View Full Version : Sterno Inferno,
It may have been covered here before, but sometimes you rediscover stuff, and I’ve rediscovered the Sterno Inferno. It’s a stove stand/windscreen/pot setup meant to be used with Sterno, but works great with any alcohol stove. It’s a jetboil for your cat can stove.
The set comes with a stand, windscreen, snuffer, pot, and lid. Keep the windscreen and pot and toss the rest. What you’ll have left is a pot and very effective windscreen/stand weighing 6.1 ounces, just an ounce heavier than my titanium pot and homemade stand. The pot has a built-in Jetboil-style heat exchanger.
With my Evernew titanium stove (any alcohol stove should do fine) and an ounce of yellow heet, I can boil 2 cups of water in 3 ½ minutes. I’ve tried it several times indoors and in the field, and that varies only a few seconds either side of 3:30. If I use the heat exchanger pot alone with my canister stove, it cuts the time to just 2 minutes!
The pot handles are silicone-covered, no burnt fingers!
It does have a few design flaws, the worst is that when heated, the pot, stand and lid all expand at different rates and will stick together. I tossed the heavy lid (I replaced it with aluminum foil) and ground the pot stand a bit to allow the pot to be lifted off without sticking.
With my titanium mug (I could go without the mug, but I like to have my coffee and breakfast at the same time) and it’s cozy wrapper, the whole setup nests with the stove, a paper towel and lighter and weighs 11 ounces total. It’s my new go-to trail kitchen. Less than thirty bucks.
Odd Man Out
10-24-2020, 21:17
I have a similar diy version like this but bigger. I get similar performance. From the pic it seems the pot has a 16 oz capacity which is pretty small for what I do.
What I have is an Olicamp xts pot. It too has a heat exchanger and silicon handles, but hold 1 liter and annodized. Obviously a bit heavier but bombproof. I use a homemade eCHS alcohol stove made from a mini aluminum juice can. The diy pot screen/ holder is a cylinder of aluminum flashing. Like the inferno, I punched air intake holes around the bottom. The pot sets on top and the heat goes up through the heat exchanger fins. I like the power, efficiency, and ease of use. I put food and water in the pot, boil, transfer to diy pot cozy, let set, eat. I will not wish the pot was a little smaller.
Yup, the pot is only 16 oz. Workable for me, but just.
Heck, you could use esbit or set over some coals with this thing as well. Multi purpose.
Time Zone
10-25-2020, 13:35
A cautionary tale - Hiram Cook points out it may not be suitable for anything but Sterno
https://youtu.be/RutNj_DUm5k
Granted, this is a Trangia, but he has other videos with a couple types of FF stoves ... and in those, he's not using the windscreen. He's only using the pot.
Five Tango
10-25-2020, 16:39
HMMM,wondering if my all time favorite,Starlyte stove,or the Starlyte XL would be a good match for this set up?
HMMM,wondering if my all time favorite,Starlyte stove,or the Starlyte XL would be a good match for this set up?
The StarlyteXL3 is a perfect match for the Sterno Inferno. http://www.woodgaz-stove.com/starlyte-xl3-burner-large-opening.php
Bob Moulder's GrooveStove is another great match:
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This is what the Sterno Inferno looks like next to an XL3 burner:
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A cautionary tale - Hiram Cook points out it may not be suitable for anything but Sterno
Trangias never did like being confined.
Five Tango
10-27-2020, 07:13
Does anyone know how many boils one could expect from a 7 oz can of Sterno?
Does anyone know how many boils one could expect from a 7 oz can of Sterno?
Can't be many when it takes 12:31 to boil 2 cups of water :-? .
Does anyone know how many boils one could expect from a 7 oz can of Sterno?
Can't be many when it takes 12:31 to boil 2 cups of water :-? .
Though when you see them on a buffet under the trays of food, they go for a fair length of time, it seems? Not sure if those cans are the same size as referred to here or not, though.
I believe there was a reference in some of the Inferno product lit to two canisters giving a 4.5 hour burn time. So perhaps 10 boils of 2 cups at 60* would be a safe guess?
