Heat Exchanger Stove w/ Windscreen

[bradmacmt]

I have and dearly love the Jetboil SOL Ti and Al stoves. They’re miserly with fuel, “ok” in wind, light, compact, and incredibly fast boilers. However, not one to leave good enough alone, I wanted a stove that equaled the SOL Ti weight-wise and efficiency-wise, but was better in the wind. I think I found the solution with a shout out to John Fong for the inspiration for much of it.

So some time back at the beginning of this journey I started messing with windscreens for the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe. I settled on using the Snow Peak Ti bowl as the basis, and it’s proven itself. See here: https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/msr-pocket-rocket-dlx-windscreen-mark-ii-2/

For a pot, I borrowed from JF’s orignal idea of using the Sterno Inferno Pot, along with a Dutchware Al lid. I modified the Inferno pot with cutouts to get it lower to the MSR stove (ala jetboil) and hey-presto, a more wind-worthy Jetboil Ti setup. It still doesn’t boil quite as quickly as the JB Ti, but is close enough, is equally miserly in fuel consumption, but is definitely more wind-worthy – and, is more readily available than the long discontinued JB Ti.

With it’s windscreen, it’s the EXACT weigh of the Jetboil Sol Ti:

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

OK, inquiring minds want to know!  How miserly?  Great job BTW!

[David Gardner]

+1

[bradmacmt]

Guys, I have more and better testing to do, but at this point, on average, 7 g’s to bring 16 oz’s of 42*F water to a boil seems a good average (68*F ambient room temp). The Sol Ti has, at times, been as low as 6 g’s. So, as I say, a bit more testing is in order. However, results thus far have been quite promising. When I get more time and a windmeter I’ll do more testing.

Also, a guy can dump the windscreen and lose the additional weight (1 oz) of the windscreen for a weight of 7.6 oz’s for the PRDLX and Inferno Pot.

[Bill in Roswell]

FYI – I found a Stash pot, no stove or container, at REI Garage Sale section for $54. I contemplated it but recalled Jon’s testing so I passed. The Sterno pot costs less and weighs less. Admittedly, I’m pretty darn satisfied w Soto stove, Ocelot wind screen from Jon, and .75 Pasta pot. Thank you everyone for posting your HX pot data.

[bradmacmt]

I want to add a couple data points… I cut the notches in the Inferno pot so that the base of the PRD is off the base of the pot the same distance as the Jetboil Sol. Also, boil elevation is 5,010′ above sea level.

I received my aneometer yesterday, but decided I need an digital thermometer too, so will order that.

I did have a Soto Windmaster, but just didn’t like it. I found it more fiddly than the MSR, my sample of one did not boil any faster than the PRD, and the Piezo igniter crapped out quickly. Also, the PRD very easily accommodated my windscreen design. The Soto did not. To be fair, my first PRD (2019) had an inconstant piezo too, even after a trip back to MSR for repair (their warranty/repair department absolutely sucks btw). I sold it and got another. The newer version (2021) works perfectly.

[Jerry Adams]

nice design – really compact

I take windscreen even if it’s not supposed to be windy.  There’s usually at least some wind on some days on every trip I go on.  I will use more than an extra ounce of fuel without windscreen.

The ignitor on the windmaster has always worked for me.

I have seen the ignitor on the PRD fail – you have to unscrew the burner cap, and when you screw it back on make sure the wire goes down inside the little plastic tube.  One could argue that this is a defect that disqualifies the PRD, although it’s easily fixed with no tools and most don’t have the problem.

 

[Paul S]

I have wondered how wind effects the fuel jet itself. In other words, most windscreens try to shield the burner from wind, but what about the jet, how does wind disturb (or not disturb) the jet?

[Jerry Adams]

“how does wind disturb (or not disturb) the jet?”

on the third photo, opposite the stainless steel rectangular piezo, there are 4 holes about 1/4 inch diameter for air to come in.

Inside that is a pinhole that the fuel comes out of and gets vaporized.  Air comes in the 4 holes and mixes with the vaporized fuel and that goes up to the burner

My question is, does the windscreen have to go down below those 4 holes?

My windscreen doesn’t and seems to work okay.  It seems like this isn’t important but it’s not clear.

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

I have not seen it to be an issue on the stoves that I have tested.  My 2 cents.

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