Making a Cone using Captain Paranoias Cone Potstand Tool on Zenstoves.net - busting the myth?

WilliamC

Thru Hiker
It works for me with a piece of hardboard on top of a hard surface (tile) underneath the ti. You do get some puckering around the hole.
 

Padstowe

Thru Hiker
This isn't a problem with the code generator, couldn't get the ps2pdf site to work for me more of a problem.
I went to make some more templates, not only has the ps2pdf site had a face lift but when I try to use it (drag file, click convert then download file) it just ends up telling me they was an error converting the file & please let support know.
Is this just me doing something wrong, or problem with the site?
If the second, can anyone tell me another site to use?
Cheers!
Edit: In the end I downloaded Ghostscript 9.23 & Ghostview. No way near as hard to use as I imagined it would be, opened ps file I had saved from notepad in ghostview & there's the pdf to save for printing.
 
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captain paranoia

Summit Camper
If you have PDFCreator installed as a means of printing documents from applications, then you can get it to convert PostScript files to PDF. Right click on the .ps file, and select 'convert to PDF'.

Adobe Acrobat (not Reader) will do the same.

Or, as Padstowe found, installing Ghostscript and the GhostView front end really isn't hard to do, or to use.

You can check the print scaling by checking that the multi-page alignment crosses are 50mm apart. If they are not, check that you have the 'print full size' option selected in Acrobat or the printer dialogue. Do not select any option that suggests shrinking or fitting to the page. Finally, some printers are just poor at printing 1:1, due to mechanical tolerances moving the paper, so it's usually a problem in the vertical paper feed axis.
 
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craige

Thru Hiker
Does anyone happen to have the calcs saved for a toaks 900 saved that they could send me? I have access to a printer for a few hours atm.
 

tom

Thru Hiker
The alu of my (small) cone is getting a bit tired and I've been looking at Ti foil/sheets for a replacement but can't get my head around the various Ti grades and thicknesses. Any recommendations? I don't want anything too flimsy for the sake of a few gram but robust enough for frequent and occasionally rough use ...
 

EM - paul

Thru Hiker
The alu of my (small) cone is getting a bit tired and I've been looking at Ti foil/sheets for a replacement but can't get my head around the various Ti grades and thicknesses. Any recommendations? I don't want anything too flimsy for the sake of a few gram but robust enough for frequent and occasionally rough use ...

Ive always found the best thickness to be 0.05" which is most commonly available from titanium stove makers as its used to form the roll up flu. GR2 or GR5.

GR2 is pure and will maintain more of an aesthetic than GR5 once exposed to heat and is marginally lighter but it makes little difference in practice.
 
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cathyjc

Thru Hiker
The alu of my (small) cone is getting a bit tired and I've been looking at Ti foil/sheets for a replacement but can't get my head around the various Ti grades and thicknesses. Any recommendations? I don't want anything too flimsy for the sake of a few gram but robust enough for frequent and occasionally rough use ...

This stuff - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Big-roll-Titanium-Foil-39-4-inch-sheet-Plate-titane-thickness-0-12mm/223475200597?

I've used various different Titanium foils for making cones (- from US, Canada, China) and the above is the one I prefer - nice balance of weight : durability : ease of working.
My cones have been going for years and I don't expect to have to ever replace them. Alu cones are :thumbsdown: IMHO.
Only down side is the width at 200mm (narrowish). But no import fees :thumbsup:
If there is any chance you might make more than one cone then double the quantity (=x3 cones worth).

PS I've always had good service from the seller too.
 

tom

Thru Hiker
This stuff - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Big-roll-Titanium-Foil-39-4-inch-sheet-Plate-titane-thickness-0-12mm/223475200597?

I've used various different Titanium foils for making cones (- from US, Canada, China) and the above is the one I prefer - nice balance of weight : durability : ease of working.
My cones have been going for years and I don't expect to have to ever replace them. Alu cones are :thumbsdown: IMHO.
Only down side is the width at 200mm (narrowish). But no import fees :thumbsup:
If there is any chance you might make more than one cone then double the quantity (=x3 cones worth).

PS I've always had good service from the seller too.

The sheet is actually a good size for 2 small cones... :)
 

Padstowe

Thru Hiker
Am I right in thinking aluminium flashing has a coating that needs sanding off?

Cheers
Mines did. You can leave it & the heat will get rid of it after a few uses, but will have a smell when doing so & stain/discolour the alu.
edit: the above post wasn't there when I posted, it would be a bit toxic. Best not do it in enclosed area's, or better to sand it.
 
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el manana

Thru Hiker
There seems to be misconceptions about the difficulty of using this tool, So I thought I'd write this thread as a help for the less confident. It's a little different (easier?) than the instructions on the site. Any glaring omissions/errors spotted by you folk who know, I'd appreciate input and will edit accordingly.