[QUOTE=Time Zone;2275914]A cautionary tale - Hiram Cook points out it may not be suitable for anything but Sterno
https://youtu.be/RutNj_DUm5k
There's always the caveat that you're using a product in a way not intended by the manufacturer. I've experienced the "thermal feedback" that Hiram described with other setups, but not with this. I suspect the difference for me was not using the plastic base - that would have put the stove closer to the pot, insulated it from the ground and enclosed it even more. In my trials, the stove was placed directly on the ground, so it was further from the pot, and the ground may have acted as a heat sink, preventing overheating. Also come to think of it, all of my usage has been outside in wet weather with temps in the 40's to low 50's.
[QUOTE=Time Zone;2275914]A cautionary tale - Hiram Cook points out it may not be suitable for anything but Sterno
There's always the caveat that you're using a product in a way not intended by the manufacturer. I've experienced the "thermal feedback" that Hiram described with other setups, but not with this. I suspect the difference for me was not using the plastic base - that would have put the stove closer to the pot, insulated it from the ground and enclosed it even more. In my trials, the stove was placed directly on the ground, so it was further from the pot, and the ground may have acted as a heat sink, preventing overheating. Also come to think of it, all of my usage has been outside in wet weather with temps in the 40's to low 50's.
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Some good info in this thread on the Sterno Inferno
also: https://whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/122063-Pot-choice?p=2182055&viewfull=1#post2182055
hikermiker
02-27-2021, 09:13
Jon at Flat Cat Gear has been playing with them and has some great ideas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAvEgn_8iEY&t=6s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgAjMhKr1aE
cmoulder
02-27-2021, 12:42
Jon at Flat Cat Gear has been playing with them and has some great ideas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAvEgn_8iEY&t=6s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgAjMhKr1aE
Thanks, I just ordered one of those plates for the Fire Maple stove. ;)
Today I made an intensifier for my Sterno Inferno pot set-up. Works really nice with gel and denatured alcohol for super fast water boils for early morning fast coffee/hot chocolate.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRQrHFTHCs0&feature=emb_logo
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Today I made an intensifier for my Sterno Inferno pot set-up. Works really nice with gel and denatured alcohol for super fast water boils for early morning fast coffee/hot chocolate.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRQrHFTHCs0&feature=emb_logo
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That looks pretty intense!! Nuclear fusion like!!
It will heat water as fast as some canister stoves. It's made of TITANIUM :banana Fits over round container that has screw on lid. Holds 3 days worth of fuel.
I will tweek it over the next few days.
Five Tango
07-30-2021, 19:31
It will heat water as fast as some canister stoves. It's made of TITANIUM :banana Fits over round container that has screw on lid. Holds 3 days worth of fuel.
I will tweek it over the next few days.
I sure would like to have one!
cmoulder
07-31-2021, 13:45
It will heat water as fast as some canister stoves. It's made of TITANIUM :banana Fits over round container that has screw on lid. Holds 3 days worth of fuel.
I will tweek it over the next few days.
Very impressive! Just have to be careful not to overheat the HX fins because they can melt, especially with a canister stove... gotta dial it way back to avoid this.
Very impressive! Just have to be careful not to overheat the HX fins because they can melt, especially with a canister stove... gotta dial it way back to avoid this.
As long as ther is water in the pot absorbing heat I've had no problems melting fins. Have you melted fins while water has been in pot?
Over at bpl I got 2 cups to a boil using 2 grams of fuel with this set-up:
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cmoulder
08-01-2021, 06:25
As long as ther is water in the pot absorbing heat I've had no problems melting fins. Have you melted fins while water has been in pot?
I haven't but I think Jon Fong might've (he doesn't say it outright) because he mentions the potential for it in his instructions with the Ocelot plate mod for the Fire Maple stove.
When comparing the Sterno to the Olicamp XTS, JB, etc, Sterno doesn't have nearly as many fins to absorb/disperse the heat.
