New bushwalking forum ? Frugal walking

[Lophophaps]

I'm after a DIY stove that will take a meths burner. Meths has a low calorific value but it can be obtained anywhere, good for interstate travel.The stove I envisage is very simple, just a metal tin into which the billy fits snugly, with a single length of wire through two holes to support the billy, a large opening at the bottom for the burner head and air holes as necessary. The close fit would pass the ehat aling the sides of the billy, increasing efficiency. My billy is 110 mm diameter, so the ideal tin would be 115-120 mm diameter. I have been unable to find such a tin. My last attempt was a one litre paint tin, too small by 5 mm. Any ideas?

[Moondog55]

A-10 from any pizza shop

[Lophophaps]

I am unfamiliar with such matters. The only A10 I know is a small piece of paper, a bit bigger than a postage stamp. What pray is A-10?

[Moondog55]

A tin or can
A-10 is the Australian equivalent of the US #10
It is the largest standard size can and holds just on 3 litres
I make my Hobo stoves with them as a common medium size billy fits inside with 8mm to spare all around. I said pizza shops because tomato puree comes in them and most shops go thru about a dozen cans a nite

[Lophophaps]

Thanks. As a 1 litre paint tin is too small by about 5 mm on the diameter,a 3 litre tin would be too big. I've been looking in disposals shops for a billy I can butcher, but the sizes are wrong.

[crollsurf]

More frugal kit. This time the Switzerland credit card pen knife @ 28g. ~$10 on ebay. Has a knife, scissors, tweezers, tooth pick, pen, screw driver thingy and emergency torch! Just got one and goes OK. You can pick up the Victorinox original for ~$40 which I've owned before but for $10 it does the job quite well. You can get pen knifes for $4 from Kmart but I've found opening the knife etc hard. These pen knifes are easy to get to the bits and pieces and weigh next to nothing

credit card pknife.jpg (48.84 KiB) Viewed 36140 times

[Drummo62]

I'm after a DIY stove that will take a meths burner. Meths has a low calorific value but it can be obtained anywhere, good for interstate travel.The stove I envisage is very simple, just a metal tin into which the billy fits snugly, with a single length of wire through two holes to support the billy, a large opening at the bottom for the burner head and air holes as necessary. The close fit would pass the ehat aling the sides of the billy, increasing efficiency. My billy is 110 mm diameter, so the ideal tin would be 115-120 mm diameter. I have been unable to find such a tin. My last attempt was a one litre paint tin, too small by 5 mm. Any ideas?

A fraction wider than you are after but a 500g Nescafe coffee tin is 130 mm diameter

[Lophophaps]

Thanks, that might work. I may be able to squash the top in a bit, or 10 mm clearance may be fine. Now to find a tin.

[Moondog55]

10mm clearance will work
it is a fine line between too much and too little tho so some experiments will be needed, any excuse for a cuppa tho.
I found that half to 2/3rds of the billy inside the windshield works best, just where the flame cone stops is about right for the bottom of the billy to sit when using metho as the fuel I have found 2 wires more stable than one and this was the best use of the cheap titanium tent stakes I got from Simon although those are touch short for an A-10 they would be perfect for the small coffee tin
I just measured, a 1kg Milo tin is also 130mm * 170mm tall
Poor mans Trangia arrangement

[Lophophaps]

Good, progress. I normally drink Quick as it dissolves better than Milo, but buying a large tin of Milo is okay. I use coat hanger wire or 3 mm wire that I have in straight lengths. Agreed, two supports is best. Trangias are fine but too bulky for my liking. I will forage at the supermarket for a tin.

[Neo]

Picked up one of these.
Not sure if I'll eat it but want the can for a metho burner. Do two rows under the lip with a hole punch apparently.
Put one of these in a suitably sized can that fits your billy.

[crollsurf]

Against the Frugal Convention. Eat it Neo, eat it. LOL

[Mutley]

Never paying $50 for a pair of socks again. Merino socks (80%) pack of 3 for $16.00. Very warm and comfortable. Queen Vic Market, near ATM's

[Neo]

Against the Frugal Convention. Eat it Neo, eat it. LOL

Ok tonight. Picked up a single hole punch from officeworks for $7.43

(their UHU mini superglues are $5.48 which is cheaper than woolworths)

[Neo]

Scored a shower on Friday but left my Kathmandu XL towel behind.
Just tried a felty Chux and it works as well as a synthetic Packtowl.
About two for $5

[Neo]

Have mentioned this one before, here's a photo: a 4lt drysack can double as a foot warmer or if you need to put dry socks into a wet shoe.

[Singe]

Against the Frugal Convention. Eat it Neo, eat it. LOL

I can't tell if that's intended for human or feline consumption...

[Moondog55]

Against the Frugal Convention. Eat it Neo, eat it. LOL

I can't tell if that's intended for human or feline consumption...

They both taste the same

[Neo]

Here's a fairly frugal cook system. Got another canned chicken and did a neater job, hard work for the office hole punch and for my hand! Next time will use a drill.

Illy coffee can
Coles sweet chilli chicken can
A wiggle of wire as a trivet
Bottom of a 750ml milk bottle as a cup
Kids pop top juice as a metho bottle (swapped the pop lid with a drink bottle)

Single row of 6mm holes, the trivet gives a little air gap between the two cans. About 25ml of metho almost got 500ml af cool water to a boil

[ChrisJHC]

I use a similar system:
Tuna can with perforated holes for the stove.
300mL mouthwash bottle to hold the metho.

I already have both of these so they were free.

I really like the idea of an Illy can as a billy.
Should be able to store everything else inside it.
Now I just have to find someone who can "lend" me one.

[Neo]

For the $15 you do get some OK coffee in it.

[Nuts]

Have mentioned this one before, here's a photo: a 4lt drysack can double as a foot warmer or if you need to put dry socks into a wet shoe.

Shopping bags, the 'disposable' kind, are (still) frugal, warm (and silky on the skin even) (if you turn up to a walk in thongs and have left the socks at home..)

[Neo]

Just got a boil using a companion nano kettle and a stone as a breeze break.

[Neo]

Synthetic vest from Target works quite well for layering. I paid the full $30 last winter but previously got one for $7 end of season, which is about now.

[Neo]

Left those Hi-tec shoes behind with a 'free' note so someone will score a frugal bushwalking shoe.

This was lost and not claimed, so now i have a scarf. Gave it the flame test, synthetic but matches my gloves

[Neo]

Kmart now selling dry bags.
About $2 per litre.

[Neo]

any new frugal tips folks?

[Neo]

How about MYO food or carry fresh. Those off-the-shelf hike meals are pricey and yuk!

[Neo]

In between bushwalks...

Socks with a view. Washed in the salty sea, rinsed in a park and (eventually) dried in the bush.

[Neo]

Err, so the frugal bit is living on the road, saved $2.60 on a shower-only at the local pool... up to $10 for a wash & dry but that would have included more items!