Nice big cauldron

[John Burton]

Having seen Woody cooking at the recent moot in a nice big cauldron, we realised that a large pot hung from a tripod would be ideal for our family. Obviously a large pot is a heavy thing to carry, but surely there must be a demand for them for larger group cooking, etc. does anyone know where we can get one, or have any design considerations we should be aware of?

 

[PeterW]

e11even

Try here at Unbeaten Tracks as I don't think you'll find a better selection of cast iron pots

Cheers

Peter

 

[Wayland]

I made myself a couple of big cauldons from the bottom of 14 Kg. gas bottles.

Make sure they are empty then remove the valve and stand upside down for a couple of days just to be sure. Safety first and all that.

Chop the base off and cut just below the centre weld with an angle grinder. Add some loops or drill holes to add handles and there you are.

Some bottles have a coating inside which is best removed with a sanding disk . I've never been able to work out which ones do have the coating and which don't so it's a bit of a lottery.

They are much better than cast ones, firstly they're lighter but you could play football with them and they will not crack like a cast one or even dent.

Ps. You can turn the top end into a neat little BBQ brazier

 

[EdS]

Wayland

have you got any photos of the pots?

 

[Wayland]

I've just shot one off, I think I can get this to work.

Ignore the raised spots on the two right hand pots, they are there just to imitate the Viking rivetted cauldrons.

The big ones are 14Kg bottle bases and I think the other was a 7Kg.

 

[Buckshot]

I've just shot one off, I think I can get this to work.

Ignore the raised spots on the two right hand pots, they are there just to imitate the Viking rivetted cauldrons.

The big ones are 14Kg bottle bases and I think the other was a 7Kg.

That's very cleaver Wayland
Now if they had a lid....

 

[Wayland]

If I needed a lid I'd make one out of wood, just like they did in the past.

 

[Roving Rich]

Nice one Wayland, thats a fantastic idea ! they really look the part too.

Cheers
Rich

 

[Wayland]

I used to use cast iron pots for late mediaeval shows where we ran a field kitchen, but they always had to be packed so carefully for transport and I still managed to break two of them.

Added to that the sheer weight of them, some required a wooden pole and a person on each side of the fire to lift them on the pot cranes when full.

Ever since working out this little trick we haven't looked back.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I used to use cast iron pots for late mediaeval shows where we ran a field kitchen, but they always had to be packed so carefully for transport and I still managed to break two of them.

Added to that the sheer weight of them, some required a wooden pole and a person on each side of the fire to lift them on the pot cranes when full.

Ever since working out this little trick we haven't looked back.

Do they age as well as proper cast iron pots? I was under the impression that the slightly porous nature of cast iron was what took up the oil to make the nice non-stick coating.

Keith.

 

[Wayland]

I've never had a problem with them. If anything I think they work better because the surface is smoother.

I've certainly fried in them on many occasions, crispy bacon being one of the best tests for sticking that I know of.

One thing I have found over the years is that the oil makes a big difference over a camp fire. If you are working with a very hot fire it's best to use grapeseed oil as it has a higher burn point than most.

Having said that I normally use olive oil.

 

[Andy]

How did you fit the handles on?

 

[Wayland]

The handles are rivetted into countresunk holes and then ground smooth on the inside.

The pot at right back has loops taken from a brass plant pot and the others I knocked up in the forge.

 

[Martyn]

I made myself a couple of big cauldons from the bottom of 14 Kg. gas bottles.

Make sure they are empty then remove the valve and stand upside down for a couple of days just to be sure. Safety first and all that.

Superb idea mate. Tip for quickly making sure they are empty - fill em with water, then pour it out. Job done.

 

[george]

Wayland - it looks like you've flared the rims of the pots, how did you do that?

George

 

[Wayland]

Big hammer over the edge of a log.

 

[george]

Ok

You mean the easy way then. lol

George

 

[troy]

Hi Wayland

Is it important that they are cut below the centre weld point - I would like to use the full depth of the 18.5 kg bottle I have for the bows, so will not need to hammer the rim, only cut out a couple of holes for wire handle.

 

[Wayland]

I only cut them below the weld because I am trying to make them look like old ones.

You certainly could cut them above but I can't remember how neat the inside of the weld is, might need a bit of tidying up with an angle grinder.

 

[Povarian]

Great idea for recycling gas bottles, although I'd probably go for bead/sand blasting to remove the inner coating rather than just trust to a sanding disk to get it all. Any idea what the coating is?

Nice cauldron hanger too by the way - very tidily done.