Author Topic: Pot Cozys. Fuel savers.  (Read 4665 times)

Offline thatGuy

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Pot Cozys. Fuel savers.
« on: November 25, 2011, 04:40:42 PM »
Hey Gang,

I recently bought a new pot to cook in while backpacking because I got tired of hearing how I was going to fuck up the really expensive titanium set I bought the wife. Sure it isn't as light but it sure was cheaper!

I have always wanted to make a Reflectex cozy for my pots because they are huge fuel savers. Basically when ever you read a recipe that says "bring to boil and simmer" they are saying that you should go out and by the most expensive stove on the market and carry way more fuel with you. The best way around that is to bring to a boil and then insulate so that the heat of the food does the simmering instead of pouring more heat on it.

There is a lot more that goes into the stove issue than though. As example I use a MSR Wisper Lite International. I chose that stove because they are dependable, cheap, light, burn a ton of different fuels and they work above 9000 feet. That last one was the real deciding factor for me. I had used Primus Tri-Gas for years and although it was a great stove it wouldn't boil water over 9000 feet above sea level. That didn't matter much in southern Cali but in Northern New Mexico that was a deal breaker.

Yet all things are not equal, my Primus would simmer and the Wisper Lite has only one setting, stupid hot. I would have to hold my pot above the stove to keep from burning my dinner and that didn't work out for me.

POT COZY TO THE RESCUE!

I have to get ready for thanksgiving dinner so I am going to leave it at that for now but I promise I will be uploading photos and adding them later tonight! Stay tuned


Offline thatGuy

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Re: Pot Cozys. Fuel savers.
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2011, 10:47:38 PM »
So here is what you need to make your own pot cozy.



That is a grease pot from Wal-Mart, a roll of metal duct tape, a Reflectex sun shade for a car and a good pair of sizzors.

First you cut a piece of the sun shade that loosely fits around your pot. You want it to be loose so that it doesn't fight you when you put your pot in it  ;) I had to cut a notch in mine to clear the handle of my pot. I wrapped tape around cut that forms the notch.



You will also notice that I left the 'factory edge' of the shade on instead of having to edge it myself.



You are going to want to cut a circle to fill in the bottom and attach it with tabs of tape. Notice that mine is too small :facepalm: I will get the next one right but this one works for now.



Now you're going to do the same for the top. Notice that I cut a hole in the top the knob.



And there you go. For next to nothing you now have an insulated pot!



Sure mine is pretty ugly, I made it in the dark but it works great.

The sun shade and roll of tape is more than enough to do several pots and costs less than the cheapest pot at REI. Give it a try, you will like it.

« Last Edit: November 25, 2011, 10:54:01 PM by thatguy »

Offline Outonowhere

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Re: Pot Cozys. Fuel savers.
« Reply #2 on: November 26, 2011, 08:58:52 AM »
 [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co
"A GREAT CONTRADICTION IS THE BELIEF IN STATES RIGHTS WHILE NOT SUPPORTING THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL."  - Me
Han shot first!

Offline Kobalt

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Re: Pot Cozys. Fuel savers.
« Reply #3 on: November 26, 2011, 11:50:06 AM »
Nice [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co
Fan out your shots. We want everyone to get some.

Offline TreadOnMeNot

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Re: Pot Cozys. Fuel savers.
« Reply #4 on: November 26, 2011, 01:50:34 PM »
Nice job, I like this idea!  [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co

Offline thatGuy

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Re: Pot Cozys. Fuel savers.
« Reply #5 on: November 26, 2011, 04:35:16 PM »
Give it a try guys, they work great and really cut down your fuel use. I usually burn a half pint of fuel on a week end. Sure I am whore for hot drinks but last time I went out I only burned 2.5oz of fuel. In WROL this will be a consideration.

Offline WhiskeyJack

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Re: Pot Cozys. Fuel savers.
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2011, 08:30:01 AM »
Very nice idea
Good whiskey, makes Jack Rabbit smack da bear.

Offline thatGuy

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Re: Pot Cozys. Fuel savers.
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2011, 01:52:33 AM »
I discovered something new about the pot cozy.

It keeps me from burning myself on the pot when I eat out of it as well as keeping my lunch hot!