Why kelly kettles?

[tombear]

Unless I am going ultralightweightcutyourtoothbrushinhalfthenleavebothathomeanduseastick
I want something to cook in and something to boil water in at the same time, a billy for one and a thermette for the other. I wouldn't ever just take a thermette but then I wouldn't take a second billy. I've never had a problem with the bulk of a volcano kettle (carried in a PLCE side pocket strapped on whatever bag I'm using) and to be honest at a couple of lb the weights not really a problem for me, being on the, ahem, large side anyway. Each to their own.

I'm glad someones started this thread as I'd like to ask can anyone recomend a good quality stainless steel billy of 2 to 3 quart capicity that has a internal diameter of 6 and 1/2 inches? The straight up and down design of the kettle I use lends itself to being carried inside another pot.

One more thing, personally I find the thermette easier to keep alight in the rain and wind than a billy on a open fire and the chimney effect certainly makes a difference when the available fuel is a bit iffy.

Yeah, I admit it, I love the little copper devil!

ATB

Tom

 

[Stanleythecat]

The Kelly Kettle is more of a camp tool than a portable instrument surely?

I find the collecting of the wood, lighting the kettle, then to hear the water begin to boil and on windy days the flames forming a vortex inside all part of the ceremony!

Leo

 

[pheasant plucker]

All my camping is done as a basecamp style and because of that the KK is ideal, it means I don't have to have a fire going all day and because of doing bascamp style I take more cooking gear which means more washing up, so it really does make sense to take a KK for me. But if I were able to hike then no I would'nt take it, but I do find the fire base handy to cook over with the optional grid in.
PP

 

[East Coaster]

Have to say I tend to agree with the OP here. I don't see any need for them that isn't already covered in the basic kit you already have. Seem a bit pricey as well.
Having said that, I've never actually used one and lots of folk on here seem to like them,,,,maybe it's the 'gadgetyness' of them or something

 

[rik_uk3]

I've got both, and it's horses for courses really.

If there's only me, maybe one other to make for, then the Swiss one is so small and lightweight that it wins.
If I'm out for longer than a day's walk, or there are more folks, then the kettle wins hands down.

Enough hot water to wash with as well as a stable base to cook on, and I don't need to lug fuel around either.

Price wise the Swiss one is a bargain, but the KK is just such a useful bit of kit I reckon it's worth every penny I paid for it.

It's so simple that it doesn't need valves, washers, fuel lines, pre-heaters, fuel bottles or specialised tools to keep jets clean, it just works reliably, every time, anywhere I can have a bit of a sit down.
It's the ultimate multi fuel kettle but no getting away from the bulk of it, though it is easy enough to carry.

cheers,
Toddy

You should learn to look after your stoves more Toddy if you need to mess about that much with them, I don't

 

[Shewie]

Have to say I tend to agree with the OP here. I don't see any need for them that isn't already covered in the basic kit you already have. Seem a bit pricey as well.
Having said that, I've never actually used one and lots of folk on here seem to like them,,,,maybe it's the 'gadgetyness' of them or something

It's probably because they work so well and are so fast that people have stuck with them. They're really lightweight but an awkward shape to pack. Mine comes out with me on day walks and bimbles and I just know I can find a handfull of twigs along the way to get a brew on.
As a means of boiling water without any prep or messing about with smelly fuels they can't be beaten IMHO.

 

[Sbek]

I can confirm that Kellys work really fast.

And there is one more aspect where these kettles excel - sub zero temps. As long as you can find something to burn, these kettles will serve well regardless of the outside temperature.

Once I had a very unpleasant adventure with a gas heater (allegedly propane) that refused to work on a -5 C night. Kelly never failed me even with - 15 C. A pinch of birch bark and relatively dry sticks and there you go.

