Caldera Cone for Brasslite 550?

Jamie,
I've got this setup and it works well.
I use the 550 mug for the top on the Caddy.
I built a Reflectix cozy for the bottom half of the Caddy.
While dinner is soaking, another 2 cups are heating.
Cone, stove, lids, lighter, spoon, and fuel all fit inside.

You can find the Cone at
http://antigravitygear.com/proddetail.php?prod=TDCB55

Greg, I just want to be sure before I buy one…is your 550 a Brasslite or is it a BPL 550? I'm thinking they are the same mug, but I'd like to know someone is using the Brasslite version with the BPL cone.

Thanks, Jamie

Jamie,
Well…. it is a 550 but I no longer know where it came from.

It is part of my Ti-Tri Cone, and I can only assume it is a BrassLite, because the BPL's were not available.

Comparing what I have in-hand to the BrassLite web image, they are identical in every way.

(Also, the Cone is by Trail Designs, not BPL.)

Hummm…wish I could be more definitive.

I'm sure you can email Trail Designs for an answer:

info@traildesigns.com

I had the same question about the Brasslite 550 shown on Brasslite's website last spring fitting a caldera cone.

In particular, I was wondering why the mug then shown on Brasslite's website was called a "550" but looked exactly like (same dimensions, too) a mug called a "600" that I had purchased from Brasslite when I purchased it in 2007.

First (in April 2008), I emailed Rand at Trail Designs to learn whether a Brasslite "600" would fit the caldera cone designed for a "550" Brasslite mug. Rand sent this reply:

"Re: Brasslite 600. Here is the short story on that. BPL, Brasslite, and Ti-Goat are all ordering the same pot from the same company (King Sound) out of China. BPL's 500, 500SUL, 550, 500SUL….and Brasslite's 600….and Ti-Goat's 550ml pot…..are for all intents and purposes…the exact same thing. For sure they share the same diameter and same lid. The only difference is that BPL lengthened the height just a bit when they went from the 500 line to the 550…..and the Brasslite and Ti-Goat have a slightly different handle placement. Other than that, same pot. So much so, we "neutralized" our cone so that it now fits all the pots. You will still see some differentiation on our website as we work through old "pot-specific" inventory…..but in the future….one cone will fit all those pots. So, if we make you a Ti-Tri, and you lose the pot, you should be able to replace it through any of those sources. Now, with that said, Brasslite calling their pot a 550 now is news. However, I highly suspect, that King Sound didn't remake their titanium dies to alter the mug 1/4" in diameter just for Brasslite. Would bet money it is still the same."

Later (in May 2008), I sent an email to Aaron at Brasslite with the following inquiry:

"About a year ago (May 27, 2007), I purchased a “Brasslite 600ml Titanium Mug” from the Brasslite Website. Is that mug actually identical in all respects (height, diameter, weight, volume) to the “Brasslite 550ml Titanium Mug” that’s now listed on your website, notwithstanding the variance of “600ml” vs “550ml” in the name?

"I ask this question because I purchased my Brasslite 600ml mug to use with a caldera cone that’s described as for use with the “600ml” Brasslite mug. I have not yet purchased the cone, and the different name (“550ml”) for the mug at your website causes me to wonder whether the mug has changed in name and/or size."

I received the following reply from Brasslite regarding my question about the "550" and "600" mugs sold by Brasslite:

"No, the size has not changed. What changed was the accuracy of the volume as measured by me vs. what was reported by the manufacturer in China. They were originally marketing it as a 600 ml mug which I passed only on faith. Oddly enough, after my reporting that its volume was in fact 550, they actually changed the name on their own stock as marketed to everyone. I will send an email to Rand at Trail Designs asking him to change his name as well. Thanks for the heads up."

The above replies from Brasslite and Trail Designs would seem to answer your question, but you would probably best verify that the information provided to me still applies to the current Brasslite "550" mug.

JRS

PS — I just checked the Trail Designs website and see that it still refers to a caldera designed for a "600" mug from Brasslite:

http://traildesigns.com/products01.html#caldera

As you see from the above email from Brasslite, although the "600" nomenclature was used by Brasslite at the time that I purchased the mug, it was later renamed to "550" by Brasslite and Trail Designs says — whatever the name, 550 or 600 — the "600" caldera should fit the Brasslite mug.

Would still be a good to check with Trail Designs and maybe Brasslite, too, to be certain that your "Brasslite 550" mug will fit the Trail Designs' caldera that's described to be for a "Brasslite 600" mug before ordering.

