How to make your own Crusader cup lid!
(the same way i did, the easy way!! )
my crusader cup lid made from an old mess tin lid, it's been in use constantly over the last 2 years! (it's been painted it's not soot!)
and another view of the lid (inside).
i tried making one with some thin steel that involved heating the metal and making creases and all sorts of more advanced techniques i can't do well(and didn't!
.
but the other option is to use aluminium, very easy to work, forgiving and lighter!
with the right tools it'll only take an hour or so!
and i shall tell you how i made mine:
This is how you do it!
1 crusader cup canteen(stainless steel would be better so you don't damage the Non-stick finish!!!)
1 find old cheep aluminium mess tin (not MoD shiney type).
1 pair tin snips, or hacksaw(tin snips are far easier on aluminium!)
1 rounded hammer(with a ball end)
an anvil or metal block to bash on, i suppose a smooth flat rock or concrete would work but not as well.
1 tin high temperature paint.
1 pencil
piece of A4 paper
metal file, or angle grinder ( be very carefull with angle grinders they are very powerful and are "Hospital ivitations" in the wrong hands! )
saftey goggles(metal will fly with a grinder!)
some saftey gloves (lots of sharp edges)
ear defenders (if useing machinery!)
1) use your mug as a template draw around the lip onto the paper, when done add 1/2" to 1" extra around the shape you've drawn. cut out the template!
2) mark out the template on your old mess tin, cut it out with the tin snips,leaving a few mm spare around it, keep the handle! (don't throw away the scrap metal you can use it for other projects!)
3) holding the cut metal firmly on your mug (you may need gloves) slowly tap it into shape the mug won't dent if you're careful, (i went to the trouble of making a wooden template but this way seems much easier!).
you may need to "work the metal" on a flat metal block a bit to get the top and sides perfectly flat.
4) with a ruler or steady hand mark around the new, lid lip so you know where to file down to, to make a straight edge, obviously goggles gloves :borgsmile and ear plugs if using machinery! file it down the edges(they will be sharp!) ,you now have a lid.
5) to make it easier to pick up when in use make 2 holes, in the lid, and either make a handle from the messtin handle like i did, or thread through some wire or even a piece of chain.
6) finally wash the lot and give it a couple of coats of heat resistant paint on the outside(it's potentially toxic
)
and in a few hours you will have a working crusader cup lid! for the price of an old mess tin! and some paint(make sure you don't paint the handles stuck! :aargh4: )
ok the paint, you don't really need to paint the lid, you could use the lid naked it would look good with a stainless mug! but remember it will eventually oxidise!!
I painted mine for 2 reasons 1 to match the rest of the non-stick set, and 2 black absorbs heat so makes the set more efficient!
and for those in the military it's far more tactical!
so it makes sense really.
also it protects the aluminium from oxidising and more importantly if accidently left on the edge of a fire or stove, as it will melt if hot enough quicker than other metals!
make sure the paint job is a good one, and take your time, this sort of paint if matt will show of any inconsistancies !
if the sides(lip) are short enough you'll be able to slip it in with the mug in a normal pouch.
lastly try to make sure the handle folds down or in, or it could make packing away the lid arkward, take a close look at the pictures(above), my handle is "L" shaped and folds in on it's self for packing.
make sure you clean the lid when used, as food will splash onto it , you can wash it the same way you wash the rest of the kit! the paint won't come off.
and as they say on "art attack", "why don't you have a go!"
(the same way i did, the easy way!! )
my crusader cup lid made from an old mess tin lid, it's been in use constantly over the last 2 years! (it's been painted it's not soot!)
and another view of the lid (inside).
i tried making one with some thin steel that involved heating the metal and making creases and all sorts of more advanced techniques i can't do well(and didn't!
.but the other option is to use aluminium, very easy to work, forgiving and lighter!
with the right tools it'll only take an hour or so!
and i shall tell you how i made mine:
This is how you do it!
1 crusader cup canteen(stainless steel would be better so you don't damage the Non-stick finish!!!)
1 find old cheep aluminium mess tin (not MoD shiney type).
1 pair tin snips, or hacksaw(tin snips are far easier on aluminium!)
1 rounded hammer(with a ball end)
an anvil or metal block to bash on, i suppose a smooth flat rock or concrete would work but not as well.
1 tin high temperature paint.
1 pencil
piece of A4 paper
metal file, or angle grinder ( be very carefull with angle grinders they are very powerful and are "Hospital ivitations" in the wrong hands! )
saftey goggles(metal will fly with a grinder!)
some saftey gloves (lots of sharp edges)
ear defenders (if useing machinery!)
1) use your mug as a template draw around the lip onto the paper, when done add 1/2" to 1" extra around the shape you've drawn. cut out the template!
2) mark out the template on your old mess tin, cut it out with the tin snips,leaving a few mm spare around it, keep the handle! (don't throw away the scrap metal you can use it for other projects!)
3) holding the cut metal firmly on your mug (you may need gloves) slowly tap it into shape the mug won't dent if you're careful, (i went to the trouble of making a wooden template but this way seems much easier!).
you may need to "work the metal" on a flat metal block a bit to get the top and sides perfectly flat.
4) with a ruler or steady hand mark around the new, lid lip so you know where to file down to, to make a straight edge, obviously goggles gloves :borgsmile and ear plugs if using machinery! file it down the edges(they will be sharp!) ,you now have a lid.
5) to make it easier to pick up when in use make 2 holes, in the lid, and either make a handle from the messtin handle like i did, or thread through some wire or even a piece of chain.
6) finally wash the lot and give it a couple of coats of heat resistant paint on the outside(it's potentially toxic
)and in a few hours you will have a working crusader cup lid! for the price of an old mess tin! and some paint(make sure you don't paint the handles stuck! :aargh4: )
ok the paint, you don't really need to paint the lid, you could use the lid naked
it would look good with a stainless mug! but remember it will eventually oxidise!! I painted mine for 2 reasons 1 to match the rest of the non-stick set, and 2 black absorbs heat so makes the set more efficient!
and for those in the military it's far more tactical!
so it makes sense really.
also it protects the aluminium from oxidising and more importantly if accidently left on the edge of a fire or stove, as it will melt if hot enough quicker than other metals!
make sure the paint job is a good one, and take your time, this sort of paint if matt will show of any inconsistancies
! if the sides(lip) are short enough you'll be able to slip it in with the mug in a normal pouch.
lastly try to make sure the handle folds down or in, or it could make packing away the lid arkward, take a close look at the pictures(above), my handle is "L" shaped and folds in on it's self for packing.
make sure you clean the lid when used, as food will splash onto it , you can wash it the same way you wash the rest of the kit! the paint won't come off.
and as they say on "art attack", "why don't you have a go!"
