 heyi've just had a brainwave. has anyone ever tried this before. cut the top and bottom off of a beer can (pint size one) so you are left with just a sheet of aluminium. then join this to another sheet (if necessary) and then use it as a windshield by wrapping it around the pot it sounds like a very cheap, light, and effective (those words shouldnt go together lol) windshield
|
 |
.jpg) You'd be less likely (I would anyway) to cut yourself on tin foil and it would be lighter still 
|
|
 Look at the last seven images in this gallery. Or the last photos in this gallery. More beercanology. You have to choose your cans carefully, though, or keep them away from flames; 'aluminium' cans are made from an alloy with a rather low eutectic point, and it tends to slump into a horrible mess if it gets too hot...
|
|
CP - The second gallery shots with the three pieces joined with the ends spiralling out remind me of a commercially made stove (conventional type) that has pot supports that fold out just like that. Can't remember which make. Could be an old Primus stove or perhaps the company that later became Go-Gas (one of their multi fuel stoves). Obviously the metal was stiffer and heavier and was pivoted out from the body of the stove, so not exactly the same, but reminded me of it. This MYOG stove ethos you guys have for really interests me. I always read your posts with great interest and intent but never seem to follow it through with my own stoves or windshields or ideas. I've had a few but not having many tools or a place to really make things or the mentality to tinker or inventiveness (running out of lame excuses now) has meant I've been a follower only of this quite creative group. Perhaps I just need the right first project to get me started. Any ideas? Maybe a can stove like the AGG can stove but out of the smaller red bull energy drinks cans. I must admit I have spent quite a lot of time in various supermarkets looking at coffee cans and powedered milk cans for a wood stove. I could have been spotted with a tape measure too. Perhaps that is the ideal starter project. The Libby coffee can looked a good inner but I have not found a good outer for it.
|
|
i dunno about cutting yourself on it, if your reasonably carefull with the edges and you sand them down it shoul be fine. horray for ingenuity. thats quite amazing what some people have done with them. i more meant to use it with a canister stove i forgot lots of people use that sort of thing for can stoves i dont mind having to replace them every so often it's no as if it would be hard to make and it doesnt cost anything, will try it out tomorro and will post pics if i can work out how to.
|
|
> The second gallery shots with the three pieces joined with the ends spiralling out remind me of a commercially made stove (conventional type) that has pot supports that fold out just like that Sigg Fire Jet, perhaps. I've got one, but the inspiration for that pan support came from the Clickstand Trangia replacement, I think.
|
|
when the aluminum starts to get hot from the stove will it start to deform under the weight of the pot and contents
|
|
> i more meant to use it with a canister stove i forgot lots of people use that sort of thing for can stoves The beer can windbreak was made for the Sigg Fire Jet in frustration on a windy campsite many years ago; I rootled in the campsite bin, picked out three beer cans, hacked them apart with my '52 pattern knife, and fashioned a joint. It did the trick. I then made a much neater one with guillotined edges, as seen in the gallery.
|
|
> Perhaps I just need the right first project to get me started. Any ideas? Maybe a can stove like the AGG can stove but out of the smaller red bull energy drinks cans. A tealight stove for starters... Then a 'bigger tealight' made from the cut-off base of a drinks can. Then a 'chimney stove' (have a look at Mole's galleries, or on Zen Stoves. Then a 'trangia'-style' burner (as per my article). Just practice cutting cans with a height reference (1" chopping board, for instance) and stanley knife, and get a feel for working with the aluminium cans. You don't need many tools to make a trangia-alike; a stanley knife and a thumb tack, and some books to measure heights.
|
|
> when the aluminum starts to get hot from the stove will it start to deform under the weight of the pot and contents With which stove, Mattias? Read my comments about eutectic points, and the comments attached to my gallery shots; you should only use steel cans for the sort of pan supports on the gallery, for the very reason you mention... The Clickstand is made from thicker aluminium, which can conduct the heat away fast enough so that it doesn't soften or melt. That's my guess, at least, never have seen a Clickstand in the flesh.
|
|
Sorry, Mattias, I read that as "it will start to deform". Question marks are handy things, sometimes... As is reading words carefully...
|
|
i'm all punctuationed out today (english teacher would kill me for using such bad english) just had an english essay. those clickstands look really good, clever idea rather than the heavy trangia base and windshield.
|
|
It melts if put round a MSR pocket rocket,but i have cooked for a number of days using a night light in a beer can windshield when some one used the last of my gas and coal in Ben Alder bothy one winter.
|
|
