Trangia Burner Pot Support and Stabilizer

I really like the Trangia Spirit Alcohol Burner for short day hikes as it carries alcohol in the stove, so I don't have to carry extra alcohol. It allows me to make a couple of cups of coffee and takes up very little space. But in order to use it with a small pot or mug, you need to set up some type of contraption to hold the mug or cup above the stove, or buy one of the commercially available stove stand. I wanted something that would be light, small, and easy to carry along with the stove. Basically I wanted a "Pot Support" and some type of "Stabilizer" to make the base more stable.

For those unfamiliar with the Trangia Spirit Alcohol Burner, this is a picture of one.

FIRST A LITTLE HISTORY

Years ago, I wanted to make a small pot support for a Nuwick 44 hour candle so I could carry it in my suitcase on a plane, and have to ability to make a quick cup of coffee in the event the electric in my hotel room was off when I got up, which had happened on various occasions. I used what I call the "X" method to make a support, as it will come apart and lay flat when not in use. Here are some photos of the "X" support I made for the Nuwick 44 hour candle.

This is the "X" pot support I made years ago for the Nuwick 44 hour candle.

This is the "X" pot support for the Nuwick 44 hour candle out together.

And this shows the "X" pot support on the Nuwick 44 hour candle.

Now that I had a plan for a pot support I needed a stabilizer. I had also used the "X" design years ago to make a stabilizer for a gas canister for my Snow Peak Stove. When not in use it could come apart and lay flat for storage. I felt this design, with various modifications could also be used on the Trangia burner. Here are some photos of that stabilizer.

This is a stabilizer unit I designed about 15 years ago for a Snow Peak gas canister.
I used the "X" method so it could come apart and lay flat for storage.

This shows the stabilizer unit put together by simply sliding the center grooves of the two together.

For particular stabilizer I had to design one end that would lift in order for the gas canister to slide
into the three notches on the other three ends. The latch would lift allowing the canister to slide
into place, and then close locking the canister in place.

This shows how the rim of the gas canister is held by the slots at the ends of the stabilizer.

This shows the completed stabilizer with a gas canister and stove in place. You can see the locking
latch at the left side of the photo.

SO MUCH FOR HISTORY - BACK TO THE TRANGIA BURNER

I felt, if the "X" method worked for this type of stabilizer, with various modifications for the Trangia burner, it should work. After taking various measurements, I was ready to make a drawing so I could make a template. I'm just a country boy and don't have all that fancy "CAD" software, so I started where I usually do... with my old drafting board and t-square.

The old drafting equipment was brought out as it has been for over 40 years.

Drawings were made on an old file folder.

Templates were cut out and ready for transfer to some aluminum stock I had laying around.

The template was transferred to aluminum stock and center punches made for drilling.

After the templates were transferred to aluminum stock I began the prototyping using my normal human milling machine which consists of a hack saw, a lot of files of various sizes, with the assistance of an old drill press. Time consuming, but gives you an opportunity to work with your hands and provides a lot of satisfaction.

The pot support completed... not pretty but functional.

The pot supports put together and ready to try out.

Stabilizer completed and ready to put together.

Stabilizer put together and ready to try out.

The Trangia burner setting in the stabilizer unit.

The Stabilizer and Pot Support on the Trangia Burner... Ready to test!

The Trangia alcohol burner is fired up for the test.

The Trangia burner with the Pot Support holding a pot of water.

The Stabilizer & Pot Support working just fine for an independent use of the Trangia burner.

Well that's it... just another day making my own gear for my needs. Try out prototyping your own equipment. It works well for those situations where you want a specific type of device and it provides you with a lot of self gratification!

One of my step sons, Oliver Doggart, was visiting and he is an engineer. I asked if he could provide me with some CAD drawings and he said, "No problem." So, if you would like to make your own stove stand or pot stand, here are some CAD Drawings for you to use.

We hope you enjoyed this article and will help support our efforts by checking out our products. As always, Be Prepared To Survive!

Copyright © 2012 by John D. McCann