Return of the Aluminum Helmet

FortyTwoBlades

FortyTwoBlades

Baryonyx walkeri
Dealer / Materials Provider
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
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Actually managed to have today off and figured I'd take the opportunity to try my hand at cooking in my aluminum hardhat like I've been talking about doing. It actually worked quite well!

Worn as normal:
AluminumHelmetCooking001.jpg


(please forgive incomplete post to start off. Hit a wrong button)
 
Prepping the fire in order to employ the helmet as-is without any added handle, I began by laying three large-ish stones in a triangular configuration and then built the fire as normal. I wore the hat in direct sunlight during the process to see if it would get hot in the sun. In spite of wearing it around for about an hour in direct sunlight, it remained cool to the touch.

AluminumHelmetCooking011.jpg


After the fire was going decently enough I removed the liner from the hat and filled it with water.

AluminumHelmetCooking041.jpg


I then braced some short logs in between the triangle of stones, with a supporting stone on the outside of each. This made it so that every log was supported by three stones. The hat was suspended nicely this way.

AluminumHelmetCooking051.jpg
 
Another fun shot of the fire and supports.

AluminumHelmetCooking053.jpg


After only a few minutes I was able to get a nice rolling boil going! It's worth mentioning that the hat holds a TON of water, hence why I only filled it halfway.

AluminumHelmetCooking058.jpg


Cooking time!

AluminumHelmetCooking062.jpg


I stirred the noodles with my RC-6. :D

AluminumHelmetCooking063.jpg


After it was done cooking, I used a couple of sticks under the brim to lift it from the fire and set it gently on the ground to cool for a few seconds. The brim was safe to the touch after only about a minute.

AluminumHelmetCooking065.jpg


Mmmm....delicious ramen! :D

AluminumHelmetCooking066.jpg


All in all, mission accomplished!

AluminumHelmetCooking067.jpg


The only things I might do differently next time is apply soap to the brim of the hat in addition to what I applied to the main bucket part. The soot wiped right off where the soap was, but I had to Metal-Glo the brim to get it pristine again. Either that or I'll carry some folded foil to wrap the thing with whilst it's over the flames. My next project will be making a sturdy wire handle that can store in the helmet while worn. ;)

With regards to the concerns people had about heat I'm not too surprised that it stayed cool even after an hour or so constantly in the sun--it's thin aluminum and the shape is open. I can figure how people's tool boxes could heat up badly though--they're a closed object so the air inside is naturally going to warm rapidly.

I may not end up being the most fashionable gentleman in the woods, but I've found a new multi-functional piece of gear, and I'm damn well pleased!
 
Lol, its a great idea, but I couldn't picture myself running into ppl wearing that thing on the trail. ppl would think I'm trying to keep UFOs from reading my brainwaves :D
 
I dunno. I think I'd rather just carry a pot. You could use it as a hat too, if you really felt like it.
 
LOL, I don't buddy, just seems a little odd to me. I'd rather drill a small hole in a MSR Bowl and pop a carabina through it so it can fasten to my trousers( unless I have a pack of some kind when it would then go in that !).
 
Ah, but I can use it as a wash basin as well as for cooking, and it keeps the sun out of my eyes! I can't stand having stuff flopping around, and even nesting cookware tends to take up a decent chunk of space in a pack. Plus it's one less thing on my shoulders! The pictures honestly don't do justice to the shear volume of water that this thing can hold. I could cook for two easily and have room for more.

Again, I realize this is something a lot of folks seem to be be laughing at, but the fact of the matter is that it works and works well. Hopefully this shows that. Once I make a wire handle for it, it'll even be able to be suspended over a fire Nessmuk-style. And I don't terribly care what other folks on the trail think of the way I look--if anything it'll make sure they set up camp a good distance away from me. I go to the woods to get away from people. ;)
 
Thing is, if I were your hiking partner, I'd be plinging your head with acorns all day. I just couldn't help myself. Pling, pling, pling. Eventually you'd take it off :D
 
That's why I plan on making a cloth cover for it! :D

Any excuse for a DIY project, I guess. ;)
 
I don't care what anybody says, I think it's a dang good idea:thumbup: I would prefer one that's got a more modern suspension system (the thoughts of running into something hard with those knobs that close to my skull scares me:D), but other than that I really like it! Well done, both on the creativity and the application:thumbup:
 
Actually, I'm quite glad that it has the system it does--it made it really easy to make my own suspension with paracord!

CIMG7633.jpg


Surprisingly comfy, and the minimalistic design maximizes the ability for air to circulate and keep my noggin' cool. :)
 
Now here is a guy who thinks out of the box.

Excellent idea!

A side benefit is that the wearer could use it as a weapon, like Oddjob in the movie Goldfinger. If it was heated before being thrown it could decapitate someone AND cauterize the wound!
 
I actually have tomorrow off as well...any requests for something for me to try cooking in it? :D
 
Hmm...can't really do a roast (don't have one in the fridge you see) but maybe I'll attempt some kind of stir-fry. :D
 
That is a pretty sweet setup. Now you just need to come up with a strainer you can stow inside of it to make spaghetti on the trail.
 
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