Titanium Windscreen Design

I don't think I would bother with the Viton layer.
If you insist, substitute teflon/glass canveyor fabric.

Cheers

…one can see why Caldera Cones work so very well.

Very enlightening discussion. Explains JetBoil and Primus pot-bottom fins too.

Dan,

For an insulating base, I like your idea of wood interspaced with Ti. If you have sheets of Ti laying around.

But if not, I've had good luck just building a thick base of wood – much as you describe: 1" diameter-ish lengths, but layer upon layer at right angles to each other.

When I built campfires on top of such a base (actually 2+" diameter sticks), they were still burning the next morning. A foot deeper into the 10-foot snow base, but still burning.

Bob Gross you were right. I changed my mind and will protect the can with the windscreen ;-)

I've also decided to move my 1/2" holes up 3/8". They have a little pucker at the bottoms edge. Also my closure for the windscreen is going to be a fixed band that will allow me to keep it nice and simple. It will help to keep the windscreens' shape in the "round" It will be fastened to the screen with an eyelet.

DavidT. I had some 5″ wide by 3/16″ thick fiberglass cloth that I cut to 10 long. I then sprayed the cut ends with high temperature stove paint to prevent unravelling. worked good.

I’ve completed my windscreen design. I’ve created a grate out of Ti and stainless steel. The windscreen is designed to stay within a 1/4″ of the pot when in the alcohol mode and in the wood mode it is 3/8″ from the pot. In the wood mode the Foster pot will sit on top of the “V” shaped stainless steel pot support. Much larger diameter pots can be placed on the 3 large pot supports that are integrated into the design of the windscreen.

I’ll use the modified StarLyte burner when in the alcohol mode and the Esbitmizer when I want to use esbit.

The 2 piece grate stores nicely under the bottom of the pot. They are held there with a plastic lid for storage.

The pot that you see in the photo is for maximim strength and water capacity when used in the wood burning mode. (My preference) I like burning wood. I have a tyvek stuff sack for storing everything.

The windscreen never has to be disassembled. It fits snugly up against the pot. When you burn wood it makes no sense to want to put your windscreen inside your pot.

I’ll get more photos and specifications posted here tomorrow.

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The Titanium windscreen/stove, grate system, V shaped pot support, plastic retainer ring, Foster 3 cup Flat Bottom pot and Tyvek stuff sack weigh in at 2.8 ounces/ 79 grams

Fire box size is 4″ diameter x 3.5″ high

6-8 inch diameter pots are supported on the 3 extending pot supports. Those pot supports can be seen in one of the above videos.

Tomorrow I’ll show the windscreen, alcohol stove, esbit stove and pot support in a video.

What we have here is a wood burning stove, 3 cup pot and stuff sack. Watch the video.

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Everything revolved around the Ti Windscreen and so I gathered up items to include in a kitchen.

Choice of Foster pot with lids
Combination Titanium Windscreen
Modified StarLyte burner with lid for ultimate alcohol efficiency.
Esbitmizer for use with esbit. Has simmer ability.
Esbit cubes and alcohol fuel bottle.
Grate set-up and “V” shaped pot support for windscreen in wood burning mode.
Stainless steel pot support for alcohol and esbit burning mode.
Silicone pot grabber.
Tyvek stuff sack.

Photobucket video

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Wow Zelph,

That's one sweet setup!!!! And impressive weight too. What's the cost?

One question I've wanted to ask about the flat-bottom pots: Are they as durable as stock cans? I was concerned about the weld/joint being a weak spot.

Thanks,
Todd

Thank you Todd, glad you like it. It is evolving very nicely. I'm taking my time, making sure everything is tested well. I moved the 1/2" holes upward a tad so now I have to redo my tests in all modes.

The flat bottoms on the Fosters are just like "factory" sealed and are guaranteed to be as durable as stock cans. If one should fail for some reason, send it back for a replacement or full refund.

The Titanium Windscreen design is better than the Caldera Cone. It's under no tension, ready to go once taken out of the stuff sack. Will not spring out and bite you;-)No assembly or disassembly. The grate system is lighter. One of the things that BobG pointed out is why use the Foster Pot to protect the titanium windscreen. He's absolutely right. Store it outside the pot. Calder Cones are always depicted as storing in the pot. If the windscreen/wood stove is used in the fire mode I don't want it stored in the pot.

This kit will be used in the wood fire mode. I'm big on wood fires. Alcohol and esbit as back-ups.

I had to make a change in the grate. didn’t like the 2 pieces. Then I had to add a storage container for the grate.

How do you like it so far?

Photobucket video. Click on it to view

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When will they be ready to buy?

love my flat bottom foster pot.

But I have rust appearing in the bottom seam in spots where the coating on the steel bottom has failed. Not a big issue mind you. Just points to room for improvement. Like a TI bottom maybe?

