Caldera Cone as windscreen for Kovea Spider stove?

A Caldera Cone is designed to hold heat around the pot while tightly controlling airflow.

I would think due to the lack of adequate heat exhaust around the sides of the pot, thermal feedback would be an issue with the burner.

Both the MSR Reactor and Windboiler both have similar controlled convection windscreen designs around the pots /burners . They have designed those burners with automatic shutoff mechanisms in case tbe burner overheats. And the Windboiler burner is pretty much a normal cannister burner design. Jet boil has refrained from ever having such a tightly controlled screen around their burner/ pot interface. That alone should tell you something.

I doubt Trail Designs ever intended the Caldera Cones to be use as wind screens for remote cannister stoves. The gents who designed it are mechanical engineers and probably care about their customer's safety;) Why don't you send them an email with the question you have asked here and see what they think?

It would be interesting to see their official response. I know other folks have done it
but I have never seem any official comments from TD about such use.

Hi Doug

I am sure you know you should never use a Caldera Cone with an upright canister stove becasue the canister will quickly overheat, but I will repeat that here for others.

Yes, you could use a Caldera Cone with a remote canister stove like the Spider, but the very restricted air flow out the top when the pot fits the Cone will mean reduced fuel efficiency and increased carbon monoxide emission. That could be dangerous, especially if you are using it to melt snow in the vestibule of yor tent. I wouold not do that myself.

Cheers

If you're willing to add another piece of gear to your titanium room (next to the aluminum room and down the hall from the carbon fiber room) Flat Cat gear has a bobcat windscreen that's been designed to work with the spider.

Thanks Roger. I did know not to use it with a regular canister stove, was curious about using it with the remote stove. Sounds like a bad idea! :-)

Appreciate the info!

They make a windscreen setup for the Kovea Spider stove. It's the Bobcat Kovea Cooking system. Since you already have the stove you could just get the windscreen/floorshield etc.

I've got a Flat Cat windscreen from one of their other cooking systems, I'll just use that. Thanks.

I have this combo. For winter use I substitute a Toaks 1.3L pot for the Evernew 0.9L that came with the Caldera. The Toaks pot is about 1cm less in diameter, and so doesn't have the tight fit of the Evernew. Seems to work pretty well, and the extra volume is helpful when melting snow.

Doug, the Flat Cat will work fine. But you could also use your Caldera Cone with an easy mod. Either:

1) Bend the edges of a small flat piece of titanium to grab the edges of the cone and extend the diameter so that it's open in a wider diameter that allows about .5-1 inch space between the pot and cone, and if you need/want a bit more air from below, just prop the bottom of the cone up with rocks about 1/2 in.

2) Use stakes (or stones) to leave the cone open a bit on the downwind side.

And even easier – just flip the cone upside down: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=74116&disable_pagination=1

(thought I saw this one once before but couldn't find the thread last night)

Edited above comment to add the simplest solution of all

Hadn't thought of that EJ, thanks much.

Doug Ive been doing that for years with my old Primus spider, and my current Windpro 2. It works like a elfin champ!! BALLA!

when I use my 1300ml pot (matches my caldera cone) i use the cone normally. When I use A bigger 2L pot or something I turn the CC upside down and have the big side un to accommodate the bigger diameter pot.

Ive posted pics about it before… Maybe Anna can dig that stuff up…lol BURIED!

OR NOT: look at page two

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=74116&startat=20

It seems I use the same vernacular all the time too!

I miss Yes 1000 and Daniel Fish!! Konrad, Travis, Eugenius…. old times

Maybe I should read all the posts before I post… sorry EJ or whoever that was.

Good stuff Jeff, thanks for the pic. I have no idea why it didn't occur to me! It's always the easiest stuff, isn't it!

Jeff when you use your Caldera Cone as a windscreen with your remote stove with your Evernew 1.3L pot, do you do anything to increase the air available inside the cone, like raise the cone slightly on rocks to let some more air in? It's a fairly snug fit so was wondering.

No.

I've thought about that, but usually the ground isnt flat, plus the hose sticks in there raising the bottom edge just a bit. Plus all the holes that the Trail Designs boys punched in it.

It may make a difference in available o2, but somebody else can get out the stopwatch…

Usually I run my control valve pretty closed so it doesnt need too too much air. But I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if im choking it even at low output.