I remember this being an issue with the JB Sol Ti because (my guess) it didn't transfer heat from Al fins to Ti pot efficiently enough. But there were reports from a fair number of people who used them for years with no problems, so who knows? But JB did stop making them, so there's that! :-?
I haven't but I think Jon Fong might've (he doesn't say it outright) because he mentions the potential for it in his instructions with the Ocelot plate mod for the Fire Maple stove.
Once the water comes to a boil, infra red heat gets bounced back and forth back to the plate and may have caused a problem. Pot of water needs to be removed quickly once it comes to a boil. Oh the joys of canister stoves......one more thing to watch out for. ;)
flatcatgear
08-01-2021, 15:56
Just got back from Mo'orea where I was testing the Ocelot HX withthe Sterno Inferno using butane. Boiled 500 ml of 75 F water using 5.04 grams of fuel (5 test burns).
https://youtu.be/4PTPULuVRZc
I haven't but I think Jon Fong might've (he doesn't say it outright) because he mentions the potential for it in his instructions with the Ocelot plate mod for the Fire Maple stove.
I remember this being an issue with the JB Sol Ti because (my guess) it didn't transfer heat from Al fins to Ti pot efficiently enough. But there were reports from a fair number of people who used them for years with no problems, so who knows? But JB did stop making them, so there's that! :-?
Are you able to photogtaph the instructions that is given with the Ocelot plate please.
Here is the instructions given for the JB Sol Ti
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flatcatgear
08-01-2021, 20:53
I recomend running the Ocelots at 1/3 power (approximately 4-6 minutes to boil 2 cups). I have not melted the fins on the Inferno, there really is not a lot of data out there. Remember, the Inferno was designed to use with the Sterno Inferno Kit and that boiled water in abouit 12 minutes. That being said, I did some high speed boils: 500 ml boiled in 2:30 multiple times and see no problems at all. I don't think that overheating the fins is an issue. What is an issue is heating a small mug (any small mug) will have a chance of boiling over making it more difficult to turn the stove off. The Inferno mug is probably a great mug for people who want to boil 1.5 cups. The Fire Maple 1 liter mug is a better option. My 2 cents.
cmoulder
08-02-2021, 08:48
I recomend running the Ocelots at 1/3 power (approximately 4-6 minutes to boil 2 cups). I have not melted the fins on the Inferno, there really is not a lot of data out there. Remember, the Inferno was designed to use with the Sterno Inferno Kit and that boiled water in abouit 12 minutes. That being said, I did some high speed boils: 500 ml boiled in 2:30 multiple times and see no problems at all. I don't think that overheating the fins is an issue. What is an issue is heating a small mug (any small mug) will have a chance of boiling over making it more difficult to turn the stove off. The Inferno mug is probably a great mug for people who want to boil 1.5 cups. The Fire Maple 1 liter mug is a better option. My 2 cents.
Thanks for the clarification... but I don't want to be the first to toast the fins! :-? It was designed for the slow-burning gel, after all, complete with *WARNING* .... but maybe similar to MSR warning label which cautions you should only use MSR pots with their stoves LOL.
For me the Inferno has plenty of headroom for 2 cups, but I do keep an eye on it and remove it from the flame just as it reaches boiling.
flatcatgear
08-02-2021, 11:53
The best feature of tbe Ocelot HX system is robustness in the wind. Most canister topped stoves do not function above a 5 mph wind. Uing a HX pot really alows you to increase perfromance in the wind. Teh Ocelot HX is good to at least 8-10 mph wind. While not recommende or spec'ed for this, we were able to boil water in 20 moh wind; keep in mind that wind gust can blow the stove out.
Here is a short video in 20 mph wind
https://youtu.be/n0CfF7YWyvM
I haven't but I think Jon Fong might've (he doesn't say it outright) because he mentions the potential for it in his instructions with the Ocelot plate mod for the Fire Maple stove.
I remember this being an issue with the JB Sol Ti because (my guess) it didn't transfer heat from Al fins to Ti pot efficiently enough. But there were reports from a fair number of people who used them for years with no problems, so who knows? But JB did stop making them, so there's that! :-?
The Jetboils have a plate attached just under the burner head. Flatcatgear shows attaching his plate to the underside of the burner head. Jetboils had problems with overheating. I suspect overheating problems will occur with the ocelot HX plate also....just a matter of time until we start hearing of serious failures.
48511.......jetboil plate attached to underside of burner head.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=12&v=8icNrCKksio&feature=emb_l ogo
Ocelot HX plate attached under burner head:
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flatcatgear
08-04-2021, 16:37
Different forum and Dan is speculating yet again with zero data. At least this time, he hasn't purposely spelled my name incorrectly. With respect to data, temperature measurement have been taken at various components of multiple times. Data speaks for itself. There are approximately 50 kits installed around the world and while early, there are been zero complaints so far. Dan, I would appreciate it if you could back up your opinions with some real data or information. If not, you are just throwing a dead cart on the table. Best regards.
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cmoulder
08-04-2021, 17:53
The Jetboils have a plate attached just under the burner head. Flatcatgear shows attaching his plate to the underside of the burner head. Jetboils had problems with overheating. I suspect overheating problems will occur with the ocelot HX plate also....just a matter of time until we start hearing of serious failures.
48511.......jetboil plate attached to underside of burner head.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=12&v=8icNrCKksio&feature=emb_l ogo
Ocelot HX plate attached under burner head:
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Different forum and Dan is speculating yet again with zero data. At least this time, he hasn't purposely spelled my name incorrectly. With respect to data, temperature measurement have been taken at various components of multiple times. Data speaks for itself. There are approximately 50 kits installed around the world and while early, there are been zero complaints so far. Dan, I would appreciate it if you could back up your opinions with some real data or information. If not, you are just throwing a dead cart on the table. Best regards.
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I don't have a dog in this fight because I'm merely a humble consumer of both your products. However, several times last winter I used the Ocelot/FMS-300T with the Olicamp XTS at a very high setting—probably about 75%, because only a stove noob would run 100%—and did not have any overheating problems at all.
Once, during an extreme test, I ran a Jetboil MiniMo at 100% for 30 minutes straight with ambient temp of 75°F. It did not melt.
I'm sure that you guys have seen all manner of moronic use/abuse of your products so it does not surprise me to see a pic of a JB product that was similarly mistreated. Having used JBs quite a bit for personal testing, I'd wager a king's ransom that a pot support which melted like that in the photo probably had a windscreen wrapped very closely around it, which of course is a ginormous no-no. (The YT link didn't work for me.)
flatcatgear
08-04-2021, 18:31
Here is the JetBoil video; the customer was using a small pot adapter and using it to heat a frying pan (not used with HX mug to boil water). Apples and oranges: just the facts
https://youtu.be/8icNrCKksio
cmoulder
08-04-2021, 19:47
OK, I was able to see that one. However, it would require a bit of forensic analysis to find out what really happened.
I've got one of those pot adapters and IMO there's no way it would have been a factor. There was some sort of damage to the stove—perhaps a crack in the body near the venturi, or some sort of breach in the O-ring near the Lindal valve, etc etc—that permitted fuel to leak out and combust somewhere below the burner.
When presented with something like this we must keep in mind that there's always a history behind the stove... was it dropped, squashed in a pack, assembled with dirt/grit in the system?... or subjected to a lot of rough handling? We all know that when it comes to gear there is a spectrum of people who own it: those who are very easy on gear ranging to those who are very hard on gear, and we have no idea what might've led up to its final demise.
This fellow also had issues with the Whisperlite, which is another stove I know quite well, and he says "the tank failed me" (huh?) and "the burner failed me," and I really don't know whassup with that.
I hope nobody is relying solely upon this video for stove advice.
