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tucker0104
11-04-2008, 11:47
Does anyone have any recommendations on how to make a windscreen for a canister stove?

papa john
11-04-2008, 11:53
Most canister stoves don't recommend that you use a windscreen. What I do when I use mine is to setup in an area naturally protected from the wind.

tucker0104
11-04-2008, 11:58
But you could make one like a cone that reflects the heat from the canister up to the bottom of the stove. You would definitely have to get away from the traditional windscreen and make something that just fits around the burner.

gonewalkabout
11-04-2008, 11:59
Use your windscreen from your MSR if you have one or make one from a disposable oven pan. In hoter weather you should make a reflector that fits under the burner to reflect the radition up away from the canister so it doesn't over heat. Sgt Rock site has some tips.
http://hikinghq.net/sgt_stove/wind_screen.html

gonewalkabout
11-04-2008, 12:11
Most canister stoves don't recommend that you use a windscreen. What I do when I use mine is to setup in an area naturally protected from the wind.

You can use a traditional windscreen. See the backpacking light link.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/canister_stove_faq.html

I use a reflector in hot weather but in cold the little heating of the canister by radition will help.

papa john
11-04-2008, 12:51
You can use a traditional windscreen. See the backpacking light link.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/canister_stove_faq.html

I use a reflector in hot weather but in cold the little heating of the canister by radition will help.

Use a windscreen at your own risk. It can be a very dangerous practice if you fail to monitor the heat buildup on the canister.

tucker0104
11-04-2008, 13:04
There will be practically no heat buildup if I reflect it away from the canister.

Bare Bear
11-04-2008, 15:19
Having been near an exploding stove twice; I really believe you should think twice before using a screen on a canister stove. On an alcohol stove then it makes sense.

tucker0104
11-04-2008, 15:31
How did it explode?

Blissful
11-04-2008, 15:44
I was told by Winton of Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap when we inadvertently were using one that he didn't want to be near us...

Don't use a wind screen for safety's sake.

gravityman
11-04-2008, 16:01
Used a windscreen on my Gigapower stove for our AT through. Never an issue.

Pie pan cut up to look like the reflector gigapower sells (http://www.rei.com/product/668815?cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-datafeed-_-product-_-na&mr:trackingCode=6FC4ACFC-12A9-DD11-873B-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA)

It's lighter. Then a triple folded layer of tin foil as cylinder around the pot resting on the reflector. Works great, no extra heat buildup near the canister.

tucker0104
11-04-2008, 16:48
Thanks for the good advice.

hperry
11-04-2008, 17:26
There will be practically no heat buildup if I reflect it away from the canister.
there is a much better way to use a windscreen than using that silly heat cone and nonsense three quarter thing (which would blow right over)

Take a windscreen from an alcohol stove. Hold it near the pot supports on the cannister stove. Slide a tent stake thru the holes on the windscreen and rest it on two of the pot supports. Do it again from the other side.

i have meant to take a photo of this a thousand times but never have. i have seen one on here before tho. basically you have a windscreen suspended from the pot supports, that ony goes down far enough to protect the flame, and does not get near the fuel. simple, less of a disaster waiting to happen than with that set up mentioned above.

NICKTHEGREEK
11-04-2008, 17:42
Does anyone have any recommendations on how to make a windscreen for a canister stove?
The short answer is each stove is just a bit different. Variables are legion but they come in above canister, remote canister, large burner, small burner etc designs. The rocket scientists who said no completely overlooked the remote canister rigs which are perfectly suited for complete windscreens. Take a look at the snowpeak giga power BF as an excellent example of a canister stove that is perfectly safe with a windscreen and or an outback oven

tucker0104
11-04-2008, 19:24
I figured it is safe if done right. I was just trying to get an idea for what everyone else did before I set out on an unknown path.

OldStormcrow
11-05-2008, 13:58
I've made windscreens from window screen or "rabbit wire" screen wrapped in duct tape, but in cold weather it's much more important to keep the bottom of the canister out of the snow with some sort of reflector. Those canister stoves don't work worth squat when they get cold.

phillycheze
11-06-2008, 20:07
how cold is too cold?

Wise Old Owl
11-06-2008, 21:25
Having been near an exploding stove twice; I really believe you should think twice before using a screen on a canister stove. On an alcohol stove then it makes sense.

There's a story we need to hear.

OldStormcrow
11-07-2008, 14:34
how cold is too cold?
Any time that you get below freezing the canister stoves get kinda puny. The last time that I tried to use mine on Mt. Sterling in the snow it took almost a half hour (and about half my fuel) to boil 3/4 litre of water....and that was with everything I could find propped up around it for a windscreen. They do work great in the summer, though.

NICKTHEGREEK
11-07-2008, 14:38
how cold is too cold?
Good read for all your stove questions
http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/FAQ_GasStoves.htm

Mzee
11-07-2008, 15:25
For a canister stove wind screen - check this out:
http://www.2drx.com/OtherStuff.shtml#windscreen
He even includes a Word document template. How convenient is that? (Unless you don't use MS Word).

The website was a little slow when I tried it just now. Maybe it was on my end...

I made one like this for my Snowpeak stove. It's ok, but I need to make a few more to up my skills.

Mags
11-07-2008, 15:49
For a canister stove wind screen - check this out:
http://www.2drx.com/OtherStuff.shtml#windscreen



Dirt bagging triumphs again! :)

Mzee
11-10-2008, 22:10
For a canister stove wind screen - check this out:
http://www.2drx.com/OtherStuff.shtml#windscreen
He even includes a Word document template. How convenient is that? (Unless you don't use MS Word).

The website was a little slow when I tried it just now. Maybe it was on my end...

I made one like this for my Snowpeak stove. It's ok, but I need to make a few more to up my skills.

I have experimented with a windscreen that fits around my pot (Heine can) and sets on top of the one made using directions from the 2drx web site. You can see it (sort of) in this picture here:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=23535&catid=member&imageuser=16161

The key thing is you do *NOT* want to have a wind screen that traps the heat around the canister. Trapping heat around the canister should be avoided as gas heated in an enclosed space tends to expand, sometimes with detrimental effects. You would not be a happy camper.

Bare Bear
11-11-2008, 00:31
Laying in the moldy shelter in NY lat eone evening, with constant rain. A young man came in and was fussing with his stove and I looked over to see he had put a 'wind screen' around the entire canister and top. About the time I said, "Oh s......" it ignited, fortunately blew a hole out the seam of the canister, the whole thing bounced off the wall...at least a four foot flame out and scared the crap out of all of us. ( SLEEPWALKER didn't you walk in right after that asking what the hell happenned?) The second time I was at a Fl Trail event and the hot dog man put one of those long handled butane lighters down on the grill................yeah that went off like a really big firecracker and the metal pipe missed my face by an inch or two. It has given me a whole lot of respect for fueled little bombs awaiting carelessness.

gonewalkabout
11-15-2008, 12:44
If you use a cheap Al Pot with a wire bail you can make a hanging windscreen which wont cover the cainster. Where the wire bail attaches to the pot unbend the hook fromed at its ends. Pull a little of the wire through and add a second bend or make the wire bail horizontal. Put two small holes in you foil winscreen and you can hang it from the bail/pot. Cut the windscreen if needed so it only hangs low enough to block the bunner. The air flow around the canister won't be blocked and there be no radiation to the canister. Sorry I don't have a picture since I know this is hard to see.

Panzer1
11-15-2008, 13:13
This is what happens when a butane canister is put in a camp fire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpE63HdDba0

Panzer

tucker0104
11-15-2008, 17:08
That's a good explosion