I have had several PMs regarding the Reflectix pot cozies that I've made for my BPL SUL pots. While eating from my pot I have noticed that the sides of the cozy are warm. It occurred to me that I might lengthen the sides of the top to provide a double layer, increasing the efficiency.

I decided to make a new lid for my Firelite SUL1100 cozy and take photos of the process. Making the cozy body uses the same process, so you can see how it's done.


Firelite SUL1100 with original, short lid, cozy.


SUL1100 and original cozy bottom.


Reflectix and required tools.


Measure cozy sidewall and allow for thickness of top.


Use straightedge to mark cut line.


Roll Reflectix around pot/cozy and mark for cutting length.


Place Reflectix Tape allowing 1/2 tape width for join.


Next, tape inside of joint.


With cozy body on pot, mark cut line for top.


With cozy on pot, slide lid on, leaving lip for thickness of top.


Place strip of Reflectix Tape around perimeter of cozy, leaving 1/2 of tape strip exposed.


Notch exposed edge of tape.


Pull tape tabs over and fasten to top piece.


You now have a Reflectix pot cozy.


I found that I had to trim the sides of the lid up about a half inch to allow for gripping the bottom, in order to remove to lid.

I weighed the cozy bottom and, just constructed, lid for the SUL1100, it was 1.37 ounces. Smaller pots will have lighter cozies. In comparison, Sara Kirconnell's pint sized cozy weighed 1.27 ounces.

I hope this thread will inspire those teetering on the edge, to get out there and MYOG. It's fun and you'll have fellow backpackers asking where you got that cool stuff.

Edited by redleader on 12/24/2008 13:16:47 MST.

Denis, thank you for the excellent and simple tutorial. I just finished mine and I'm quite happy with how it fits.

As shown below, I gave my lid a shorter skirt, because I want to try using the lid as a pot parka on a super cat stove.

Is there any reason to put holes in the lid for steam to escape?

Chris,

This is the first response I've had to the "Cozy" thread. Good job!

As to the steam hole: I'd leave it out. Escaping steam lowers the pressure and causes a temperature drop. Probably not measurable in our case but there non the less. If your pot lid fits so snugly that it blows off when the pot boils, a hole in the pot lid might be the answer.

Cheers-

Denis

I just noticed your pot has a pouring lip and doesn't seal at all. Ignore the potlid hole comments. I wouldn't vent the cozy at all. I'd put the lid on when done with the fire and let it soak.

Both of you did a great job. I've made several cozies over the years and even keep oe at my desk at work for cup o' soup and another for my water bottle when I want to keep it cold.

Thanks for sharing.

It seems at times that this community over-complexifies design elements in the pursuit of unstated goals.
Usually, the simplest, lightest solutions that actually get used are the best. And most can be done at home.
I've used reflectix for :
- cozies
- stove base (with a small circle of ptfe cookie sheet for the place where the stove is placed to avoid melting)
- combination cozy and windscreen (with cookie sheet in the areas the flame can hit)
- pot holder/cozy
Since manufacturers can't sell us something so obviously simple and cost effective that we could do it at home, we DIYourSelfers tend to think that the solutions we provide are technically inadequate, when they are most likely the most appropriate solutions.
Let's continue to innovate ;) appropriately
Tim

Edited by tim@bikeswitzerland.com on 02/16/2013 07:00:25 MST.

I do this stuff for fun and entertainment. Ergo: everything is appropriate.

Thanks for posting your process - very interesting how you do the tape.

One of things I sometimes do to the edges is seal them closed with some heat instead of using tape. I use the flame from a lighter to heat the bubble between the reflective layers then squeeze it closed. You can get a very clean line this way.



One example where I have used this is a cozy for a Glad twist-lock container used as a cup: the cozy edge fits snuggly at the top.

Edited by Ochocoman on 02/17/2013 22:14:11 MST.

Denis,

I think Tim was being complimentary...

The only comment I'd make on your instructions compared to the way I did it was to note that you cut triangles out of the tape that hold the base/lid circles in place.

I simply cut down to the centre of the tape, and overlapped the resulting tape tabs.

Yours will be marginally lighter... ;-)

I think a halfway house is probably optimal; cut a V-shaped piece out between each tab so that the edges of the tabs meet perfectly when folded down. The width of the tab and the V-piece could be calculated from the radii of the cosy and width of folded tape. Now I'm making things overly complicated...

Edited by captain_paranoia on 02/18/2013 11:34:05 MST.

I think I cut triangles cause it's what I see in the mirror every morning while shaving.

I wish I'd seen this thread before I built my cozy. I ended up using >dozen 1" tabs of tape to put the top and bottom on. It would have been easier and lighter to use what you've shown here. Well done sir.

COOL!

I'm a "Freezer Bag" cooker so I use a Velcro-closing fleece bag cozy to hold teh freezer bags for my meals.

Your concept is great for those of the "pot cozy persuasion".

I've made freezer bag cozies with reflectix too. It works great. Food stays piping hot during the rest/rehydration time.