Getting close to my tealight setup with my pot. 2.0 oz. 1.62 if use tent stakes thru an Al windscreen to support the pot. boils in 7.5 min.

I dont find Ti foil is necessary at all. In fact doing the math, I find zero benefit from it unless use .002, and even then its only like .1 oz. Not worth the cost.

Brilliant !!! – Take my money … Please.

Put me on your list for the first run!

Thanks MB and Craig, glad you like it.

I did test 1 of 3 tonight. I’m testing for durability of the stainless steel grate and the ability of the windscreen to withstand high temperature and have no warping occur.

I’m well pleased with this Titanium technology. 1st test was a success, no warp and welds help up nicely on the grate.

This is a photobucket video, click on it to view:

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MB, this ti that I’m using is .005 and is tough stuff for the windscreen to function as a wood burner also. No warping after use so that when used for alcohol it is nice and round for even distribution of heat going up the sides of the pot. As we now know, the ridges on the Foster can create turbulance which is good for maximising heat transfer.

More tests tomorrow. Thanks for your comments.

Anyone else out there making a windscreen out of Ti?

Dan,

When ever they're ready to be sold I'll take one.

I love the design and simplicity, I already have your Starlite stove and love it, can't wait until these are ready.

Anyone else out there making a windscreen out of Ti?

Suluk46 and qiwiz both make a titanium windscreen. Different designs though.

EDIT: Forgot about LiteTrail. They’ve got a Ti windscreen as well.

I'm working on this as fast as I can. Yesterday I had a plumbing project that took up most of my day. Members are adding great information. I'm changing the design as the info comes in. Little things mean a lot. David Gardner suggested roughing up the surface of the Foster can. If I brush the surface of the Foster cans I can increase speed in boiling. I'll do that to day and include those in my retesting of the stove in the alcohol mode. Raising the holes a short distance from the bottom of the windscreen eliminated the puckering that occurred while in the wood burning mode. I'll brush a few cans to see how they work out. Thanks David G.

Because I created a wide stainless steel pot support I am now able to use aluminum bottoms on the pots. So what we have up to this point is flat aluminum bottom pots with ridges and brushed surface for maximum heat transfer and speed of boiling. Makes me think of fast food restaurants on the trails. Instead of going inside to eat we go to the "fast" drive through:-))) At times I forget there are speed hikers out there wanting to complete the hike in the fastest time possible.

More testing and making of the stainless steel pot supports. That will bring me closer to finished kits.

I brushed one up and added a few more ridges for extra turbulance. That should be able to suck in a lot of heat.

2.5 cup capacity, flat bottom Foster can brushed/w ridges, aluminum bottom and lid weighs in at 22 grams.

This can weighs 22gr Has aluminum bottom and lid and has the ridges.

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EDIT:
Eric, thanks for the links. I was more interested if there were any DIY windscreens in progress. A while back someone had a really complicated one in the works. I’ll see if I can find it.

Maybe a teensy bit faster to deploy than a CC but I'll bet money it's definitely NOT better in heat efficiency than a Caldera Cone.

It's better IMHO.

Dan – I've made a Ti (.005" thickness) windscreen designed around the wide 900ml Ultralight Ti Evernew pot and your Fancee Feest stove. Criteria was for the windscreen to roll up and fit inside the pot complete with stove and fuel bottle. It works well for me

Very interested to see if brushing works well for you too, and especially with the ridges.

Tried to upload a photo of a conical windscreen I make with .005" Ti from Titanium Goat, but the "Insert Image at Cursor" button doesn't seem to working right now. Will try again later. Used the Zen Stoves cone designer software – sweet.

I've found that .003" stainless steel works well too, weighs only a couple grams more (24.6 vs. 22.1 for this particular design), and is a lot less expensive for the material. Doesn't have nearly the coolness factor, but it polishes to a mirror-like finish on the inside to reflect more IR back into the pot. Another thing I'd like to test to see if it makes a measurable difference.

Here's that picture of my titanium cone windscreen for use with beer can pots.

Hi richard C. your windscreen looks like it should work well. You are the first I’ve heard of to be useing the Fancee Feest stove in a cone. Dose the pot sit on the stove? I can see the change of color caused by heat concentrates near the pot handle cut-out. I suspect that is true with other cones made for your type of pot. Anyone out there have the same heat pattern on their Ti windscreens made by Trail Desings?

I finished my wood burning heat tests today and all went well.

I welded up a batch of SS pot supports. I made a change in the design. I made them full circle for maximum maximum pot support. Pot support is now the same diameter of the pot bottom. The little ridge on the bottom of the pot prevents the pot from sliding off.

The pot support and a StarLyte burner together weigh in at 17 grams.

Brushed aluminum, flat bottom pot and lid weigh 22 grams

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Yes my pot sits on the stove. It's not supported by the windscreen. I like the setup for boiling water for Freezer Bag Cooking. Here's a view without the windscreen: