What is your favourite way to suspend your billycan.

OK the full title of this thread wouldn't fit in the box so here it is again.

What is your favourite method of hanging your billycan over the fire.

I use a crane type set up as mostly i camp out on my own and usually only cook with one pot.





Please describe your favourite method and add photos if possible.

 

YouTube- Ray Mears / Simple Pot Hanger
YouTube- Ray Mears / Height Adjustable Hook
Here are a couple of Sir Raymondos vids to help with some ideas.

 

I see Ray has been watching my videos again.

 

He was the best student I ever had.

 

Wow nobody on the forum uses billycans or suspends them over the fire when they go camping?

Does anyone even go camping?

 

I use crane or place them directly on the coals (depending on what I am trying to achieve).

 

guess I'm too used to creature comforts. I use one similar to this, mine doesn't have the charcoal tray

 

Kelly Kettle is a handy thing. I usually use some variation of your crane or a spit between two forks; just depends on what is handiest and the duration of my stay, purpose of the fire, etc. I rarely do an open fire just to boil a hot drink, preferring a small alcoholic stove or Kelly. If we are doing a big camp, there is usually a large coffee pot going on the fire but it is more a social thing than anything and is usually on the grate that someone lugged along.

 

Thats a novel idea that i haven't seen before.

Thanks for posting it,i may have to make a copy.

 

Id love to see your variation as its interesting but i get what you saying about using an alcohol stove for a brew.

Ive not used a kelly kettle but have heard good things.

 

I just use a small stove and a GI canteen cup for my hot water/food needs. Never cooked over an open fire.

Interesting technique though.

 

This is just my personal preference.... I am anti-stove. There is way too much free fuel laying on the ground for me to carry it anywhere. A small cooking fire is a bit more work, but much more pleasing to the soul.

 

Kelly Kettle:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_kettle
http://www.kellykettle.com/

 

Though I have no Billycan or Kelly, I usually use a grate or set cast iron on coals. We used to canp when the children were young and often made coffee by placing the pot on rocks beside the fire pit, not the best but it worked.

 

Well, I see we have a terminology barrier. Based on your pictures: What you call a billycan, we call a coffee/teapot or kettle and the other just a plain ole' pot.

Are you sure that isn't a hobo stove and fire?

 

This is a billycan,it has been used by railroad works in the UK for well over a hundred years or more and funny enough they also called it a billycan.


This is a kettle,used for boiling water.



Now the OP was about how you suspend your pot,kettle,billycan or what ever else you would like to call it,so lets stay on topic ah.

 

Well f*ck me, I guess I replied to the wrong thread with the wrong answer. Sorry for such an off-topic reply.

Billycan

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<!-- start content --> For the dolls or icons called Billycan, see Billiken - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Billiken.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f8/Billiken.jpg/150px-Billiken.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/f/f8/Billiken.jpg/150px-Billiken.jpg.

Modern billycan on a gas stove


A billycan, more commonly known simply as a billy or occasionally as a billy can (billy tin in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada), is a lightweight Cookware and bakeware - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/Filefanne_(Gusseisen).jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Pfanne_%28Gusseisen%29.jpg/220px-Pfanne_%28Gusseisen%29.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/f/f7/Pfanne_%28Gusseisen%29.jpg/220px-Pfanne_%28Gusseisen%29.jpg which is used on a Campfire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="image"><img alt="Question book-new.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png or a Portable stove - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Svea_fotogenk%C3%B6k.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Svea_fotogenk%C3%B6k.jpg/220px-Svea_fotogenk%C3%B6k.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/7/70/Svea_fotogenk%C3%B6k.jpg/220px-Svea_fotogenk%C3%B6k.jpg.
<table id="toc" class="toc"> <tbody><tr> <td> Contents

[hide]

• 1 Usage and etymology of the term
• 2 Modern billies
• 3 See also
• 4 References

</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); } //]]> </script> [edit] Usage and etymology of the term


A traditional billycan on a campfire


The term billy or billycan is particularly associated with Australia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Flag_of_Australia.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Australia"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Flag_of_Australia.svg/125px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/b/b9/Flag_of_Australia.svg/125px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png usage, but is also used in the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom and Ireland <sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference">[1]</sup>. Elsewhere, there is no special term for a pot designed for camping use.
It is commonly accepted that the term "billycan" is derived from the large cans used for transporting bouilli or Corned beef - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Translation_arrow.svg" class="image"><img alt="Translation arrow.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Translation_arrow.svg/44px-Translation_arrow.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/2/2a/Translation_arrow.svg/44px-Translation_arrow.svg.png on Australia-bound ships or during exploration of the Outback - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Yalgoo_Shire.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Yalgoo_Shire.jpg/280px-Yalgoo_Shire.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/d/dd/Yalgoo_Shire.jpg/280px-Yalgoo_Shire.jpg, which after use were modified for boiling water over a fire. <sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference">[2]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference">[3]</sup>
In Australia, the billy has come to symbolise the spirit of exploration of the outback. To boil the billy most often means to make Tea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg" class="image"><img alt="Text document with red question mark.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/40px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/40px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png. "Billy Tea" is the name of a popular brand of tea long sold in Australian grocers and supermarkets<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference">[4]</sup>. Billies feature in many of Henry Lawson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Henry_Lawson_photograph_1902.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Henry_Lawson_photograph_1902.jpg/225px-Henry_Lawson_photograph_1902.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/9/93/Henry_Lawson_photograph_1902.jpg/225px-Henry_Lawson_photograph_1902.jpg's stories and poems. Banjo Paterson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Banjo_Patterson.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Banjo_Patterson.jpg/225px-Banjo_Patterson.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/b/b2/Banjo_Patterson.jpg/225px-Banjo_Patterson.jpg's most famous of many references to the billy is surely in the first verse and chorus of Waltzing Matilda - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Elderly_swagman.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Elderly_swagman.jpg/220px-Elderly_swagman.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/a/a9/Elderly_swagman.jpg/220px-Elderly_swagman.jpg: "And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled..."
[edit] Modern billies


