Every time I travel 'under my own power', I try to learn and become more efficient - which translates to 'carry less weight'. You can do this by taking less, doing without, combining functions and/or getting lighter weight gear. This saves energy so you can go farther, longer and/or faster.
In this day an age of lightweight backpacking, many hikers are turning to alcohol stoves because they are super-lightweight, inexpensive, simple to use, and alcohol can be shipped in bounce boxes along the the trail. Since most commercial backpacking stoves have an integral pot stand, someone who uses an alcohol stove needs to provide one. But the same criteria for choosing the alcohol stove in the first place must also apply to the pot stand-windscreen too.
Most manufactured pot stands and/or windscreens are designed to fit a variety of pots and stoves, making them versatile at the expense of stove efficiency. But most lightweight backpackers use one pot and one stove. Having a stand that elevates the pot to an optimum level above the stove, and a close fitting windscreen that provides adequate air flow while blocking wind and limiting heat loss, reduces cooking time and more importantly, reduces fuel consumption. This translates in less fuel weight to carry.
In this day an age of lightweight backpacking, many hikers are turning to alcohol stoves because they are super-lightweight, inexpensive, simple to use, and alcohol can be shipped in bounce boxes along the the trail. Since most commercial backpacking stoves have an integral pot stand, someone who uses an alcohol stove needs to provide one. But the same criteria for choosing the alcohol stove in the first place must also apply to the pot stand-windscreen too.
Most manufactured pot stands and/or windscreens are designed to fit a variety of pots and stoves, making them versatile at the expense of stove efficiency. But most lightweight backpackers use one pot and one stove. Having a stand that elevates the pot to an optimum level above the stove, and a close fitting windscreen that provides adequate air flow while blocking wind and limiting heat loss, reduces cooking time and more importantly, reduces fuel consumption. This translates in less fuel weight to carry.
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Signing UpStep 1: My requirements for a pot stand-windscreen
My requirements for a pot stand-windscreen are:
1) lightweight and inexpensive
2) sturdy, stable, and functional
3) sized correctly but collapsible
4) ease of construction
1-Lightweight and inexpensive: Aluminum roof flashing is cheap and readily available at most hardware stores. Aluminum angle is also available at larger hardware/lumber stores. I had thought of using galvanized flashing but decided that aluminum would still be strong enough, saving weight. Various designs had me bending the flashing to provide pot support but I decided against it because of the difficulty in cutting and bending correctly.
2-sturdy, stable and functional: The pot stand uses a very stable 3-point leg design. The aluminum angles provide superior strength while the flashing helps with alignment. There is enough clearance to allow for optimum air flow while also protecting the flame from the wind.
3-sized correctly but collapsible: I only wanted a 1/4 inch gap around the pot to keep heat loss at a minimum. But I also wanted the pot stand to collapse small enough to insert inside the the pot for transportation.
4-ease of construction: Several of my early concepts were one-piece designs that filled all the requirements except ease of construction because they utilized too many cuts and bends in the aluminum flashing. Using the aluminum angle increases the weight, but also increases strength and ease of construction, an acceptable alternative.
1) lightweight and inexpensive
2) sturdy, stable, and functional
3) sized correctly but collapsible
4) ease of construction
1-Lightweight and inexpensive: Aluminum roof flashing is cheap and readily available at most hardware stores. Aluminum angle is also available at larger hardware/lumber stores. I had thought of using galvanized flashing but decided that aluminum would still be strong enough, saving weight. Various designs had me bending the flashing to provide pot support but I decided against it because of the difficulty in cutting and bending correctly.
2-sturdy, stable and functional: The pot stand uses a very stable 3-point leg design. The aluminum angles provide superior strength while the flashing helps with alignment. There is enough clearance to allow for optimum air flow while also protecting the flame from the wind.
3-sized correctly but collapsible: I only wanted a 1/4 inch gap around the pot to keep heat loss at a minimum. But I also wanted the pot stand to collapse small enough to insert inside the the pot for transportation.
4-ease of construction: Several of my early concepts were one-piece designs that filled all the requirements except ease of construction because they utilized too many cuts and bends in the aluminum flashing. Using the aluminum angle increases the weight, but also increases strength and ease of construction, an acceptable alternative.
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Did you add silicon sleeves to the cup handles? If so, where did you get the material?
Did you ever consider or play around with increasing the height to the top of the Cup with some sort of filler flap to cover between the top and bottom of the handle?
I made and tested a shade tree version out of a resized large juice can and HD aluminum with an 1/4-1/2" air space (insulation) between the inner juice can skirt and outer the HD aluminum skirt. The resized juice can leaves 3/8" all around between this reflective insulated skirt and the cup. Results were very impressive so I am tring to see how I could incorporate this into your design. Any thoughts on this or any fuel efficiency improving ideas would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.
Regards,