Richard, Wow…thanks for all the info, you have saved me a lot of research. I did email trail designs, but I am guessing I'll get the same answer. The Brasslite 600 is really the Brasslite 550 and it also sounds like the BPL 550 cone would work as well.

Many thanks all!

Jamie

Being that I'm almost 70 years old, and may be too old to use it by the time BPL has their FireLite 550-SUL in stock; is the Brasslite 550 of the same, thin, materiel as the FireLite pot. The difference may only be a gram or so but I'm willing to cut the handles off the BrassLite pot rather than wait for BPL to "get off the pot".

Jamie-
Sounds like your question might already be answered, but I just wanted to add my correspondence here with trail designs on the same question I asked them:
My question –
I have one of the Brasslite 550 pots, and I want to know which caldera cone size I need to make this work.
The one you have listed for brasslite is for the 600ml pot, would this work with the 550ml? Let me know thanks.

Their response –
So…a little background. There is a manufacturing company in China called "King Sound". A
couple years ago, they started hammering out titanium pots fairly inexpensively…..so much
so…that a number of "cottage industry" size companies were able to get into the titanium pot
market with low investments.

Consequently, BackpackingLight, Titanium Goat, Brasslite, and a few other started ordering pots.
Now, hammering titanium is not an inexpensive venture, so, for the most part, all of the
"550/500/600" size pots are all identical when it comes to their diameter….which is the most
important thing on sizing a Caldera Cone. BackpackingLight did increase the depth a bit when the
went from 500 to 550ml…..and the various vendors did do some minor things with laser etching and
jiggering the handle around a bit…..but in the end…..very little happened on the Caldera Cone
end of the equation. Relative to BrassLite….I suspect that when the went from the BL600 to the
BL550….it was more of a name change than anything that happened with a tool punching the metal.

If you want to make sure, order:
http://www.antigravitygear.com/proddetail.php?prod=TDCB55
______________
In conclusion, I have a brasslite 550 pot (w/handles) and it works fine with the cone they recommended… even though I ended up ditching the caldera cone (but that is another story for another day ;-)
Hope this helps

> There is a manufacturing company in China called "King Sound".

URL?

>URL?

http://www.kingsoundti.cn/

Anyone have a friend in China?

Hi Rod

That does explain a LOT, doesn't it.
No, really, I mean it, despite the web site being in Chinese.
Does the stuff at the bottom mean they will sell the pots in sets of 5, I wonder?

I find it curious that America cannot produce such high-tech things, but has to go to a Chinese firm for them. Unless there is also an American manufacturer for Ti pots, pegs and (s)porks?

Does anyone know?

Cheers

Yeah Roger,

I was pretty excited. I'm not sure if their stuff is OEM or knock off, but it was interesting to see the MyTi stuff there. I know Alpkit had some problems from Vargo when they started selling their MyTi mug.

I'm not sure why you're surprised about them being made in China. I wouldn't have considered any of them high-tech, considering where the computer I'm typing came from. Besides MSR stainless pots were sold here for years with the Zebra (Thai) brand stamped beside the MSR brand. They were a lot cheaper if you could find the ones without the MSR brand.

Rod

Here is the response I got from AntiGravityGear…

Jamie,
That is the one for the 550 and will work. I believe that pot has been called and sold at various times as both the 550 and the 600. At any rate, the Caldera Cone for the Brasslight 600 is the one you want.
Thanks,
George

Dennis, As far as I can tell this pot is the same as the BPL Firelite 550 that is forever out of stock. I got my pot from the brasslite website and they shipped it quick. I think it was $30+$6 for shipping. It has the handles and it has the lid. Mine does weigh 3.15 ounces on my scale. Which is heavier then both the brasslite spec and the BPL spec, but I'll take it. The pot is 2.65 oz and the lid is .55 ounces. I am using it instead of my snowpeak 450. Yes I'm adding about 1/2 ounce but it heats faster. I think its a combo of the wider base and better lid (I used foil with the snowpeak). It also can heat 2 full cups which the snowpeak could not. I used it on a 3 nighter just recently and it worked great.

Jamie

Jamie,
Thanks for the information. I think I'll give up on the BPL pot and go ahead and get the BrassLite pot. I intend to remove the handles and brackets, then install a titanium spoke bail.

The BrassLite is priced at $30.00. The FireLite is $35.99. I save $5.99.

-Denis

I got a reply from trail designs too. It sounds like the pots are not "exactly" the same but they are pretty darn close.

….

Hi Jamie,

YES.

The TDCB55 – Backpacking Light 550 Caldera Cone works
for both the brasslight and the firelight 550. They are made from the same components with the handles mounted about 3/16 – 1/4" lowee on the firelite mug..

Thanks for your interest, Russ