Jetboil Dremel job and Soto

[snowcamoman]

I used Luke's tutorial on the SOTO and Jetboil cup idea and went even a bit further. I really like how well this setup packs and also how efficient it is. The SOTO supports fit very nicely up into the Jetboil fins and it's easy to remove and line-up. Hardly any heat gets up the sides of the Jetboil cup when the SOTO is on 1/2 to 3/4 power and boil time with my cold (didn't test temp) well water was right around 1 min 20 seconds or so at between 1/2 to 3/4 power. Love this little SOTO though, very well built and light. The fins are surprisingly tough and shouldn't bend in a pack unless they are hit pretty hard with something.

I put a simple Rubbermaid type cover over the exposed fins to keep it from cutting anything in my pack. I'll likely make up a different bag with thicker material on the bottom of the thin bag, but not sure yet. I like the thin nylon cover since it doubles as a water pre-filter if I encounter water with debris in it.

[/URL]

[/URL]

[/URL]

[/URL]

 

[Highcountry_Hellrazor]

Nice work

 

[hammer0419]

Very nice work.

 

[snowcamoman]

Thanks.
I've seen on BPL site where another guy milled off the 4 spot welded areas and removed that entire lower frame. I'm going to work on that soon as well and likely cut the cup down to 550mL and roll the top lip like a factory edge. This is the aluminum cup model and I've read a couple sites where guys have had the Titanium one's go into meltdown on the aluminum flux ring. I'm wondering if running the SOTO would potentially cause such an issue, since it's putting a lot more heat onto those fins that the Jetboil burner is? I've only heard of or seen the melting flux ring on the Titanium cup though, so likely not an issue with the same material aluminum models. I have a carbon fiber lid on the way too for this thing to get it even lighter. It's fun trying to shed more and more weight.

 

[mtnclimber]

About 1/4 of the fins on the base of my cup have burned off, but thats been after 3 years of use. Its the TI model

 

[snowcamoman]

Is that with a SOTO type setup mtnclimber? I have an old, original Jetboil and the stock burner never did anything to those fins. I'm not sure why they wouldn't burn off on the aluminum cup model, but only hear about it on the Titanium one's?

 

[hammer0419]

The Ti model seems to be a huge waste of money considering it falls apart so fast. I had the Al model and never had an issue with it. Only stopped using it for the msr reactor.

 

[mtnclimber]

Yep thats with the soto setup.

Definitely not a waste of money for me, i bought the cup because its lightweight, doesn't really bother me that some fins have fallen of, just adds character

 

[jm1607]

Could u still run the plastic cap over the fins if you wanted to? Or did you cut off the part that holds it on?

 

[snowcamoman]

I think the cup will still slip on there. I'll give it a try tonight. I messed up on this cup last night. I snipped the metal off of that lower ring and was bending it off when one of the spot welds accidentally pulled off and left a hole in my cup....So I'm off to go find a Titanium model to Frankenstein. I'll probably just leave that lower ring/lip on it though and not mess around with trying to take it off. The cup going back on will give me good protection of those fins and also a small camp cup for coffee or whatever.

 

[jm1607]

Ya, I'm thinking about dremeling mine right where you did and running the factory cap.. Want to make sure those fins are protected! If you don't mind, let me know if it does slip on and stay on nice and tight when you check later.. No hurry, it will probably be a week or so till I can get to mine..

 

[Ray]

I fully understand DIY gear modifications as I like to make stuff from scratch often or repurpose stuff. However, with the Olicamp XTS and Fire Maple FMC-xk6 pots out there why cut up a jetboil pot if you are not going to keep using it on a jetboil stove?

Granted the jetboil can be had in Ti and the others are only Al, but the other two pots are designed to be used on top of a stove without modification. The jetboil pots do have a bunch of whiz-bang stuff about them, most of which just adds weight.

The Olicamp has been reviewed on rokslide before in 2013. There are several other reviews of the XTS around the web as well.

 

[snowcamoman]

jm1607,
The lower cup/cap still fits onto the jetboil after the modifications.

