Hybrid blower stove with rocks placed beside the exhaust port to provide support for a second pot. The nearest rock also acts to keep the hot gas and flame away from the blower fan/battery unit under windy conditions (as does the 'wing wall' in a formal double pot blower stoves).

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Introduction A hybrid double pot blower stoves is described where a single pot stove is supplemented with suitable rocks to form a hybrid double pot blower stove that can simultaneously simmer a second pot while boiling the first pot. Introduction In my range of blower stoves, I have double potRead More →

Lightest USB backpacking stove gently simmering a pot of water in the second pot over a hole blower stove

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This article describes the lightest wood stove that can burn damp wood sticks and simultaneously cook in two pots. The small blower unit and battery (~75g) is all that needs to be carried to provide 2-3 hours/battery or more cooking time for two pots. The blower unit also doubles as a tool for rapidly starting camp fires under difficult conditions.Read More →

DIY rapid set cement used to make a strong fill for a welding tool

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This post is about how I use a simple DIY sodium silicate to make DIY rapid set cement (~1.5h) without having the mortar ‘go off’ before it can be placed in the mold. Introduction I use portland cement/sand mortar as a filler for many of my projects. It is; simple,Read More →

Lightest backpacking stove. A two pot blower stove formed in a small trench cut into the ground.

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This article describes the lightest wood stove that can burn damp wood sticks and simultaneously cook in two pots. The small blower unit and battery (~75g) is all that needs to be carried to provide 2-3 hours/battery or more cooking time for two pots. The blower unit also doubles as a tool for rapidly starting camp fires under difficult conditions.Read More →

Releasing a stubborn twist cap with steam from a coffee machine.

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Stubborn screw cap release This post describes the use of steam from a coffee maker to rapidly release stubborn screw cap jar lids from home-preserved foods. Introduction to the screw cap release problem If you use ‘used screw cap jars’ to preserve fruit, jams, jellies, soups and pickles you mayRead More →

A DIY sanding cone made with wooden turned cone with a 9mm dia spindle threaded and glued into it. It is covered with discarded quality cloth backed belt sander abrasive (it appears to be aluminium oxide grit).

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This is a list of DIY hand tools that I use for tinkering with making my ultralight stoves and related small projects. I will add to the list as I bump into these old workshop friends. Introduction “A good tool makes the difficult easy and the impossible possible”– Mothy theRead More →

Ultralight and compact pancake spatula for ultralight backpacking.

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Ultralight pancake spatula A compact ultralight pancake spatula is described for pancake and egg cooking while ultralight backpacking. I enjoy ultralight backpacking (walking or skiing) and I also like pancakes and lime syrup for supper. They are a simple, compact fun food to finish a meal and share with othersRead More →

Toothpaste tubes connected together ready for quick, clean and efficient transfer of toothpaste in appropriate quantities for ultralight backpacking.

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Toothpaste tube filling- for ultralight backpacking A simple method for toothpaste tube filling from a large one to a small one. It is a handy trick for ultralight backpacking. Background to toothpaste tube filling I begrudge purchasing expensive small tubes of toothpaste for ultralight backpacking. “Yes, some people call meRead More →

Example of glueing different silnylons to each other. The orange patch of silnylon is effectively glued onto a silnylon dry bag using acetic cure silicone rubber. The dry bag has subsequently survived many outdoor adventures without the patch breaking down.

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Silnylon glueing Glueing, laminating and seam sealing of silnylon with acetic cure silicone rubber for DIY ultralight backpacking projects are discussed. This is an early post about only silnylon glueing and there is a later post about many other more general RTV silicone rubber glueing ideas and projects including cotton fabric.Read More →