Materials: One large catering tray; One or two document binder clips
Tools: Craft scissors; and something like a vice grip, capable of grabbing/folding the edge of the foil so it can be rolled. I used an Irwin 8R sheet metal plier.
These instructions are specific to the MSR Pocket Rocket, but the gist is similar for other stove brands.
- Refer to Figure 1 (below). Remove the Burner Assembly. Unscrew the Burner Assembly from the Valve Body. (On the Pocket Rocket the Burner Head and Fuel/Air Venturi cannot be separated from each other.) Completing Step 1 results in uninstalling the Burner Head, the Fuel/Air Venturi and the Pot Stand. Measure the diameter of the threads protruding from the top of the Valve Body.
- Refer to Figure 2 (below). Cut a square from the foil large enough to reflect any heat radiated off the bottom of pots placed on the pot stand. Include 1/2" of extra foil on the length and width of the shield, which is used when rolling the edges to create a safe, rolled lip on all of the cut edges of the foil heat shield.
- Cut a round hole in the center of the heat shield, large enough to accommodate the threads protruding from the top of the Valve Body. The wedge shape cutout precludes the heat shield from interfering with operating the fuel valve control.
- Roll over all of the cut edges of the foil heat shield.
- Refer to Figure 3 (below). Install the heat shield. Position the shield such that the threads on top of the Valve Body protrude through the round hole cut in the center of the heat shield, with the wedge cutout centered above the fuel flow control.
- Refer to Figure 4 (below). Reinstall the Burner Assembly and the other stove components removed during Step 1. The heat shield is now captured between the Burner Assembly and Valve Body. Exercise care so you do not cross thread the Burner Assembly, or over tighten it to the Valve Body.
- Refer to Figure 5 (below). Fabricate a windscreen from the remaining foil.
The length dimension of the screen will be the sum of the following:- The circumference of the largest pot you intend to use.
- Add an additional 3" to provide ~1/2" gap between the pot and wind screen.
- Add an additional inch, so the opposing ends of the screen can be overlapped and held together with the binder clips.
- Add an additional 1/2", so the cut edge can be rolled over.
- If the length of the wind screen exceeds the length of your foil resource, you will need to make the wind screen in two halves. If you wish you can provide another inch of overlap to hold the additional end joint together with more binder clips. Or you can fashion a lap fell seam that joins the halves with the interlock created by the lap fell seam. The lap fell seam will require adding an additional 3/4" to the total length of foil used to fabricate the wind screen.
- Roll all cut edges of the foil wind screen. If the wind screen is of the two piece configuration, shape the lap fell joint elements after rolling the cut edges of the foil.
- Install the wind screen, placing it on top of the heat shield. If you have the two piece windscreen, join the halves by interlocking the lap fell seam of one half with the other. Next, shape the wind screen to conform to the pot being used. The diameter of the screen should be adjusted to provide the 1/2" clearance around whatever the pot. Maintain this dimension by using binder clips to clamp the overlapping ends of the wind screen together.
Figure 2. The heat shield is a flat piece of foil. A hole is cut in the center that accommodates the threaded portion of the Valve Body. The hole should be just wide enough to clear the diameter of the fitting. A wedge shape piece of foil was removed from the heat shield to provide clearance, so the heat shield is not in the way while adjusting the fuel flow.
Figure 3. The heat shield is positioned so the threads of the Valve Body protrude through the center hole on the heat shield, and the wedge shape cutout aligned directly above the valve control. Note the sharp cut edges of the foil have been rolled over to form a rounded lip.
Figure 4. The Burner Head and other stove components have been reinstalled on the Valve Body. Take care to avoid cross threading the Burner Assembly, and torque just snug enough to keep everything from coming loose.
Figure 5. The wind screen is sitting atop the heat shield. Note the binder clip, used to join the opposing ends of the wind screen and retain the appropriate circumference for the pot being used. You will want about a 1/2" gap around the pot separating it from the wind screen. If the fit is too close, the foil may melt, or cause the flame to burn inefficiently. If the gap is wider, the wind screen becomes less effective at shielding the wind.
Ed