Kudos to Kevin (Captain P) for writing this tool, and gifting it to the world. Thanks are due. Also, to Trail Designs for popularising the idea of using a frustrum (truncated cone) for a pot support.

A friend (and recent TL member - Padowan) showed me last week how even easier it has become, and demonstrated the method. So credit due there. Despite what the tool suggests, there is no need to download any new software using the following method.

It's no more 'computery' than any general internet use - if you know how to cut/paste, save a document to somewhere on your pc, go to a website, browse your pc to upload the file, print a .pdf, then you can use this tool.

The last cone I made, I did the 'old' way as described on the Outdoors Magic Thread. Then, software needed to be downloaded. Since it's been on Zenstoves, it's become even easier, and if you use a file converter website, as about to be described, this method is even easier.


  1. Find the measurements you need from your pan/stove setup. i.e. Pan diameter, Pan height (or height of pot covered by cone), stove height, stove gap, handle height/position and handle gap width(s). These are your Primary Pot Variables and Stove Variables
  2. Open a new file in a plain text editing program (such as Notepad on a Windows PC - Found in ' Windows Accessories' or TextEdit on an Apple machine)
  3. Go to the Zen Stoves Page : http://zenstoves.net/PotStands-Conical.htm#MakingYourOwnCone and scroll down to the Captain Paranoias Potstand Tool.
  4. Enter the necessary numbers into the boxes. There are other variables - ignore or adjust as applicable. Don't panic, The pattern can be tweaked later before printing.Things will become apparent once you go through this process once, then after a while, it will become quick and easy.*
  5. Press the 'Create Code' Button
  6. From the text box below the 'Create Code Button', copy the code generated, and paste it into the plain text editing program, and then - this is important - save with .ps at the end of whatever you name it - e.g. cone.ps - save that file somewhere.
  7. Go to a .ps to .pdf converter site such as here: https://www.ps2pdf.com/convert.htm
  8. Choose the .ps file you just saved in Notepad (or TextEdit etc. ) from wherever it was saved to, and press convert.
  9. A .pdf file with all the cone features is generated, showing both the draughtsmans method overview and the pattern to make the cone. This can be checked over for accuracy of your intention, then you can redo the process if necessary, print straightaway, or save for later.
  10. I suggest printing the cone pattern, stick together as necessary, cut out, then assemble and offered to the pan. Any adjustments necessary or errors, will become apparent and the pattern tweaked back on Zen Stoves.
  11. I cut out my template slightly larger than the outline, then sellotape tape my patterns to the foil/flashing over the whole edge, and then cut out precisely. as Stormin suggests below, you could use glue instead - it stays stuck on then once cut out, for easier finishing.
  12. If you go for a Flissure design, you will need 2 printouts, and to cut top and bottom castellated joints accordingly. You'll work it out.
  13. When folding tabs, best to use a shim of spare foil to bend the tab fold around. If you have gone for a Flissure, use the appropriate thickness of shim for the number of layers that the tab needs to accomodate. Upper tab should fold to the outside to keep it further from the flame.
  14. For air holes I use a single hole paper punch.
*
NB: It's worth noting, that the figures already shown on the cone generator are those needed for a cone for an MSR Titan Kettle. The stove height is set at 32mm (maybe a soda can stove or Red Bull chimney?), so will need modifying - e.g. 20mm for a screwtop Speedster or 24mm for the current Starlyte.
If flissure is enabled a split cone pattern is produced. Recommended - as can store cone neatly nested in the pan.


Anyone who tries this, please don't be shy - let us know in this thread how you get on and if my instructions make sense!

Just an update if anyone has tried this recently, re:

7. Go to a .ps to .pdf converter site such as here: https://www.ps2pdf.com/convert.htm

I couldnt get this site to successfully convert the ps file to pdf. It only created the first Summary page and not multi page pdf. I dont think i was doing anything wrong.
If you have this issue then https://www.zamzar.com/ worked well (limits you to 2 conversions per day) or in the end i used Ghostscript which is easy but slightly technical so may put some off.

Thanks to @Padowan for advice when things werent working :thumbsup:

rps20191215_120952.jpg
 

Lloydy

Day Walker
Hi

I have measured out my pot, alpkit 650, but it seems to be a really sloppy fit around the top of the rim and the handles.

I reckon I've done something wrong, highly likely, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Photos of fit an dimensions
https://photos.app.goo.gl/A4Ptb5TKPBvRLRgY7

Edit: :banghead: can't figure out for the life of me how to attach my photos or my files

Edit2: think photos are working now.
 
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