Putting bale handle on hobo billy

[ganstey]

Hi all,

I made myself a hobo stove sometime ago using a cutlery drainer and a SS tea caddy. After much cussing and two broken drills I managed to fit a handle to the billy lid. What I now need to do is to fit a bale handle to it. I thought about drilling another couple of holes to take the handle, but its so tough I'm not sure I can afford enough drills Also, I'm concerned about the cleanability of it with holes in.

ISTR seeing one on here where a couple of picture wire hoops had been soldered on (although I can't find it now), so this morning I had a go. I know I was getting the billy hot enough, as I was using a flame torch, and the solder was melting even when the torch was removed. However the solder was just balling and then running off. I've done a lot of electronics soldering in the past, so know about flux, tinning, cleaning with wet&dry, etc. Nothing seemed to work, so I've given up again. The loops I'm intending using are brass (or at least brass-looking).

Anyone got any ideas?

G

 

[fishy1]

Try removing the smoothness, make a few bumps and such for the solder to grip on to. Maybe make some dents with a nail and hammer.

 

[Tadpole]

Hi all,

I made myself a hobo stove sometime ago using a cutlery drainer and a SS tea caddy. After much cussing and two broken drills I managed to fit a handle to the billy lid. What I now need to do is to fit a bale handle to it. I thought about drilling another couple of holes to take the handle, but its so tough I'm not sure I can afford enough drills Also, I'm concerned about the cleanability of it with holes in.

ISTR seeing one on here where a couple of picture wire hoops had been soldered on (although I can't find it now), so this morning I had a go. I know I was getting the billy hot enough, as I was using a flame torch, and the solder was melting even when the torch was removed. However the solder was just balling and then running off. I've done a lot of electronics soldering in the past, so know about flux, tinning, cleaning with wet&dry, etc. Nothing seemed to work, so I've given up again. The loops I'm intending using are brass (or at least brass-looking).

Anyone got any ideas?

G

buy a flux designed for use with stainless steel. and try silver soldering it, instead of normal tin solder

 

[ganstey]

buy a flux designed for use with stainless steel. and try silver soldering it, instead of normal tin solder

Hmm, OK. Looks like it'll have to wait until I can get to a suitable shop. Where would I find such things? I don't have any model/craft shops around here, so is a builder's merchants likely to sell them, or would it make more sense to buy online?

G

 

[Tadpole]

Hmm, OK. Looks like it'll have to wait until I can get to a suitable shop. Where would I find such things? I don't have any model/craft shops around here, so is a builder's merchants likely to sell them, or would it make more sense to buy online?

G

you can get a 'kit' off of sellers on ebay, a jar of flux and a length of silver solder for under £10 posted.

 

[IntrepidStu]

Hi all,

I made myself a hobo stove sometime ago using a cutlery drainer and a SS tea caddy. After much cussing and two broken drills I managed to fit a handle to the billy lid. What I now need to do is to fit a bale handle to it. I thought about drilling another couple of holes to take the handle, but its so tough I'm not sure I can afford enough drills Also, I'm concerned about the cleanability of it with holes in.

ISTR seeing one on here where a couple of picture wire hoops had been soldered on (although I can't find it now), so this morning I had a go. I know I was getting the billy hot enough, as I was using a flame torch, and the solder was melting even when the torch was removed. However the solder was just balling and then running off. I've done a lot of electronics soldering in the past, so know about flux, tinning, cleaning with wet&dry, etc. Nothing seemed to work, so I've given up again. The loops I'm intending using are brass (or at least brass-looking).


Anyone got any ideas?

G

Any chance of a photo and some instructions of where you are up to so far??
Stu

 

[ganstey]

Any chance of a photo and some instructions of where you are up to so far??
Stu

Here's a few photos:

Everything packed away in a John Fenna 'Dragonskin' pouch.

Billy inside stove.

Stove, billy, and skewers

The billy contains another pouch.

Contents of pouch (l to r): various flavour sachets and tea bags, two individual portions of rice in ziplock bags, instant coffee in another ziplock.

Closeup of attempt so far


Instructions:

1) Obtain a stainless steel (SS) cutlery drainer and caddy that fits inside the drainer.

2) Use cutting disk in Dremel-a-like to make a large slot. This improves airflow, and allows more wood to be added during the burn.

3) Drill one or more steam holes in the billy lid.

4) Add a handle of your choice/design to the lid.

5) Add bale handle to billy

6) Make a brew, sit, and enjoy

All the above is inspired by/adapted from Wayland's post of many moons ago.

G