Caldera Cone =/= Caldera Kitchen

Actually Joshua, that is not quite the case. Trail Designs has now determined that the Caldera Cone for the BPL FireLite 550 uses the same cone as the Brasslite 600. They determined though the FireLite 550 would fit the cone for the FireLite 500, it would have about a 15% poorer performance than the Brasslite 600 Caldera Cone.

I have spoken with George (Tin man) of AGG and we discussed the situation. We determined that the cone for the Brasslite 600/BPL FireLite 550 will fit into the Zip Lock 4 cup screw on lid container that he uses for the FireLite 500 Caldera Kitchen. The only thing is that the lid will not screw in place with this cone. George is making the first special Silnylon stuff sack for my FireLite 550. This is a Caldera Kitchen and the Stuff Sack will hold the following contents: FireLite 550, Brasslite/BPL FireLite 550 Caldera Cone, stove, fuel bottle, zip lock 4 cup container, and Brasslite 600/BPL FireLite 550 cozy. George is making the Stuff sack to fit tightly so that everything will hold together tightly even though the cover of the 4 cup container will not screw in place. Additionally, I am getting the cozy cover for the 4 cup container. This will give me a lot of options.

The Caldera Cone Stove and Caldera Kitchen may arrive later today or tomorrow. I will report in after arrival.

Rich

I have a few of the cones, and to transport any of the larger ones safely I roll it into the Ziplock container, turn it upside down and place the protruding base part of the cone down into the appropriate titanium pot. Pot lid goes on the bottom. All the kitchen components go inside, stove, fuel bottle, mini sponge, soap dropper, etc.. It all goes into a mesh sack. I could take a picture if anyone is interested but I think you can imagine it.
If you don't like that idea you can slide the unrolled cone inside your backpack hydration sleeve next to your UL sit pad/frame.
No storage worries. And I would not cook over alcohol without a cone.

Brett / Richard,

The ‘store it without the lid screwed on’ solution is basically what I’m planning on doing with my Tri-Ti (including buying a 4-cup cozy from AGG).

Basically something an upgraded form of this (the recommended carrying for the Tri-Ti).

Richard, that’s cool to hear that the fit is so close on the 550. And I’m not surprised to hear that Tinman is making a custom kit for you since the fit is pretty close. I’ll probably, ultimately, make a sil-nyl or tyvek pouch for my kit when I finish putting it together.

Oh, just a note to everyone… you’ll find a lot of cones that will ‘fit’ alternate pots (for example the AGG 3Cup Cone fits a Snow Peak Ti Bowl), with or without reduced effeciency (due to the heigh being suboptimal).

I just received the Caldera Cone/Caldera Kitchen for the BPL FireLite 550 from Anti Gravity Gear earlier today and am reporting in. I have yet to run the Caldera Stove through its paces at this point. I am somewhat disappointed that the Caldera Cone has already sctatched up my new BPL FireLite 550 so much by just loading it into the cone. But, equipment is to be used.

I am quite pleased so far with the system that George (Tin man) of Anti Gravity Gear has made up. I am especially pleased with George's efforts and the speed with which he has made my order. I have reported an extremely positive review of AGG under company reviews.

The following provides the info for my review of AGG, the Trail Designs assessment of the cone for the new BPL FireLite 550, and the Caldera Kitchen (and extras) that AGG has made up for me. This system is/will be available for anyone looking for or needing this kit.

Having just purchased one of the new BPL FireLite 550 Ti Pots I was interested in the Caldera Cone Stove for the pot along with the Antigravity Gear Caldera Kitchen. Trail Designs maker of the Caldera Cone Stoves determined that though the BPL 550 fit the Cone for the BPL 500, the BPL 550 would perform about 15% better with the Brasslite 600 cone.

So I discussed the situation with George of Antigravity Gear. We checked and found that the Caldera Cone for the Brasslite 600/BPL FireLite 550 would fit into the Zip Lock 4 cup screw top container that he uses in his Caldera Kitchen. But, though the cone would fit, the top could not screw onto the container. George made up a special Caldera Kitchen for me that would house my Caldera Cone with all the other contents; the package was made to hold everything tight so as to not slip.

George made a special larger silnylon Stuff sack to house the Zip Lock 4 cup screw top container, Brasslite 600/BPL FireLite 550 Caldera Cone, Caldera Alcohol Stove, Alcohol Bottle, BPL 550 Ti Pot, BPL 550 Pot Cozy, and a Cozy for the 4 Cup Zip Lock container.

George made up this very flexible system for me the day that I ordered it and shipped it the same day. I received the package via Priority mail 3 days after I placed the order. Great customer service, with a great product (extremely well made) that was shipped extraordinarily quickly.

Rich

Richard:

Thanks for the info so far. Definitely look forward to more on performance. Would be interesting to see:

1. photo of Firelite 550 and zip loc cup side by side.

2. performance of Caldera/Firelite 500 combo vs. ordinary windscreen/stove/FireLite combo

Folks can then better make up their minds regarding whether the performance difference is worth the added weight and bulk — and also ways and means of packing differently to reduce bulk.

Hi Ben,

I'll see what I can do for photos. Even though I am a Professional Nature, Landscape, and Wildlife photographer, I only have film based cameras – no digital at this point.:( I know that the size, weight, and photos are of prime interest to many here at BPL.

Also, I am still waiting for the BPL Ti windscreen material to come in, it is still back ordered. I do not presently have another alcohol stove for the BPL FireLite 550 either. My Thermojet Stove is for my Evernew .9L pot and I believe that it is too large for the BPL 550.

I will run some burn tests when I can and post the reports. Weight info will not be an issue, but my digital scale only measures to the nearest .2oz or 5gm.

If nothing else, though it will not be scientific, once I post burn info, I may have to rely on you to post burn info for your stove (unless I get one with a screen).

Rich

Hi Richard

> I just received the Caldera Cone/Caldera Kitchen for the BPL
> FireLite 550 from Anti Gravity Gear earlier today and am
> reporting in. I have yet to run the Caldera Stove through
> its paces at this point. I am somewhat disappointed that the
> Caldera Cone has already sctatched up my new BPL FireLite
> 550 so much by just loading it into the cone.
Hang on there. The Caldera cone is aluminium alloy of no extreme strength. The Firelite 550 uses a hard titanium alloy. Aluminium does NOT scratch titanium!

Two possibilities come to mind:
1: There could be a soft coating on the titanium which has been scratched. If true you just have to live with it as the coating gets scratched off. However, I doubt this is the case.
2: What you are seeing is actually aluminium from the Cone making a mark on the titanium surface, like chalk on a blackboard. In general the Ti surface is not ultra-smooth, and such abrasion is possible. It does not mean any damage to the Firelite 550.

Have a closer look maybe, and report back?

Hi Roger,

Trained as a Scientist (Geologist and Biologist) I should have been a bit more accurate, and as a Geologist, I am aware of the hardness question. After further review, I am not sure if the coating has been scratched or removed to a degree through abrasion so much or some Aluminum that has been left behind from the Caldera Cone. I do not believe that the Ti Pot has or could be scratched by the Al Caldera Cone. I seem to have been able to remove some of the lines marked on the coating to some degree. However, the more I rub with some moisture, the more I am concerned about removing the pot coating. But, again, equipment is to be used and it will wear. It should provide years of usage, coated or not as long as I do not crush the thin walled pot.

Rich