Advise for the Wannabee steampunker
- Thread starter Tengu
- Start date
Blankets for bedding
Parafin lamp
Old style wooden camping cot
(Good luck on that one ! Even old ones cost a fortune)
Dutch oven
Castle iron fry pan
Large catering kettle
Tripod
( mine is made from three liberated iron fence pins. The sort that hold up that orange netting fence... no idea what to call them)
An old fashioned canvas scout tent.
A wooden card table or similar folding table
A directors chair.. wood and canvas.
That would be a basic set up. The hardest things to source are the cot and tent.
Junk shops are brilliant for finding such items that might be of use or repurposed.
I bought a cute bottle that was a nice shape perfect for an ink bottle and made a quill pen. I just need a small portable writing desk to complete the set up.
Just use your imagination to consider a character and how they might dress and live on an expedition to somewhere in Victorian or edwardian times then go from there with ideas.
I love trawling charity shops for bits to use. A bit of a problem currently but I'm sure you have lots of bits lying around that could be used.
Oh.. and don't forget the transit van to carry it all
Parafin lamp
Old style wooden camping cot
(Good luck on that one ! Even old ones cost a fortune)
Dutch oven
Castle iron fry pan
Large catering kettle
Tripod
( mine is made from three liberated iron fence pins. The sort that hold up that orange netting fence... no idea what to call them)
An old fashioned canvas scout tent.
A wooden card table or similar folding table
A directors chair.. wood and canvas.
That would be a basic set up. The hardest things to source are the cot and tent.
Junk shops are brilliant for finding such items that might be of use or repurposed.
I bought a cute bottle that was a nice shape perfect for an ink bottle and made a quill pen. I just need a small portable writing desk to complete the set up.
Just use your imagination to consider a character and how they might dress and live on an expedition to somewhere in Victorian or edwardian times then go from there with ideas.
I love trawling charity shops for bits to use. A bit of a problem currently but I'm sure you have lots of bits lying around that could be used.
Oh.. and don't forget the transit van to carry it all
Ebay is a good source for ready made or adaptable material.
I use a cheap camp bed, but then cover it with blankets so it can't be seen.
Anything wood and brass or copper, or Victorian looking is good.
Here are some pics of the SteamTent Co-operatives encampment at Telford in 2018.
I use a cheap camp bed, but then cover it with blankets so it can't be seen.
Anything wood and brass or copper, or Victorian looking is good.
Here are some pics of the SteamTent Co-operatives encampment at Telford in 2018.
the ones with the hooked top? Road pins, available from fencing suppliers and the like
Roughneck Fencing Pins
If you need to create a quick or temporary barrier, pick up this pack of Roughneck fencing pins. These robust pins with hooks are just the thing for securing rope or hazard tape.The tips of the pins are hardened, so you can use them even in more compacted soil. The entire pin has been painted to...
www.toolstation.com
Roughneck Fencing Pins
If you need to create a quick or temporary barrier, pick up this pack of Roughneck fencing pins. These robust pins with hooks are just the thing for securing rope or hazard tape.The tips of the pins are hardened, so you can use them even in more compacted soil. The entire pin has been painted to...
Cheers chaps.
These things.
Mine weigh a ton but are amazingly solid and will take just about the biggest heaviest Dutch oven going.
I got someone to do a bit of blacksmithing and hook all the tops together permanently and also made a hook and chain that can be adjusted for height.
Can't loose any bits then.
There's normally a good lot of brass for sale at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, you can often pick up some useful kit there, with a bit of brasso they clean up well.
I found some good quality copper/stainless saucepans last year on Ebay. (went for a song as they insisted collection only and I was the only bidder...)
But they are a little too modern, -and I want to keep them for best. (They cook beautifully)
I saw a brass bound mahogany case at the car boot but they were asking too much. (they got it too).
Im sure I can scare up something.
The main issue is the tent. Bell tents, patrol tents...all way beyond my pocket.
But they are a little too modern, -and I want to keep them for best. (They cook beautifully)
I saw a brass bound mahogany case at the car boot but they were asking too much. (they got it too).
Im sure I can scare up something.
The main issue is the tent. Bell tents, patrol tents...all way beyond my pocket.
You don't have to have a bell or patrol tent, any kind of tent can be dressed up to look steampunky. Canvas is prefered, but not essential.
You can up dress up a cheap gazebo with old tarps, curtains and niknaks.
You can up dress up a cheap gazebo with old tarps, curtains and niknaks.
Shame I gave away a patrol tent two summer's ago as I had too many tents and couldn't cope with it as it was too big and heavy for me. It needed some repairs as there were a few holes in the roof, but the guy who took it just used a huge tarp for a flysheet to solve the holes problem.
If you can find some canvas, a traditional two-pole A-frame tent, shouldn't be too difficult to make and not too expensive either. Too small for lounging in but fine for sleeping.
Have you thought about enamelware for cooking? I have an old enamel kettle that I often take camping and a coffee pot, also some enamel saucepans ladels and an enamel billy. Then there are plates and mugs etc.
You could put together a good set of kitchen / cookware from those sort of things.
You could put together a good set of kitchen / cookware from those sort of things.
