Mastodawn

We had an unexpected power outage this morning, along with pretty much everyone along the south coast, apparently.

We have a gas stove for now, which meant we could make tea, but for both health reasons and the fact that reticulated gas is being phased out in our town soon, we want to replace the stove with an electric one.

Which means power cuts will have to be endured without tea.

Not sure I can cope with that. Does anyone have any good recommendations for a billy or quick boil pot that just uses wood/twigs? Something like this would be good but I'm hoping for less expensive:

https://kellykettle.com.au/collections/kelly-kettles

#power #BackToBasics #camping

Kelly Kettles

@teadrinker hey Bec 🥰 We use these gas ones because we don't have 240v power. From memory they were a sale item at Bunnings. Can also be used to prep food in an emergency. Not sure about electrical or 12v options but if you do happen to find a USB powered one please let me know 😁

Edit: I checked the retail and they're about $60 for the single burner from what I could see. From memory we got them maybe $10-20 off?

@captainvellalives Ah, this would be a good backup -- and I've been hiking with the little gas canisters for boiling water and I've used the stoves at barbies but I really want something that is designed just for twigs or wood fuel (I am a scaredy cat when it comes to gas canisters, full disclosure)

@teadrinker that is totally fair, gas canisters give me pause too 😬 Hopefully you find something that does the trick ❤️

@captainvellalives
❤️

I have a couple of good suggestions already. All hail the good people of the Fedi

Slightly cheaper, and works well (I have one)
https://www.ecobilly.com/eco-billy

I can also recommend the GoSun Go as a quick solar water boiler (and cooker for 1-2 serves). https://gosun.co/pages/go

Eco Billy Shop & Instructions | Eco Billy Rods Country Camping Gear

Boils water in UNDER 5 MINUTES using only a handful of leaves and twigs Quick, safe, contained, environmentally sound fire, leaving only a small pile of ash. Easy to pour—handles stay cool to touch Made of stainless steel construction for long life Lightweight and durable

Eco Billy

@rdm OOOOH YES. The ecobilly is what we used to sell when I worked at Australian Geographic years ago, and I couldn't remember the name! Yay, thank you :)

@rdm Gosh it's more expensive than it used to be back then, though, haha

@teadrinker
Hey. That's where I got mine from!

@rdm Hee, how cool is that?!

@teadrinker
Do you mind revealing which AG shop you were at?

I got mine from the Karrinyup store.

@rdm I worked in a few of them! Perth and Morley, mostly, but also Karrinyup. Sometimes did a stocktake or two at the Booragoon store but as I was NOR it was easier for me to stick to those three

@teadrinker
Ha! So it is possible you sold me mine!

I am now choosing to believe that this is historically correct.

@rdm Absolutely, me too

Heather Evans 9h ago

@teadrinker
Ooh I can’t help with that but I do remember using these in NZ when I went camping. Definitely simple & easy. My only thought is maybe army disposal stores could have something like it cheaper.

@feather1952 Oh, that's an excellent point, thanks for the suggestion! We don't hve any round here but I could send a Perth-faring child on a mission when they go

Heather Evans 9h ago

https://www.outdoorgearcompany.com.au/collections/camping-cookware?page=3

Camping Cookware

@feather1952 Ah, excellent, thanks Heather!

@teadrinker I’d vote for a Trangia, but is safer to use it outside.

https://www.bcf.com.au/brands/trangia

@hhhneil Ooh, yes, I've seen these on a camping youtube channel I watch and they would be a good alternative when it's really wet, I reckon

@teadrinker Run on metho with a little dash of water in it. Makes the mefho burn nicer.

@hhhneil Oh, this is good advice, thanks! Well noted

Gemma ⭐️🔰🇺🇸 🇵🇭 🎐9h ago

@teadrinker A small backpacking or tabletop burner that uses canned butane is very effective.

@gcvsa Unfortunately it's the butane/gas I'm trying to avoid (I'm sure other people are completely capable of not blowing their houses up, but I can't vouch for me...)

Gemma ⭐️🔰🇺🇸 🇵🇭 🎐9h ago

@teadrinker Well, then. There are certainly small twig burners, but they really are quite messy. Would a meths burner do?

@gcvsa Yeah, I think that would work too -- especially as a back up if/when it's too wet for twigs. Most likely we'd use any of these things out of the house anyway

Gemma ⭐️🔰🇺🇸 🇵🇭 🎐35m ago

@teadrinker You can make an alcohol stove out of found bits for very cheap, and they work very well for occasional use. Here's one I made out of an aluminium water bottle some years ago:

@gcvsa Oh this is very cool! So impressive!

Gemma ⭐️🔰🇺🇸 🇵🇭 🎐19m ago

@teadrinker You can find directions on how to make these things all over the Internet. It required a $1 water bottle, a hacksaw with a soft metals blade, a small drill bit, and a small piece of sandpaper.

@gcvsa Thanks, I'm sure I have a lidless water bottle that I could upcycle. Maybe an Easter project when I have a few days off 😊

Gemma ⭐️🔰🇺🇸 🇵🇭 🎐26m ago

@teadrinker And here's me cooking in the back of my overlander using my ancient MSR Rapidfire remote canister stove, when I was between homes. They are quite safe, and I've used mine for months at a time indoors, as well, when my big tank of LP gas ran out and I couldn't afford to fill it. But I understand if it makes you nervous.

@gcvsa I do like how efficient they are. But yeah, it's the risk – admittedly very small! – and also the ongoing cost of having to buy the canisters. Maybe I'll work up to it, given the state of everything

@teadrinker if you have spare bricks or cinder blocks you can make a functioning rocket stove with them. Several videos on youtube.

@teadrinker https://youtube.com/shorts/gYHNGXjm5_4?si=optjhXej1zrVXDkj

Building A Two Burner Rocket Stove Using Cinder Blocks #offgrid #diy #cooking

YouTube

@MatthewChat Thanks! I found a bunch too, it's a great idea :)

Kit Bashir 2h ago

@teadrinker “rocket stove” is what they’re called. Gadgets that burn twigs with clever air flow management to heat a pot.

@Unixbigot Thank you – this will make it easier to search for them on websites! I do think the designs are quite ingenious...