 

[bivouac]

I have had a Kelly copy called an 'Eco Trekker' for many years and i love it. There are some limitations to it...at any altitude above the treeline you are going to run out of fuel or have to take it with you...and it's not really efficient at heating large pans of stew etc...but having said all that there are some major points in it's favour. Mine came with a grill and potset. You can pretty much chuck the potset, but the grill is an absolute must-have. As long as you have the grill, you can cook some really good meals. All it takes is a fresh approach to your dining experience. Firstly, anything you can fry in a pan you can pretty much grill over a firepan full of embers - bacon, bannock bread, fish and so-on. It's pretty much the same as a mini barbecue. You jusy have to think ahead a little. Use plenty of twigs to boil the kettle, then put your food on the grill and then replace the kettle over the lot. This has the effect of keeping the heat in around the food and it will cook much more quickly and evenly. And if you get a few bits of burnt twig on your bacon it just makes it that little bit tastier! Secondly, using the kettle over the grill what you get is a kind of mini-oven and you can try roasting stuff like chestnuts etc - never heard of anyone roasting chestnuts on a trangia!
Some people have mentioned that it's a little bulky and i agree, but don't forget that if you have the grill, you don't need pots and pans. You can also store stuff inside the kettle (it's hollow), you can fill it with water so you don't need a large water carrier and you don't need to pack gas canisters or fuel bottles. With a ghillie kettle, i can actually save space and weight inside my pack.
Anyway, that's my tuppence worth. I would recommend them to anyone and i'm looking forward to getting the stainless steel 1 pint version of the Kelly that is coming out this summer.

 

[HeltorChasca]

Yup - Base camp tool I agree. I use mine at work almost everyday unless we are on site with caring clients who hand out hot beverages every 2 minutes!

It is very popular with all onlookers and YES is't it a great excuse to get all smokey?

 

[steven andrews]

Yes, the Kelly is great for boiling water and not for much else..

It's a kettle.



Whether travelling by bike, on foot, or by car, my Kelly Kettle is often with me.

Fire and brews -two of my favourite things!

 

[maddave]

I have a big un and a little un and I like them both. The big un lives in the van and the little un I use for fireplay tutorials at work. It is just a kettle but a very efficient one IMHO

 

[Chopper]

Why KK?

Cos theyre cool, fun and different.

Thats why.

 

[Dave Budd]

I've got the large KK and I love it, but then I'm only using it when at a stationary camp surrounded by easy firewood (ok, my workshop and there are brash piles/woodchips all over the place ).

As John points out, it's a Kelly KETTLE just like the kettle in the kitchen. It boils water fast, but can be pushed to cooking should you want to. When I'm camp cooking without my forge I do tend to use a stove with a pan on it to boil water, just like everybody else. I can cope with the stove taking longer than I know my KK would take because it is more compact and more versatile in that setting.

What I would dearly love is to get my hands on a properly LARGE kettle! Many years ago I worked with the BTCV and they had a steel kettle that was basically conical and the base support was built in (the bottom part was designed like the bottom of a calor gas cylinder). It boiled something silly like 15 or 20 mugs of water! My large kelly kettle isn't big enough if I have a decent sized group on a course

So if anybody knows where to get a 3L kelly then please let me know

 

[w00dsmoke]

The Kelly Kettle is more of a camp tool than a portable instrument surely?

I find the collecting of the wood, lighting the kettle, then to hear the water begin to boil and on windy days the flames forming a vortex inside all part of the ceremony!

Leo

You think? I have the small KK and the much larger one. I use the large one for camps as it gives the tribe enough hot water quickly to wash n go. But the small one goes everywhere. It's so efficient and where I go most there's usually no wood but it can brew up on heather n dry grass. For emergencies and convenience I use various firelighters too. Tbh you need them on Rannoch Moor for 3/4 of the year! I can have a brew on AND a heat almost instantly. It's a lifesaver I guess. The secret to it's portability is to find an old camp chair bag, cut it in half, put a draw cord in and carry loop then it just hangs over my rucksack. The cork on mine is long gone but u don't need it. It's more portable and efficient than my whisperlite thats for sure!

 

[phill_ue]

I have used a large KK, it wouldn't even be worth trying to fit it in a pack as it is huge! Put it in a bag and strap it externally though and it will be fine. It is only really any good at boiling water and I think the pot adaptor and pots is just an accident waiting to happen. A lightweight ally billy can (Bulldog type) would be an excellent companion to the KK.

