Stove Windscreen Ideas

[Son of a Beach]

I noted in this topic that a windscreen is of little or no benefit in windless conditions, which is good to know. But of course I will need a windscreen some times for the new stove I'll be getting in a few weeks time for windy days if I don't want to be confined to the tent vestibule. I've just noticed that it is the same stove that Tony uses (in that topic), which is a good thing, as I know he's very keen on his light weight gear (which is the main reason I chose this particular stove).

But I don't have a windscreen, having always used the the old Trangia's built in windscreen in the past. So I'm going to have to arrange something before my first walk with the new stove.

What do people use for stove windscreens?

(BTW, I'm aware of canister overheating issues with windscreens, and I do not plan to enclose it in a windscreen to the extent that would cause the canister to overheat while cooking).

[photohiker]

I've got one of these:



From moontrail: link

It's not Ti though, stainless. Weight is 55g

I reckon this would be easy to fab out of Ti or Al to reduce weight and also speed the cooldown process.

[alliecat]

With metho stoves I have used used plain old kitchen aluminium foil. Doubled up and wrapped lightly around the pot. Lift a corner or poke a few holes for air entry. Works okay but a bit too light in strong winds and a bit fiddly.

The next stage was the disposable baking trays from the supermarket. thicker, stiffer, sturdier alfoil. Rolled out flat and cut with scissors. It worked better than the thin kitchen alfoil but I accidentally destroyed it (don't ask...)

Then came the aluminium flashing. Bought a roll from the hardware store (can't remember the dimensions - sorry!). Much stiffer than the baking tray. Still easy to cut with tin snips or a hole punch. Still pretty light. I secure around the pot with a paper clip (very high tech, me) and it's much more stable than either previous version. Happy with it so far.

Now, this is all for metho stoves sitting on the ground, I realise it's much more complicated to make a wind screen for a gas stove. My suggestion would be to have a play with the baking tray material and see if that does the trick for you. If you need something heavier, try the flashing.

Oh, for gas stoves, it might also be worth checking out this article on "kite screens" for stoves. There is some experimental evidence that this approach is much more effective than just the usual small screen around the pot.

Cheers,
Alliecat
(who is back at work today after a week off and using BWT to avoid real work quite successfully so far... )

[corvus]

I use one of these and it comes with a windshield ,they are available from REI
http://www.trailspace.com/out/images/aH ... MzLmpwZw==
It makes your Stove very stable and the windshield is long enough to go around the large Trangia pot.
Only drawback is they weigh 206 g
corvus

[woka]

My MSR WindPro came with it's own windscreen, which is just aluminium flashing (but if you buy it separately costs about $25-30!! Cheaper from the hardware store). Light and easy to fold down so it's compact.

[norts]

My stove is a Kovea Ti and I use a piece of aluminium baking tray. I roll it around a 500ml nalgene bottle( my powdered milk bottle) I have been using the same piece for about 4 years.
Another idea is cut the top and bottom off a coke can. Only good for when you are using a mug.
Roger

[Ent]

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[Son of a Beach]

Yep, I specifically ordered the model without the ignition.

[photohiker]

Quite like the look of those kite screens. I wonder what lightweight material could be used that is also fireproof.

The US firefighters get issued with a portable fireshelter that is essentially a tent/bivy. I wonder what it's made of because it's probably ideal.

Brett, the snowpeak windshield works ok, but it's not so good in high wind as there is still a gap between the pot and the screen for the wind to blow through.

[Son of a Beach]

I've got one of these:



From moontrail: link

It's not Ti though, stainless. Weight is 55g

I reckon this would be easy to fab out of Ti or Al to reduce weight and also speed the cooldown process.

I really like that idea... I'll have to see if anyone makes a model that would fit the Kovea Supalite. What are the chances?

I guess it might be possible to make one from a billy lid, or some other lid, and just cut some holes in the right places. I'll have to keep my eye out for suitable bits of metal.

PS. Actually, the bottom of an old billy would be ideal. A billy the size up from the one I would actually be cooking in perhaps.

[alliecat]

Quite like the look of those kite screens. I wonder what lightweight material could be used that is also fireproof.