A billy with integrated heatsink, lifted using a billy-grip


In recent years, conscious of the important role played by billies in lightweight Backpacking (wilderness) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Backpacking_in_Grand_Teton_NP-NPS.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Backpacking_in_Grand_Teton_NP-NPS.jpg/390px-Backpacking_in_Grand_Teton_NP-NPS.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/2/20/Backpacking_in_Grand_Teton_NP-NPS.jpg/390px-Backpacking_in_Grand_Teton_NP-NPS.jpg and Mountaineering - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Summitting_Island_Peak.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Summitting_Island_Peak.jpg/220px-Summitting_Island_Peak.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/5/51/Summitting_Island_Peak.jpg/220px-Summitting_Island_Peak.jpg, much research and innovation has gone into improving their design and performance. Issues include:

• Weight. Billies are typically made from lightweight Aluminium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Cubic-face-centered.svg" class="image" title="Aluminium has a face-centered cubic crystal structure"><img alt="Aluminium has a face-centered cubic crystal structure" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Cubic-face-centered.svg/26px-Cubic-face-centered.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/c/c9/Cubic-face-centered.svg/26px-Cubic-face-centered.svg.png, or the more expensive Titanium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Hexagonal.svg" class="image" title="Titanium has a hexagonal crystal structure"><img alt="Titanium has a hexagonal crystal structure" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Hexagonal.svg/26px-Hexagonal.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/c/c2/Hexagonal.svg/26px-Hexagonal.svg.png,<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference">[5]</sup> and handles are often omitted.
• Durability. Light aluminium billies can be easily dented, so quality billies are often made from stronger alloys and Anodizing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Cheap_carabiners.JPG" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Cheap_carabiners.JPG/220px-Cheap_carabiners.JPG"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/2/2e/Cheap_carabiners.JPG/220px-Cheap_carabiners.JPG to harden the surface. Sometimes Stainless steel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Gateway_arch.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Gateway_arch.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/8/89/Gateway_arch.jpg is used instead.
• Thermal efficiency. In order to save fuel and speed-up cooking, some modern billies have Heat sink - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:AMD_heatsink_and_fan.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/AMD_heatsink_and_fan.jpg/400px-AMD_heatsink_and_fan.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/2/25/AMD_heatsink_and_fan.jpg/400px-AMD_heatsink_and_fan.jpg integrated into their bases, and it also possible to buy separate heatsinks which can be wrapped around the pot.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference">[6]</sup> These heatsinks trap much of the heat which would otherwise escape up around the sides of the pot.
• Packability. Billies are often sold in nesting sets, and the innermost billy can often be used to store the stove or other items. Handles are either omitted, removable, or hinged to allow nesting.
• Versatility Frying pan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/Filefanne_(Edelstahl).jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Pfanne_%28Edelstahl%29.jpg/220px-Pfanne_%28Edelstahl%29.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/5/5c/Pfanne_%28Edelstahl%29.jpg/220px-Pfanne_%28Edelstahl%29.jpg-shaped billies can often be used as lids, and lids can often used as plates to eat from. Small pots can often be used as Mug - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Wikipedia_mug.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Wikipedia_mug.jpg/220px-Wikipedia_mug.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/a/ae/Wikipedia_mug.jpg/220px-Wikipedia_mug.jpg for drinking from.
• Ease of use. Non-stick finishes are common, to make cooking and cleaning easier.
• Weatherproofing. Some manufacturers produce "integrated cooking systems" consisting of one or more pots and a stove, designed to work as a wind-resistant integrated unit. Trangia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Trangia_27-4.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Trangia_27-4.jpg/220px-Trangia_27-4.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/5/52/Trangia_27-4.jpg/220px-Trangia_27-4.jpg, and more recently Jetboil,<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference">[7]</sup> are well-known examples of this.

General-purpose pot handles, often called billy-grips, can be bought separately. These have a hinged Pliers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Needle_nose_pliers.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/Needle_nose_pliers.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/6/6b/Needle_nose_pliers.jpg-like construction and can be used to grip almost any pot which has a lipped rim. The term "spondonicle" has also been applied to these handles by some Australian users; <sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference">[8]</sup> it is widely understood that the term is derived from a The Three Stooges - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Copyright-problem.svg" class="image"><img alt="Copyright-problem.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Copyright-problem.svg/37px-Copyright-problem.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/c/cf/Copyright-problem.svg/37px-Copyright-problem.svg.png Sketch comedy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia where the term is used to refer to a mock Surgical instrument - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Various_scalpels.png" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Various_scalpels.png/220px-Various_scalpels.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/9/92/Various_scalpels.png/220px-Various_scalpels.png.