gunnix I don´t use tricks, potatoes have to be cut in (smaller) pieces. Makes sure the insulation of your pot cozy works well, avoid a tight fit of the pot in the cozy. Preheat the pot. The rest is training .....
Pan on top of a working KK: all you need is a pot holder (you could do it the Finnish way: put a long handle to your pan like on a small Muurrikka
www.muurikka.com ).
Both ways (the Thermette style "ring" and the Malley´s "cross") it works fine. All you have to keep in mind is to make the exhaust ports big enough to allow the exhaust fumes to escape freely. I did not use a Thermette "ring" or a Malley´s "cross" - all I did was a tiny little bit of thinking
about the way it works
and to fabricate my own system
.
Aluminum doesn´t last very long - get stainless steel.
A piece of sheet, drill enough holes and connect it with sheet metal screws or pop rivetts (st/st also) gives you the ring, two flat pieces make a cross.
Of course there might be lots other ways, think about stainless steel wire (bicycle spokes), look at
www.brasslite.com etc.pp.