Pot modifications

[Mark F]

I have been playing around with various pot modifications after I found that the lid and handles can represent 30% to 35% of the weight of a typical Ti pot. My favorite pot is an Evernew 900ml pot (ECA265) which came with a frypan lid. Seemed like a good idea at the time but I have never used the frypan. Stripped of the lid and handles it weighs in at 65 g. I replaced the handles with a bale type handle using nylon covered stainless steel wire to add 1 gram. The wire I used is available at fishing shops - 10 metre packet, 40Kg breaking strain with crimps for $5.95. This weight of wire seemed to offer the right balance of stiffness and flexibility but there are weights above and below this wire. I found the easiest way to add the bale handle was to drill vertically through the rolled lip in two places about 1cm apart and gently prise the roll lip open. Push the wire through both holes and ensure it is tight up against the lip before crimping up the lip again to hide the wire.

The pot has an internal lip which allows a disk of reflexit type material to rest on it as a lid for an additional 2.5 grams. I have used a reflexit lid for 14 days and it shows few signs of deterioration so I am quite confident of the durability of the material. If I need a new one it is just a matter of cutting out another disk of material and adding a tab handle of foil tape. The lid also acts as the lid of my pot cozy and I find the pot without the handles slips into my cozy much easier.

I now have a 69 gram 900ml pot, fractionally lighter than my 500ml Ti mug (with lid).

[andrewa]

I have the 900ml ever new without frypan lid, which I love. No handles other than a knob on the top. No mods needed!

What's this reflexit material? Is it something that would make a better windshield than aluminium flashing? And where does it come from?

Andrew A

[Mark F]

The name reflexit (sic) is a US brand name for an aluminised bubble wrap type insulation. It is used in the walking world for pot cosies. The most easily available version of it here is the material used to make car windscreen shades. They cost under $20 and there is enough material for many pot cosies etc. It potentially would work as an underlay sleeping mat. I wouldn't use it as a windshield as it would melt quite easily. As a pot lid or cosy it never experiences temperatures above boiling.

[Franco]

I like the two holes solution for your bail.
should stand up by itself like that and keep maximum capacity for the pot .
nice.

Ruta Locura sells some very light (about 5g for the 10cm version) pot lids made from Carbon Fiber.
Expensive but light and durable.
You just pick them up by the protruding edge.
Someone stuck some Reflectix stuff on one to also use for insulation.

BTW, it's Reflectix

[Mark F]

Yes Franco the bale handle does stand up nicely and easily bends out of the way when needed.

It was me that put the Reflectix piece into the Ruta Locura CF lid. For about 2 grams it seemed like a worthwhile mod. The lid with insert and handle weighs 9 grams.

CF lid with Reflectix insert

[Franco]

Hi Mark
Small world ...
When I posted about the Ruta Locura lid I thought that a bail like yours still could be used by cutting a small indentation on it.
But if the Reflectix alone works for you there is no need to "fix it".
I had a look at some bail threads but did not see your solution.
Someone else also has used that type of coated stainless steel but not the two hole solution.
Well done.