XGK Stove Block Q

[Coldfinger]

Howdy everybody,

 

Just picked up a mint XGK II, MSR was so kind as to upgrade it to shakerjet and the unipiece pot supports, but was wondering what people use (other than the trilium stove base) as a stove block to keep it from melting a hole in the tent floor.

 

Wood? What works best for you?

 

Thanks!

[DPS]

I use a piece of 3/8" OSB (Oriented Strand Board) with 1/2" holes drilled to reduce weight as a stove base, although I have never used it inside the tent (inside vestibule yes) so I can't vouch that it won't melt your tent floor. It will keep it from melting into the snow though.

[genepires]

spending money and gear is SO west coast. Everyone should sleep in a walmart pup tent and have a little fire from twigs burning inside. I use a target black iron skillet as a stove board which doubles as protection from bears. Why doesn't everyone agree with me?

[Coldfinger]

Yeah it's a little early for this but sure I AGREE, though I prefer KMart or Target to Walmart since I am neither an RV owner nor a mental patient or wandering senior needing exercise.

 

Just wondering whether you got that cat in there to keep you warm if there are no twigs and if that's how it got so bugeyed. Do you have any pan seasoning tips in the Bacon forum, do bears like bacon? Pretty sure they don't care for cats tho.

 

Can I please have my stove tip now?

[John Frieh]

Cut a piece of cardboard to the desired size. Wrap it in HVAC foil tape (the shiney metal stuff). The first time you use it the glue will melt and give off a funny smell but after that no issues.

[Coldfinger]

Thanks John! I love gluey goodness.

[ketch]

I use a piece of 1/8th plywood cut big enough for the fuel bottle and the stove. Then staple the foil base from the wind screen with a heavy paper stapler. Stores flat against the frame sheet in yur pack and almost as light as John cardboard.

[OlympicMtnBoy]

I've used both the OSB and thin plywood methods with good success. Then I got a trillium base for like $6 when Outdoor and More was going out of business. It is kind of nice if your board is big enough to rest the fuel bottle on too though, saves some of the constant snow rearranging.

[genepires]

a cheap way to keep the floor safe is to use the round metal reflector that came with the stove ontop of some sleeping foam pad. Wouldn't do it on top of a pricey thermarest.

 

cooking in a tent is a desperate situation though. Too much CO and you will be back in walmart, acting like the RV owners, mental patients and elderly needing assistance.

 

wouldn't it be cool if tents came with a little flap (2ft by 2ft) that one could pull back and cook on the ground?

[Coldfinger]

To be fair I should have mentioned the XGK is an older version, round base not legs like the new Megatron version, so contact with the ground or my tent is an issue, rescued it from a gear shop for $70, even got a special silver 25th anniversary fuel bottle.

 

Yeah I've tried that foil and also a Trilium stove base on top of a piece of sleeping pad foam and the foam melted to both with an XGK, even remember using a tent with that very hole in the floor and zipper, haven't seen that in about twenty years, seemed like overkill like those old snow tunnel entrances you'd see circa 1985.

 

I cook in tents all the time, it's a piece of cake, I just use adequate ventilation. I've even done it with an XGK, just figured with all the clever people out there somebody has a nice trick. I quite often use a book with a cartridge stove and that very piece of round ground MSR foil and the aforementioned foam or book with the white gas.

 

John seems to be the winner, and in third place.....

Edited September 10, 2010 by Coldfinger

[Coldfinger]

Yeah the trillium is nice outside but I've found it gets hot enough with an old XGK (what I got) to melt a piece of pad foam to it, don't want to try that with the tent floor. Thanks tho. Looking for a less bulky way.

Edited September 10, 2010 by Coldfinger

[John Frieh]

You might want to do a double layer of cardboard... wont add much weight and will add a little more piece of mind. You could also sandwich a piece of tin foil in between the two pieces of cardboard before taping the entire thing together.

[Coldfinger]

Thanks John, might use that tape with the foam piece I have and cardboard.

[John Frieh]

I'd test run it on something similar (cheap blue tarp?) before risking the floor of your tent... the melting point of that foam could be questionable. Then again we're all secretly middle age overweight poseurs with overpriced tents so shit who cares?

[Coldfinger]

Naw man I'm in shape and out in the open (but never in the closet)! I tend to go solo in winter so little savings in mass and weight are important as it truly is my ass in that sling. Used an MSR Denali snowshoe for years as a stove base (it was great) but don't have that anymore (need more floatation here). Thanks and keep in touch if you'll be around anytime soon.

[olyclimber]

test using a walmart puptent

[Coldfinger]

I'm surprised some knucklehead hasn't suggested testing with a Koran.....

[DanielHarro]

Old license plate cut to fit.