[COLOR=var(--posttitletextcolor)]I melted my JetBoil making coffee ��
https://www.reddit.com/r/CampingGear/comments/8xdbgm/i_melted_my_jetboil_making_coffee/
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Tomcfitz·3yYup. At least half of the jetboils I've seen have that same issue.Son_of_Liberty88·3yDang. I don’t use mine anymore but do you think a warranty would cover that?dystopianprom·3yHappened to mine too :/ i switched to MSR pocket rocket and have yet to have an issue with itgaz2600OP·3yI looked at that one today, decided to give the Etekcity a try first.DelilahDee912·3yMSR Pocket Rocket ftw- I’ve been using mine for years.iamflossyman74·3yI used my jet boil in 60 mph winds in Patagonia. It never failed me.level 2HaakenforHawks·3yI used my jet boil in 45 mph winds on Mt Adams on Friday. It wouldn't self-ignite at all and when I used a lighter to light it it would go out within seconds. And this is all behind a 4ft tall wind wall. Returned it for an MSR WhisperliteI eventually built a wind wall with rocks right around it so that there was 0 wind and I could finally boil snow for water. Then it burned through the brand new gas tank after boiling snow in it 4 times. If my group didn't all bring their own stoves we would have been out of water.cptjpk·3yNever had this issue with my Windburner ¯\_(ツ)_/¯travellingmonk·3yDid you have it cranked up in high wind? Or heat up an empty cup? Both of those have been known to melt the plastic.OP·3ycup was full (to the line), I had it on a lower heat for 5 min or so and didn't get a boil so I gave it a twist, I don't think it was on full heat. There was a breeze but not high wind.the_normal_person·3ywere you using a windscreen or something around the stove?OP·3yno, just had it sitting on the camp picnic tableTertiumNonHater·3yNot sure why everyone is having an issue making coffee. I have a jetboil and the French press thingy. You boil the water and shut it off, then you put in the coffee and let it sit for ~3 minutes. Although I should reserve judgement— signs are suggesting user error in this case. The coffee was always superb.Jetboils are great, but if you wanna cook your spaghetti os or whatever get a snow peak.gaz2600OP·3yYea it sounds simple and worked fine for many uses but this last time it melted.woodsun·3yThis recently happened to me as well. I sent it back and they repaired for me at no cost except shipping.1·3ymine seems to function ok still just does not fit in the cup anymore, I think I'm going to just file off the melted part.1backobeyond_·3yJetBoils do that. JetBoils are dumb.ghetto_headache·3yDude. Out of all the things we cook on the jet, coffee always creates the biggest issue..https://www.redditstatic.com/desktop2x/img/renderTimingPixel.png
(https://www.reddit.com/r/CampingGear/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Gear%22&restrict_sr=1)
perhaps a crack in the body near the venturi, or some sort of breach in the O-ring near the Lindal valve, etc etc—that permitted fuel to leak out and combust somewhere below the burner.
When presented with something like this we must keep in mind that there's always a history behind the stove...
I suspect it was breach in the O-ring near the Lindal valve caused by heat being transferred downward by the plate attached below the burner.
Jetboil had to redesign their stoves. They added a low melting point ring close to the O-ring that will melt and seal the entry of fuel to the stove. Stoves that over heated had to be returned to the manufacturer.
I made some plates so I can do some testing:
The plates have "ridges" for lots of strength and warp prevention. Plate weighs 4 grams.
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The Ocelite is evolving. I'll be putting it through some testing this weekend. Gotta get more fuel.
The ridge on the plate prevents the pot from sliding off, perfect fit. Look how nice it fits the bottom of the pot:
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flatcatgear
08-06-2021, 14:20
Dan,
Rather than copying the Ocelot HX design, why don't you pursue your Elekcity System / HX mug design? A system that can boil 2 cups of water using 2 grams of fuel will be seriouslty better than the Ocelot system (or any other canister stove) and should be an outstanding product. The more you burn, the more you learn.
https://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=48496&d=1627769042
Heck, you could use esbit or set over some coals with this thing as well. Multi purpose.
