Bushcraft on a budget - adventures on the High Street

[Wallenstein]

"This baby is doing my head in... take her out for a walk while I get some sleep!"

So it's a Saturday morning and SWMBO had given me my marching orders in no uncertain terms so it was off to the High Street with the pram and £15 burning a hole in my pocket.

An hour later - following visits to Woolwoorths and the Pound Shop - I returned with the following:

Stainless Steel Drainer and 700ml pot - beginnings of a hobo stove

Deep Stainless Steel Colander and Mixing Bowl:

Which become... a DIY firebowl kit!

Best of all I still had £5 left for lunch on the way home (and a sleeping baby - bonus!)

 

[philaw]

let us know how that hobo stove works out

 

[-Switch-]

I've seen the drainer/750ml pot being used as a hobo stove before - the same kit is available in ikea and I'm sure someone on here has mentioned it. I seem to recall it needing a bit of modification. I think the sides were cut out a bit to let the air flow through properly as the holes were a bit restrictive.

Let us know how you get on

 

[hammock monkey]

this is what its all about to me.
buying expensive kit is all well and good but improvising takes more understanding of the end goal.
good on you mate, best of luck.

 

[Chris G]

This isn't a hijack, but following the mediocre success of my cooker at Middlemud 2, I've built a new fire bowl.

Parts list;
1x £0.97 Tescos ali camping plate
1x £2.99 Woolworths collapsable stainless steel steamer
1x £0.?? 25mm M6 bolt
1x £0.?? M6 nut

Drill hole in the centre of the plate, put the steamer on it and bolt it together using the hole that's already in the centre of the steamers base. As the steamer comes with 20mm legs and the plate has a 15mm lip on it, there is a 5mm gap between the top of the plate lip and the closest part of the steamer. The big advantage of this is that the whole thing packs down to be 5" accross and 2" high, can be part opened to sit a crusader cup on it or fully opened and used as a dcent sized firebowl.

I lit a fire in it at the weekend and it all survived so that's me impressed!

Chris

 

[Wallenstein]

This isn't a hijack, but following the mediocre success of my cooker at Middlemud 2, I've built a new fire bowl.

Parts list;
1x £0.97 Tescos ali camping plate
1x £2.99 Woolworths collapsable stainless steel steamer
1x £0.?? 25mm M6 bolt
1x £0.?? M6 nut

Drill hole in the centre of the plate, put the steamer on it and bolt it together using the hole that's already in the centre of the steamers base. As the steamer comes with 20mm legs and the plate has a 15mm lip on it, there is a 5mm gap between the top of the plate lip and the closest part of the steamer. The big advantage of this is that the whole thing packs down to be 5" accross and 2" high, can be part opened to sit a crusader cup on it or fully opened and used as a dcent sized firebowl.

I lit a fire in it at the weekend and it all survived so that's me impressed!

Chris

Cool! Got any pics - would be interested to see what it looks like

 

[Chris G]

Will try to get a pick up tomorrow

Chris

 

[Chris G]

Em.. anyone know why I can't add photos to the gallery?

Chris

 

[Wayland]

The Gallery has gone pear shaped for some reason.

tony and the crew are working on it I think

 

[Chris G]

Cheers Wayland

 

[IntrepidStu]

This isn't a hijack, but following the mediocre success of my cooker at Middlemud 2, I've built a new fire bowl.

Parts list;
1x £0.97 Tescos ali camping plate
1x £2.99 Woolworths collapsable stainless steel steamer
1x £0.?? 25mm M6 bolt
1x £0.?? M6 nut

Drill hole in the centre of the plate, put the steamer on it and bolt it together using the hole that's already in the centre of the steamers base. As the steamer comes with 20mm legs and the plate has a 15mm lip on it, there is a 5mm gap between the top of the plate lip and the closest part of the steamer. The big advantage of this is that the whole thing packs down to be 5" accross and 2" high, can be part opened to sit a crusader cup on it or fully opened and used as a dcent sized firebowl.

I lit a fire in it at the weekend and it all survived so that's me impressed!

Chris

Hi Chris.
I didnt get to see it working at the meet so is there any chance you can post a picture of it. I have baught the steamer (£2.50 from Wilkinsons) but am unsure about how it all works.
Stu.

 

[squantrill]

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3059&size=big&cat=recent&limit=recent

not sure if this will link but here is mine it works great.. Holes are big enough for air flow stops smoke when flaming all for under a fiver!!

 

[IntrepidStu]

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3059&size=big&cat=recent&limit=recent

not sure if this will link but here is mine it works great.. Holes are big enough for air flow stops smoke when flaming all for under a fiver!!

Cheers, But yours is not the same as the one Chris made. It specificaly uses a collapsable steamer dish.

Cheers anyway
Stu

 

[Wallenstein]

Well, I tried out the setup from my original post - worked really well, ideal for woodland camping when you want a decent fire but aren't to worried about transporting it.

Also works for canoe-camping (the original idea was from SOTP).

I had it burning non-stop for 6+hrs on Saturday and the base remained cool to the touch throughout - not a hint of heat on the ground, and you could even use the side handles to move it around (with care!).

The airholes work well - especially in a breeze - but I am going to take the drill / hacksaw and enlarge a few of the holes. This will also allow a blow-pipe / bellows to get air to the base rather than blowing from the top.

I may also try a large colander to increase the cooking area.

 

[firecrest]

Ive got one of them stainless steel drainers which I tried as a hobo stove, worked great. the woolworths I went to through was selling it as a pencil tin!