Which Billy Can?

[Man of Tanith]

Hi all
currantly arguing between this :- http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/197-Stainless-Steel-Billy-Can-12cm/
and this :- http://www.greenmanbushcraft.co.uk/cooking-eating/tatonka-kettle-billy-cans.htm
has any one got experience with either of these?
Price wise they are much the same just wondered if any of the good people of BCUK have preferances and why?
Cheers in advance
Sam

 

[Shewie]

Just to add to your confusion Sam, what about the Mors Kochanski pots at Bison ?

http://www.bisonbushcraft.co.uk/page16/page16.html

Scroll down a bit past the Zebras and Tatonkas

 

[Man of Tanith]

Blast now you've added another one to the debate! cheers
Ok same question to include Shewie's helpful suggestion. which of the three above billy can styles do the good people of BCUK recommend?
Cheers
Sam

 

[Dangerous Dan]

I'm a firm favourite of the DIY option - stainless steel tea canister a short length of salvaged steel cable. Total cost of £2.99. It even states it's purpose: TEA in nice friendly letters. I'm sure these branded cans are all very nice but...

 

[EdS]

question is do I get a Gerlert Ascent 1 or a Mors small pot - just for brewing on winter walks rather than taking a flask

I know that the Pocket Rocket and gas cylinder will fit a Gelert but the Mors is cheaper.

 

[John Fenna]

Home made is the most sarisfying - charity shop buscuit tin/tea/coffee/suger can or similar with a knitting needle bail - total cost ...various but the biggest of .mine was 50p!

DIY rules!

I actually prefer mine to a shop bought, copper bottomed model - not because it is better but just because it is ALL MY OWN WORK - very satisfying!

 

[jean baptiste]

olicamp made one little billy can very nice ! verry good for one persons 1liter capacity
i find it at ben
http://www.bensbackwoods.com/servlet/Detail?no=534

 

[Man of Tanith]

thanks for the suggestion jean baptiste another one to add to the debate methinks
dangerous dan and mr fenna i'm afraid my DIY skills are atrocious
Cheers
Sam

 

[Peter_t]

imo you cant go wrong with the billy which comes with the swedish army trangia. it comes in aluminium or stainless steel. i have the steel which is far better for open fires but is a bit on the heavy side. it is very well thought out and imo is ideal for bushcraft. the lid is also a small pan which has loops on the handle which you can put a stick through to extend your reach so you dont burn yourself on your fire (very handy).

the only problem is if you are planning on having a hobo stove to fit snugly around it as it is oval shamped.


pete

 

[Man of Tanith]

Pete
i have one of those think its the alimunum one and i struggle to get it clean once ive done anything more than boil water in it. might be user error tho
Sam

 

[andy_e]

Having a Zebra pot, a Mors pot and a number of home-made jobs too, my current favourite is the Mors pot - it really is well thought out - handles on the side and the pouring spout make it much more useful than a standard pot.

As John says though, there's something very satisfying about using anything home-made.

 

[durulz]

Some time ago I bought some cans from Blacks.
I did a review of them here:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41310

With a lot of Blacks' stores closing down it may be a good opportunity to grab some.

 

[Shewie]

Having a Zebra pot, a Mors pot and a number of home-made jobs too, my current favourite is the Mors pot - it really is well thought out - handles on the side and the pouring spout make it much more useful than a standard pot.

As John says though, there's something very satisfying about using anything home-made.

Do the bail arms lock on the Mors Andy ? Not seen one in the flesh yet.

 

[Peter_t]

a picture paints a thousand words, my swedish army trangia

pete

 

[Peter_t]

Pete
i have one of those think its the alimunum one and i struggle to get it clean once ive done anything more than boil water in it. might be user error tho
Sam

the stainless one seems to be pretty non stick but a mate of mine has the aluninium set and has the same problem. i think aluminium just scraches too easily

pete

 

[John Fenna]

thanks for the suggestion jean baptiste another one to add to the debate methinks
dangerous dan and mr fenna i'm afraid my DIY skills are atrocious
Cheers
Sam

So were/are mine!

If I can do it - anyone can!

 

[Man of Tanith]

Mr Fenna thanks for the motivational speech
Peter t i think it is the aliminium causing the problem like you say it seems to scratch very easily only way i have found to properly clean it is throw it in the sink at home otherwise i end up with bits of stew floating in my tea which aint fun.
Andy e how well do the side arms on the mors ones stow when not in use?
Cheers all
Sam

 

[xavierdoc]

I bought a large Tatonka from the same people you linked to (very helpful they were, too).

It is a quality piece of kit but very (in my opinion) expensive. The broad handle is less secure on pot hangars than the narrower, wire-loop styles. Cleans up well and doesn't alter taste of food.

I had some replica zebra-style billys from one of the bushcraft kit emporia (forget which one.) They looked similar but had a little plastic section at the joint between the handle and the pan (to keep the handle upright). This useless design got burnt in use. The billy still works fine but it was an annoyance before the warped plastic was chipped-off.

I have a set of aluminium billys (like the trac-pac on the site you posted a link to) which were cheap but furred up and tainted the food/water with a metallic taste. I haven't used them since.

In summary, I would stick to stainless steel and either pay the premium (in cash and weight) or make your own.

Hope this helps.

 

[Man of Tanith]

thanks for the help Xav
I was leaning towards the tatonka until Shewie helpfully showed me the Mors range which is beginning to seem like the one for me.
life was a lot simpler before the internet when choices were limited to millets blacks and army surplus shop!
Sam

 

[rik_uk3]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BILLY-CAN-NES...s_ET?hash=item5633c22f94&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14