The US firefighters get issued with a portable fireshelter that is essentially a tent/bivy. I wonder what it's made of because it's probably ideal.

Brett, the snowpeak windshield works ok, but it's not so good in high wind as there is still a gap between the pot and the screen for the wind to blow through.

I think the article on the kite screens mentions turkey roasting bags (oven bags) as a heat resistant (but probably not flame resistant) option. As long as the material can take a bit of heat but not necessarily direct flame I think it'd be okay. You could probably have a go with doubled up kitchen foil as a first attempt. I've been meaning to play with a section of foam mat with foil glued to it as one option (and it can double as a sit pad when I'm not cooking).

Cheers,
Alliecat

[photohiker]

I've got one of these:



From moontrail: link

It's not Ti though, stainless. Weight is 55g

I reckon this would be easy to fab out of Ti or Al to reduce weight and also speed the cooldown process.

I really like that idea... I'll have to see if anyone makes a model that would fit the Kovea Supalite. What are the chances?

I guess it might be possible to make one from a billy lid, or some other lid, and just cut some holes in the right places. I'll have to keep my eye out for suitable bits of metal.

PS. Actually, the bottom of an old billy would be ideal. A billy the size up from the one I would actually be cooking in perhaps.

I found a pretty good thread on the BPL forums talking about make your own windscreens for the SnowPeak. I bet they fit the Kovea, or would with a little dremel work. BPL: Snow Peak windscreen weight reduction

[photohiker]

And yet another Snowpeak windscreen article at BPL. Good site that, lots of ideas there.

[edit]

Seems BPL also sell Ti Foil windscreens that could be handy if you are making your own.

[johnw]

I posted the following description and a photo of my well-used home made setup in this topic.

Made a windshield partly via recycling. In the office where I work (IT), I found an empty, robust cardboard box that had been used to house a network interface card or some similar piece of gear. It folded out to a concertina shape that looked compatible with my stove and gas cartridge. Trimmed the unwanted bits and covered it with ordinary kitchen alfoil, sticky taped around the edges. Not the prettiest solution, but has worked for a couple of years with some occasional patching up. One of these days I'll get around to making a better version from a foil baking tray as others have mentioned.
I also use a heat shield that sits on the collar of the gas cartridge. It's just a disc with a hole in the middle made from a cheap foil stove guard from Woolies supermarket (care needed to avoid melting piezo ignition if using such devices).

I also recently made a very lightweight replacement for the above from a heavy aluminium foil "something or other" (not a baking tray) that I found in a $2 shop. Simply flattened and shaped it to suit. I've yet to field test it but am a bit concerned it may blow away in the first slight breeze.

[Orion]

I've tried several different varieties of windscreen and have come to the conclusion that using aluminum foil is simple, lightweight, inexpensive, easy to customize, and effective. And when it wears out it can be recycled. I aim for a size that is tall enough to go from ground to top of the pot and will encircle the pot about 3/4 of the way. Ideally it fits nicely in the pot bottom when folded up. I like them so they stand up on their own, but there is of course a tradeoff between weight and stiffness. If I use 6 sheets my windscreen weighs about 40g; 4 sheets about 28g.

As for windscreens being of little or no benefit in windless conditions, this statement must be qualified to include the ambient temperature (10C in that test). The above mentioned BPL article correctly pointed out that windscreens can be quite valuable when it is cold enough. At -10C I rely on one to keep the stove running. Besides, truely windless conditions are an exception.

[Earthling]

I use the same as Orion, just a piece of Aluminim foil folded 4 times. Cut to width that goes half way up my pot and 2/3 around the stove. Works fine up till now...however I have always been aware of the trapped heat factor after I melted the plastic tap a wee bit on my first stove .
Looking at the BPL link that photohiker put up and I feel that would really contain the heat in where its needed most and weigh the same if not less. I will have to give it a go.
Thanks for the link

[photohiker]

Just dredging up this thread to add these to it:

Trail Designs Vari-vent windscreens

Trail Designs Classic Windscreens

Come in sizes 4", 6" and 8" Length is 28" which would give a circumference of just under 9" at full stretch. Weight is relatively light; 60g is the max weight for the heaviest 8" shield. Rolled edges.

Both linked from AntiGravityGear shop posted the other day.