I'm going to try it with a small stick fire on one of those days when I just wanna play with fire!
nsherry61
08-08-2021, 14:29
I was wondering what might come of these overlapping ideas about windscreen design as I saw what looked like a potential conflict.
This thread is what made me aware of the Ocelot HX plate. Looking into it, my first two thoughts were 1) wow, excellent idea, and 2) wouldn't it be nice if the plate were somehow designed with a little more elegant engineering such that it didn't nearly double the weight of a BRS 3000T stove? Gosh, who'd have thought that the elegant engineering needed was the lid off a can of peanuts (or whatever Zelph's parent aluminum disc is from). Okay, in this community, who'd think that the best solution isn't going to turn out to be a recycled aluminum can. ;-)
So, is there a way that we can genuinely support each other in continuing to design really creative products and techniques without stifling each other's creative insights and improvements on each other's designs?
flatcatgear
08-08-2021, 17:11
Here’s the deal. A lot of time an energy goes into develop and validating a product. The Ocelot HX has been in development for at least 6 months now. The Ocelot design also support 4 different HX pots Inferno, Fire Maple, Bulin and Stash). More importantly, the verification and validation steps to ensure that it works correctly is the most time-consuming part. The Ocelot HX has been proven to be extremely robust in the wind, surpassing almost every canister topped stove other that the MSR WindBurner.
The ironic thing to me is that Zelph is the very first person to point out when anyone imitates one of his designs. Calling his version “The Ocelite” is just another blatant passive aggressive shot at me which he has done multiple times on another site. I have always tried to stay above board when dealing with Zelph in fact my suggestion for Zelph is to pursue his own original design (which at 2 grams per boil is pretty fantastic product).
As Oscar Wilde said: ” Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”
cmoulder
08-09-2021, 07:22
I was wondering what might come of these overlapping ideas about windscreen design as I saw what looked like a potential conflict.
This thread is what made me aware of the Ocelot HX plate. Looking into it, my first two thoughts were 1) wow, excellent idea, and 2) wouldn't it be nice if the plate were somehow designed with a little more elegant engineering such that it didn't nearly double the weight of a BRS 3000T stove? Gosh, who'd have thought that the elegant engineering needed was the lid off a can of peanuts (or whatever Zelph's parent aluminum disc is from). Okay, in this community, who'd think that the best solution isn't going to turn out to be a recycled aluminum can. ;-)
So, is there a way that we can genuinely support each other in continuing to design really creative products and techniques without stifling each other's creative insights and improvements on each other's designs?
One thing I can offer is that the flatcatgear Ocelot plate is robust, enough so that I cut out one of the 'spokes' to make room for my copper HX strip, after which it remains plenty strong enough to support the Sterno pot as well as the somewhat heavier Olicamp XTS pot. I don't believe that a lower grade metal will permit this, and there might be other short- or long-term drawbacks revealed by field testing and actual use on the trail.
I used the setup, as in the pic below, on the trail a few times last winter with no problems at all.
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flatcatgear
08-09-2021, 10:21
BTW, that image is of the Original Ocelot HX using 0.02" stainless and weighed 40 grams
The new Ocelot HX (rev 2) is made of 0.060" aluminum and weighs 22 grams. Lighter and more robust.
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After extensive weekend testing this is what the winning combination of holes and attachment looks like. Weight is now up to 5 grams....bummer :(
Stability of a full pot of water on the plate is awesome. :) I'll even be able to put a slot in it to accomodate a "moulder strip"
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When comparing the Sterno to the Olicamp XTS, JB, etc, Sterno doesn't have nearly as many fins to absorb/disperse the heat.
Does the aluminum Inferno lid I made fit any other pots that you know off?
cmoulder
03-04-2022, 11:57
Does the aluminum Inferno lid I made fit any other pots that you know off?It does, but it has been while since I've used it so I'll have to check when I get home. Out of town for a few days.
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Ok, good to hear that. I'm selling off all I have in inventory and will not be making more.
BIG TIGER
03-19-2022, 06:40
What are the dimensions of the lid? Thanks Ron
fits a pot with 4" ID
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