Millbank Bag

[resnikov]

Just bought a Milbank bag from ebay for £8.50 plus £2 postage and have a few questions about it. Not sure if its used or not.
Is that a decent price for one?
Any thing I should look for on it as in ware and tear?
Are they as easy to use as they look?
Do i need to do anything to it before I first use it?

Cheers

 

[telwebb]

They said new/unused - if so its a good price from what I can gather - I had my eye on them too, but they went while I wasn't looking!

 

[launditch1]

Sounds like a fair price.Is it dated?If it un used the canvas will feel sort of stiff.Any holes in it wouldnt be good!They are very easy to use.Just fill it up to the marked line hang it above your canteen.
If its new its worth soaking it and giving it a scrub.Dont use soap!Just water.They need 'seasoning'.Hth.

 

[Shewie]

Dead easy to use and usually the only thing I carry for water treatment, just give it a wet before you use it and then hang it from a branch over your pot. A quick rollingboil and you're good to go

 

[sasquatch]

Launditch is right, new ones definately need breaking in first. I chucked mine in the wash several times. I found that out the hard way in South Wales first time I tried it!

 

[redandshane]

If you want a millbank bag Endicotts have them in various grades and you can be sure they have been checked and will be functional even in the lower grades

No connection its just where I got mine

http://www.endicotts.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1360

 

[Rabbitsmacker]

i got one brand new from a local surplus shop for a fiver, very stiff as said earlier. i also got one off ebay for a bargain as it was listed as 'strange army bag' lol, love badly listed items, it was dated 1945 in excellent used condition and got it for 99p bargain!
as per op, easy to use, light enough to not leave out of your kit.

 

[Nat]

Price has gone up. Couple of years ago you could get a new unused one for £4.

 

[resnikov]

Had a play with my Milbank bag today, gave it a good soak. When I set it up to clean the dirty water (had full of soil in to big bowl of water), i poured the dirty water in and started to collect it when it got to the line on the bag. After I had about a jug full i check the water, nice and clear but had a green tinge to it!
Is this just the dye coming out of the bag? Should I just do what I have done already and try to get the color out?
Any ideas ?

 

[sasquatch]

Sounds like the dye, did you wash the bag in the laundry a few times first?

 

[Twodogs]

thats normal just wash it some more
Twodogs

 

[resnikov]

Cheers for the replys, will give it a few more washes and see how I go.