 

[mitch66]

hi, i have two kk's the large 2.5pint is in the back of the landy and the small 1pint is in my back pack, i think they are grateand worth every penny. i orderd my second one direct, a very good service from the kelly kettle company and i asked if i could supply a spare cork for each kettle and they where given foc only took 2 days from ireland to king's lynn. they get 10/10 from me. the only problem i have found is once you use a kk every thing elce seem's so slowokenest:

 

[Jakata]

I have a large one. Boils really fast and uses very little fuel. Its also hollow so the size really isnt that much of a problem, most of my cooking bits and bobs go inside it and ofc you can store/transport water in it.

 

[tombear]

I've got the large KK and I love it, but then I'm only using it when at a stationary camp surrounded by easy firewood (ok, my workshop and there are brash piles/woodchips all over the place ).

As John points out, it's a Kelly KETTLE just like the kettle in the kitchen. It boils water fast, but can be pushed to cooking should you want to. When I'm camp cooking without my forge I do tend to use a stove with a pan on it to boil water, just like everybody else. I can cope with the stove taking longer than I know my KK would take because it is more compact and more versatile in that setting.

What I would dearly love is to get my hands on a properly LARGE kettle! Many years ago I worked with the BTCV and they had a steel kettle that was basically conical and the base support was built in (the bottom part was designed like the bottom of a calor gas cylinder). It boiled something silly like 15 or 20 mugs of water! My large kelly kettle isn't big enough if I have a decent sized group on a course

So if anybody knows where to get a 3L kelly then please let me know

Hi Dave
a big boiler? How about 22 pints, that big enough for you?

The only pain was shipping it from NZ. The guy makes bigger and smaller versions (6 to 30 litres) and its very well made

ATB

Tom

Just took some more pics.

This is the rig I have set up over the winter for small groups, 3 or 4 say. I wouldn't carry it for just myself unless be operating from a fixed base which isn't likely these days.

Before anyone comments thats a old NZ made thermette (my mate picked it up from the factory) and I've had no problems with it and quite frankly it is a lot better than any other volcano kettle I've tried and holds a good 4 pints.

A 16cm Zerbra holds and protects it nicely in a PLCE side pocket, the cooking ring won't fit in but apart from trying it out I've never found a use for it. On top of the thermette its not exactly stable and it boils too fast to do more than fry a egg (if your lucky). You can just about fit it straight on the heath part but I can't imagine ever carrying it. Not shown is the other wise useless Coleman steel plate/big saucer I use as a base to stand it all on

A much better proposition is the solidly made top support my mate sent me from NZ to go on the big boiler

I've not used it in anger yet but its stable, well made and will take any pan I'm ever likely to use like that.

Incidentaly the frying pan is a GSI hard anodised job which is the absolute best I've ever used, light, solid handle and incredibly non stick. I don't even let others clean it I love it so!

The top piece (for want of a better term) fits onto the hearth great and would make a good hobbo stove on its own, if too big to carry about.

I can't praise the 22 pint boiler enough, when it was -15 over the winter, despite the lagging, the overflow pipe kept freezing, taking the whole heating system off line. I used the boiler to heat surfeceint water to unfreeze the whole lenght of pipe as running in and out with a kettle holding 3 or 4 pints wasn't working. It's beatifully made and works well, it's just a shame they are so hard to get over here.

I forgot to include in the pic the Aldi welders gloves I use when cooking outdoors with this heavyweight kit Very useful.

 

[Dave Budd]

Now THAT is what I'm talking about! :You_Rock_ Any chance of a link to the maker/supplier?

 

[tombear]

Sure, it was this chap,

spiroloc@paradise.net.nz

or

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Boats-marine/Parts-accessories/Other/auction-279430691.htm

Theres about 2.1 of their dollars to the pound at the moment, when I got mine (for a bunch of swaps anyway) it was a lot better.

I'm thinking of putting a small hole in the side of the hot plate and fitting a copper pipe that feeds straight into the tank filler hole so I can top it up while its all set up, just something I can fit a funnel into, nothing elaborate.

ATB

Tom