A break in the rain this evening and an opportunity to try out my newly purchased mKettle before packing it for an outing at the weekend. The Perko alcohol stove is for back-up (!!!) but unlike the mKettle won't be packed for going anywhere beyond the patio ... not surprisingly Well made piece of kit ... ... and compared to a 1-litre storm kettle is much more compact, though still a useful half-litre capacity The silicon bung doesn't let a drop out when the kettle's in use as a water carrier Split hazel sticks for kindling, shredded paper for tinder (but I wouldn't recommend it - messy and hangs around as unburned clumps in the fire pan) Took light ok though I'm happy with it so far, but it'll get a more serious test at the weekend. John
I hope you are bringing your mKettle or Thermette to Newark (or both) so that I can perfect my Boy Sprout lighting techniques.
I'd like to see them too, as I've been looking out for one for a while but could not decide what to go for....So, I'd be happy to be able to compare them! All the best, Wim
Yes, if I've not gone up in smoke by then, I and they'll be there ... Perko too. Side issue, as a result of the difficulty I'm having creating decent kindling with a hatchet that's far to unwieldy and at the other extreme a Stanley knife that's too flimsy, I've consulted Big Si on what to look for in a decent bushcrafting knife. We've arrived at an Enzo Trapper, scandi grind, 01 carbon steel - cutting costs (and not just my kindling) and enjoying a bit of fettling fun by buying just the blade and using a piece of ebony I have left over from the Lawson stove project (repaired control knob) to make the handle 'scales' - see, I'm getting my head around the terminology now, thanks to Si. John
G.. day John . having made a few knives and blades. I have also collected a few . how about a build up thread of your knife. I am sure there are people on here that will take an interest in it. also it will be something different than stoves. I look forward to it , as every one tackles things like this in different ways , often determined by the tools on hand and ones own ability , or spirit of adventure as to what you are prepared to try ,hopefully with success. cheers kerry
Aye Si He's always recruiting, knives, allotments, home brewing, chickens, ducks, tin tents, air rifles, razors etc. lamps even. He's got plenty of diversions to entrap the unwary Newark goer. Like a Scandinavian grind myself should allow you to do plenty of battoning without worry. IMHO I would buy a cheap Clas Ohlson Mora to practice with before letting go with my newly handmade knife.
Second the idea of a cheap Mora from Clas Olsen. IIRC you have to shop in person though 'cos they don't do knives by post. Or continue with the axe to start with then finish off with a Pocket (pen) knife once it's fine enough to be able to split by pushing the blade rather than hitting it. If you want something for home use or base camping you could try a glazier's "hacking knife". They're a bit heavier so not really for trail use. Mine needs new scales riveting on cos I used it too much then let the scouts get clumsy with it. Regards John
Really helpful suggestions there about the knife. Thanks fellas. Si's "tin tent" ... I like that Gary! John
Back in my unmarried days I made several knives from power hacksaw blades. There was a machine shop a few blocks away and they just towwed the dull blades in the trash. I acquired a few and did some experimenting. The blades were very hard on the cutting edge and somewhat softer on the majority. I learned early on that cutting one was pretty much out of the question so I held 'em in a vice and broke off the extraneous parts. I learned much later that I had invented the scramasax. I made scales out of oak boards salvaged from pallets riveted in place with rivets cut from brazing rod. If you search for "Seax" you'll find the model for knives I made. Every time I "invent" something, I learn that I'm 800 or 1000 years late. Gerry
What does the mKettle pour like? I'm just wondering as it has the least sophisticated spout that I've seen on any kettle. One of many stick chopping tools I've used is not unsurprisingly called a Stick Chopper .
You've a keen eye, Ash Pan, very astute. You've spotted the achilles heel of this device. It pours well enough, but without the kelly kettle spout to shield the water from any airborne ash from the chimney, there was a film of ash on the surface of the water when I was ready to pour. I'm thinking of rigging up a flap arrangement made of silicon sheet (from a baking tray I use as a source for the stuff) to pop over the projecting bit of the chimney. It would shield the water from ash without stopping up the outlet (I could use the silicon bung if I wanted to make a bomb out of it), it would cope with the heat and could be rotated out of the way when it came time to pour. John
G,,day the stick chopper is very similar to my Vietnam war era aussie machete John . why not use a cork with two holes drilled in it , one vertical from the bottom but not right through. then one horizontally to meet with the hole on its axis . this would allow pressure relief but the horizontal hole will not allow dust / ash etc to fall in. cheers kerry
Hi John Thought I'd pass on a message from one of my ebay buyers as it relates to this type of kettle. Dear redspeedster, just wanted to say that i am really pleased with your small meths burner. I thought you might want to know that it fits inside the base of the mKettle and works really well in boiling the water in a good 8 mins. Here are a couple of pictures for your marketing. Well done on a great super-light product. It has now become my lightest alternative to carry to compensate for when twigs are not available. Cheers, Dave - davedavydave I'll bring a burner to Newark and we can try it. Don't worry I'm not completely "lightweight" these days. Gary
Gary (Redspeedster) said, And try it we did HERE at Newark. A great success. Thanks Gary (and Gary's customer Dave). John