Ray,
I'm looking for less volume almost as much as less weight. The jetboil when cut down to a 600 or 700mL size will save me weight and volume. I have another couple Jetboils, so it's not a huge deal to modify a cup I purchased exclusively for use with a Soto or similar type stove. I weighed my Jetboil with stove and spoon in it and it's right at 6 oz. I took off the neoprene cozy. I think for a solo hunt, the Jetboil mod is about as minimal as I'm going to go. Those other two pots you posted look nice though, very similar to the Optimus Terra HE type pots. The Jetboil mods surely don't leave any of the factory whiz-bang items on the cup after I'm done with it. Simplicity and function is the name of the game for me...and reliability.

 

[jm1607]

I fully understand DIY gear modifications as I like to make stuff from scratch often or repurpose stuff. However, with the Olicamp XTS and Fire Maple FMC-xk6 pots out there why cut up a jetboil pot if you are not going to keep using it on a jetboil stove?

Granted the jetboil can be had in Ti and the others are only Al, but the other two pots are designed to be used on top of a stove without modification. The jetboil pots do have a bunch of whiz-bang stuff about them, most of which just adds weight.

The Olicamp has been reviewed on rokslide before in 2013. There are several other reviews of the XTS around the web as well.

Because it's fun!

But seriously, I'm kind of leaning your direction personally.. Instead of hacking my jetboil I think I decided last night to just get an Olicamp.. I think hacking down a jetboil you can definitely save a little weight. An unhacked jetboil ti pot I think weighs .5 oz less than the 2 stoves you mentioned (probably because the capacity is .2 liters less) and that's before taking a dremel to the jetboil.. So overall I think you can probably save 2-3 oz or so when you're all done??

 

[jm1607]

jm1607,
The lower cup/cap still fits onto the jetboil after the modifications.

Thanks man!

 

[snowcamoman]

jm1607,
I'm wondering if Jetboil weights are including all of the "extra" stuff on that cup (Neoprene cover, top lid, bottom cup)? The top lid is going away on mine and getting replaced with a 0.28oz Rota Locura carbon fiber lid. The stock jetboil lid is showing around 1 oz on my scale, so there are definitely a few other weight saving options on the jetboil. I wish there was a way to just buy the stripped down jetboil cup, but not so. If OliCamp made a 600mL type pot with that heat exchanger, I'd probably look seriously at that option.

 

[jm1607]

jm1607,
I'm wondering if Jetboil weights are including all of the "extra" stuff on that cup (Neoprene cover, top lid, bottom cup)? The top lid is going away on mine and getting replaced with a 0.28oz Rota Locura carbon fiber lid. The stock jetboil lid is showing around 1 oz on my scale, so there are definitely a few other weight saving options on the jetboil. I wish there was a way to just buy the stripped down jetboil cup, but not so. If Olicamp made a 600mL type pot with that heat exchanger, I'd probably look seriously at that option.

I ordered an Olicamp this morning for kicks since it is so cheap.. Whenever it comes in I'm going to start playing with it and the jetboil on the scale and make a decision if I'm going to hack on the jetboil or not.. What I like about the Olicamp is that you don't have to have a plastic cap on the bottom to protect the fins, just seems easier.. But of course with that comes a little extra weight from the metal.. I think I would sacrifice half an ounce for that, if that's what the difference really is.. I'm not sure how they measure the weight on the bare jetboil cup and if the cap/accessories are included, just going to have to check it out for myself!

I like those carbon lids! Which one fits the jetboil? I wonder if one will fit the Olicamp?

 

[snowcamoman]

Let me know how the Olicamp works out. I picked up the #2 lid. The ID of the jetboil should fit that #2 just fine I believe. I'll post up some pictures when it arrives. Those jetboil fins would have to take a pretty tough hit to get damaged bad enough to not work. I tested my damaged aluminum cup and it took quite a bit of prying to actually make it break free. I'm more concerned with the sharp edge cutting something else in the pack, so I'll likely put the cup, or make something super light to cover those sharp edges. It'd be nice if Rota Locura made a small carbon cup to put on there.

 

[charvey9]

Doh! Just when you think you've got your cooking system all figured out, someone comes up with an idea to make it lighter! Shaving weight is an addiction. I took the drill to the plastic bottom cap of my jetboil to shave weight. As a bonus, it can also be used as a strainer.

 

[snowcamoman]

Nice idea on putting holes in that cup. I'm very likely going to just find a really light plastic cover like the one in my pictures over those fins. My strainer is that mesh nylon over the bag...works pretty good for pouring water into a Platypus too and weighs hardly anything.....well...my scale doesn't register it as weight anyways.