.
If I remember correctly it takes a 7mm socket to remove the jet. Be very careful because brass is soft.
In the 9th picture, you can see the hex nut on top of the old valve.
Hope that helps
Update: I purchased the Peak 1 stove online ($16) and removed the valve as described. Unfortunately, as you warned and as another recent poster indicated (anonymous), the brass hex nut/jet fitting on the Peak 1 is soft and was impossible to remove without damaging it (with the appropriate 7mm socket. The Peak 1 mfgr had placed it incredibly tightly (I was able to remove the Gaz hex/jet with the same socket with no trouble)!. I ended up drilling the Peak 1 jet out of the valve and then was able to install the Gaz jet. Be sure to use a bit that is a smaller diameter than the brass hex nut so as to not damage the threads on the valve fitting and obviously blow out all the metal shavings when you're finished. Where can I we find the smaller canisters that will fit this new ensemble and what model/mfgr would you look for? I am very appreciative of your suggestions and am anxious to try out my recovered lantern!
27 March, 2021 14:04
Navigatetoyouradventure said…
Denalidon-
That's great news to hear that you were able to resolve the problem jet. Thanks for posting up how you did it. I am sure that fix will help someone else.
If you are looking for the 100-110 gram cartridges I have used both Jetboil 100 gram cartridges and I have used Snow Peak 110 gram cartridges. While they both look the same size, you are losing 10 grams of fuel with the Jetboil and it is going to cost a little more. So just be aware of that.
MSR sells their cartridges in three sizes- 4,8,16 oz. Coleman sells theirs in 4oz cartridges. Any of those I have listed will work.
** I don't know why your comment listed under a different post. I will try to move these to the right post so we can keep the comments together. I will move them in 24-48 hours**
Tried this and yes the jet needs to be changed, and it does strip easily, I ended up having to file the Coleman jet down to 1/4" to get it out.
In the process I discovered that if you put the bottom of the valve (tank end) on a good hard surface and protect the jet with a flat bit of metal and then tap it a few times with a small hammer it will loosen much easier.
There is a taper seal to the jet, a little tapping loosens it up, worked with both jets, even the one that stripped and I had to file down.
Good luck
Well, ordered from Amazon 2 stoves, and swapped out the valves, and the jets on both.
I tossed them in the freezer to shrink the metal, then 5 light taps with a tiny hammer,
as the gentleman above said...and no damage to the jets at all.
They turned effortlessly. Thanks Folks.
I already have my Bivouac 270 lantern changed for the Campingaz R cylinders (refillable) with the help of the valve from an old damaged Bivouac R (I guess they stopped making the Bivouac R a couple of decenia ago) Refilling these R cylinders with propane is out of specs and I don't know if I really want to try it. And the R cylinders are heavy!
So that is not the best way to make this lantern work on propane for use in cold weather.
I live in Europe, so it wasn't easy to find a Coleman Peak 1, but it's on it's way now. The parts I don't need for the conversion will be used to repair my Campingaz Twister stove (similar to the Peak 1, but with twist-lock).
I have no idea why we can't buy Coleman gasstoves and lanterns in Europe or why Campingaz doesn't make canisters with a winter gasmix. It's like they only want to sell summer campinggear.