Change to Caldera Cone "Gram Cracker"?

Good news Eric. The BGET has been around for a while.

Not familiar?

http://briangreen.net/2011/11/titanium-foil-esbit-tray-stove.html

Wonder what the actual percentage of Caldera Cone users use Esbit?

Good question Ken. As a percentage of total ESBIT users CC users may be the majority IF they are using ESBIT for multi-day trips. And, as you likely know, the BGET tab holder makes much better in terms of burn time.

Anyone who has used ESBIT on other stoves for multi-day hikes has likely discovered that the Caldera Cone is the most efficient stove for that fuel. Believe me, I’ve used at least 5 other ESBIT stoves, one of which was my own DIY attempt at more efficiency, and the CC stove is the best by a wide margin.

I suspect most ESBIT users are doing it on day hikes. And most ESBIT purchasers likely save it for the Zombie Apocalypse – or a N. Korean nuclear attack, whichever comes first.

I’ve used and tested the daylights out of the TD esbit  burner. The BGET with “bread pan” corners is by far the “best” way to burn esbit. Once your water comes to a boil remove pot and let cone remain so all of the esbit is consumed. There is a thread here with tons of esbit data. I’ll resurrect it once found.

I’ve used esbit with my caldera cone on trips up to 7 days for my wife and myself. I allow 1.5 tabs per meal and usually come out with a little left over. The last couple of years while running into fire bans I have had to use my cannister stove. I like the fact that at the end of our trip we have almost nothing left over. The cooking time doesn’t matter for us. We leave camp early and set up by mid afternoon leaving plenty of time to smell the roses. Being mid 60’s and up mileage doesn’t matter anymore. Since I’m not very handy I’m hoping trail Designs comes out with an improved version of the gram cracker.

David, I’m also not very handy but an esbit tray like they’re describing is very easy to make with aluminum flashing and a pair of scissors.

What the heck. I probably should try it.

Just follow those directions in the the link I posted. Easy project.

The method I used was to print the full scale pattern from the link Ken provided, then use spray adhesive to be peeled off.attach to the foil (I used Ti foil) and cut it out. Afterward the paper can peeled off.

Fold the foil over a knife edge or equivalent sharp surface.

Cliff D’s suggestion above to print the pattern and glue it to the metal works great. I used double-sided Scotch tape in the same way. Ti foil (.005″ to .003″) cuts easily with household scissors.

The low-tech solution for clean folds is a metal ruler and a butter knife… hold the foil down along the fold line with the metal straightedge and slip the butter knife under it, prying it up right on the line.

Brian Green has more info on the BGET:

http://briangreen.net/2015/05/bget-stove-in-production.html

More info as in you sell them. That’s also old news.

Does anyone have the .pdf template file for the BGET? … the dropbox link is dead on his blog.

If you PM me with your regular email address I can send you a pdf through my regular email.

Thanks Dan, I’ll order a BG tray.

My own separate tray that wedges inside works well but it’s another part to lose.

I’ve mentioned this in other threads but I really like the stove setup on described here using two 4g Esbit tablets. I get almost zero fluid running out of the Esbit holder he’s using and can reliably boil ~1.75 cups of water on 6 to 8 grams of Esbit with the same pot/cone combo.

Matthew, Are these 4 gram ESBIT tabs you use smaller than the standard ESBIT tablet?

I’m wondering why you get no or little liquid residue. Any guesses?

Bob,

PM sent

Ha!

My primary stove for years was a GVP Caldera Cone. The graham cracker worked fine. No need to try and find something “better.” Too much time fretting over stoves and other gear here on BPL. Better to go backpacking instead. :-)

Eric, same blog had this to say on the subject. I have no idea why the small ones don’t result in much residue but the pan doesn’t seem to be needed like with the big cubes.

The biggest reason I like the little tablets is I don’t have to deal with a bunch of half-burnt 14gram tablets. I just don’t need 14grams of Esbit with any of the setups I have tried.

But Nick the BGET is better. And someone had to come up with the system you bought. Maybe while backpacking.

Matthew, I have noticed there is less smell with the 4 gram tablets and that is confirmed in the link you sent us to. A quote from that site:

Some people are more sensitive than others but I notice a significant difference in smell between the 14g and 4g tabs, with the 4g really not having all that strong of odor.  This is likely a result of the off-gassing which occurs due to the 4g tabs not being individually sealed