Problem:
MSR Titan Kettle Lid, has that rubberized red coating on the lid holder to protect from burning your fingertips, however the lid holder does not stay upright, resulting in still having to touch the hot lid briefly before you grip the lid holder. This is a common complaint on the reviews. Also when the lid holder is upright, you can handle the lid with gloves on, instead of relying on fine fingernails.

Idea:
a simple non-invasive, non-mod tweak to the MSR Titan Kettle Lid Holder.
Photo #1: Floppy lid holder
Photo #2: Wooden toothpick, snapped in half, smoothing out the splinters.
Photo #3: hold upright the lid holder, and *GENTLY* slide the *tips* of the two half toothpicks on each side of the base. there is enough clearance to slide, don't push, don't force. Don't push the whole thing, barely less than a quarter inch. It doesn't need to resist a hurricane force. Be gentle, or you will ruin your lid.
Photo #4: toothpicks in, lid holder up. No burned finger tips.

The two half toothpicks weigh so little, they didn't register on my food scale.

In the field you can improvise with a pine needle, or a thin twig.

Edited by RogerDodger on 03/03/2013 12:34:43 MST.

Looks like a candidate for the "Macgyver Moment" thread!

Edited by dwambaugh on 03/03/2013 12:48:53 MST.

Another way to hold the handle up just a bit is to use 1-2" of insulated copper wire, maybe something around 24 gauge.

Wrap the copper wire around the handle very tightly, getting it as close to one end of the handle as possible. The thickness of the insulation will keep the handle from contact on the lid surface.

--B.G.--

Edited by --B.G.-- on 03/03/2013 13:03:56 MST.

I find it will stay upright if I slide the handle back into the notch that is cut into the staple attaching the handle to the pot - a design feature I believe aimed at accomplishing this very task). If this doesn't work try extending the notch.

The bottom row of pics show the bracket which holds the handle onto the lid.
At the left side of this bracket there is a small notch.
Slide the upright handle to the right and the notch will hold the handle upright.
Works very well for me.

Cheers
PS: also noted by Mark.

Edited by rcaffin on 03/03/2013 15:23:20 MST.

Ah yes the notch :)

When my pot starts to boil, the vibrations loosened the handle out of the upright notch.

I played around with the lid some more, if I press the handle firmly into the notch, it would stay upright. I was treating the Ti pot delicately and didn't think of pushing it firmly.

Good feedback, thank you everyone.

I just grab a small stick in the woods and prop it up so I can grab it.