Kelly Kettle

[nightshade]

Does anyone have recent experience of this clever device? I seem to remember stuffing it with straw and twigs to produce hot water

[henrya]

I bought one a year or so ago as an emergency source of hot water. Nifty gadgets, but I've not had to use it in anger yet!

henrya

[nightshade]

Hello Henrya,I should have known you would have one,there are a couple of rivals I have found;Eydon Storm kettle and a Thermette kettle
as you say just the job when the power goes off,around 6 minutes to boil a pint of water in the kelly kettle

[dmuir]

I am thinking of buying either one of these or a Greenfuel stove (approved by WWF). Any recommendations?

[honeybee]

When I was chief tea maker with BTCV we used a storm kettle that somebody had made, it had the hollow middle where you kept feeding twigs to burn (after first making a mini bonfire to stand it on) it was very effective in bad weather and it held a lot more water than you thought it could.

[Bushcraft]

Yeah, I have one of the Kelly kettles, great things but very messy with soot. Any questions let me know

[nightshade]

Keen to learn as ever, what is a Greenfuel stove exactly?
The Kelly is fine but only heats water,it can burn almost
anything that will fit the central tube

[2blackcat]

They are very efficient
Will burn almost anything - twigs, leaves etc and they don't have to be dry - once it's going

The soot in the chimney is supposed to help heat transfer
Remember to leave the cork out when boiling the water or a nasty accident will happen
And keep the cork off the floor. The last thing you want is dirt in the water

It is a bit bulky if your backpacking but is great for car camping

There are two sizes (1pt and 2 1/2 pt) the large one can have an adaptor fitted that will allow you to cook

All in all, I like mine

[Jonny]

I have a kelly kettle, and its great. I use it nearly every time I go bushcrafting. I rarely use the base on it though, I use mine straight on the fire and it is the fastest way of producing boiling water I know of. Put straight on the embers, I get 2 1/2 pints of boiled water in just a few minutes. Never use it with the cork in, it will blow out with a load of hot water and I have heard of many people getting burned this way, I put my cork into the top sideways, so air can escape, but the cork is kept out of the fire. Most people hang the cork over the handle supports.
As said, they are not good for backpacking as they are bulky, but if you are going just a small distance from the car or home, they are great.
All other makes are coppies of kelly kettles and I cannot comment on them, I like to buy originals, not coppies of. Outdoor code does a good deal on kellys and offers a good service too http://www.outdoorcode.com/

[Bushcraft]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Keen to learn as ever, what is a Greenfuel stove exactly?
The Kelly is fine but only heats water,it can burn almost
anything that will fit the central tube

Green fuel usually refers to twigs, leaves and anything natural, however these days it may also refer to environmentally friendly green gels known as green fuels. These burn for a few minutes and give just enough heat to boil approximately one pint of water, I sell these as an alternative to natural tinder's, although IMO natural is always the way to go!

[dmuir]

I bought a Greenfuel stove in the end as it was only £8! It's not really a stove - more a tin of gel (by-product of the sugar cane industry) which is burnt, with a small metal 'cape' which fits on top & then the kettle goes on top of that. I will be trying it out with conservation volunteers today & it's pouring! So I'll let you know if it works............