Montgomery Kettle (ultralight chimney-boiler) reservations

Stick me on the list for one Devin!
They look superb!

Thanks Mike! You're on the list!

Devin,
I think the Monty Kettle is just awesome. I will gladly purchase one of these from you. Just let me me know where and when to send payment.

Steve

Thanks Steve! I had you as "possibly" given our earlier conversations, but now you're definitely included.

Maybe we can work out some kind of bartering agreement with those slick crampons you're working on. :)

Devin,I can't wait it looks fantastic!I look forward to hearing from you.

i'm in! $60 is a great deal for all the work you have in this.

-Tim

Please include my name on your list of those wanting to purchase a chimney-boiler. Looks Great!

Despite my destitute state, this appears to be a work of art that I would be proud to own, so this will be my one purchase this year: please do put me on the list.

Very nice work!

I'd love one of these. Please count me in.

Looks great Devin! I'd like to be put on the list too.

Thanks.

Dan

The populace demands more pictures!

The populace thanks you.

I'd love to put one of these to use, put my name in the pot!

Hey Looks Great!

I'm interested.

JA

Devin,

Put me down for one….

Like the others, more photos when you get there..

Z

Please add me to the list.
Greg

Looks cool.

How does one go about finding dry firewood if it's been raining? What are some of the tricks to lighting the wood in this thing? That's my biggest fear.

I'll take one!

Debbie

Get a mora knife
Practice batoning
Prosper

Also always carry a little kindling with you.

You guys rock! This community has to be the #1 patron for innovative lightweight gear.

Okay, so Tim, Jerald, Cary (I'm honored to be your one purchase :)), Miguel, Daniel, Nicholas, John A., Tom, Greg, and Debbie. You're all on the list. That makes 21. Thank you all!

James and Tom: I'll try to do you one better than more pictures. I'll see if I can upload a video of my first prototype in action from earlier this winter.

John: I use "dry wood" for those boiling times as a benchmark. They will certainly get longer given damp wood or other variables, but this comes with the territory. This happens any time you use wood or other indigenous fuels, and I think those that regularly cook with fire view its use as a valued skill. There is more learning than, say, flicking the piezo of a Jetboil, but wood can be quite practical after some practice. In damp conditions this may mean bringing some bits of fire starter, collecting dry wood before a downpour, finding dead standing wood, etc. For really soaked conditions, I'm sure than some of the creative minds here can come up with a practical way to incorporate a small alcohol or wax burner. I have some ideas on that front as well, but am right now concentrating on the basic kettle.

Okay, so here's a video my sister took while we were out on a hike this January. This was just one of several short videos we took that day and wasn't really intended for promotional use.

A couple things to note: I'm holding the kettle because this was my first prototype and the top didn't mate perfectly with the bottom. That will obviously be fixed for the production kettles. It also has a neoprene cozy that will probably be an option for the final kettle, but I'll have to make my sewing a bit better in order for it to be presentable. Also, the hot chocolate wasn't technically in the boiler, we made it in 1.9 oz Ziplock container that I also use for water. I really only recommend making water in the boiler – it would be really hard to clean.

Overall, it performed well. The twigs I was using were damp, as it was just above freezing and the snow-covered trees were melting all over themselves. I used a small bit of a firestarter to get it going. I didn't time the boil, because we weren't in a rush. After shooting the video, my sister used the exhaust gases (at a safe distance) to warm her hands.

Edit: For some reason, the form doesn't like the link to my video. It can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41308912@N04/4409707954/

count me in
SD

so is there a handle to pour the water from?

SD

Handle: right now it doesn't have a handle. I couldn't come up with one that I was satisfied with. The closest that I do have is the neoprene cozy shown in the video. It easily stays cool enough to grab. The full sized version in the video has the advantage of protecting the thin aluminum from dings and keeping the water hotter for longer. It also has some straps that keep everything together while being carried. It weighs 1.8 oz, but a half cozy (just for lifting) would come in at under an ounce. I can definitely make those options for the final version, but can't promise anything about the aesthetics of their sewing.

Like any handleless pot (used by many of the gram-weenies around here, myself included) it can also be picked up with gloves or spare socks. I was even able to pour it with a rolled-up bandana.

Very fine work. please include me in the first shipment.

Thanks,

Johnny