How big is your billy?

[resnikov]

After getting a Honey Stove for crimbo and using my crusader cup on it, I am thinking about getting a billy can to use on it instead. From what have a read a lot of people have a zebra billy can, but no one seems to list what size they have. So waht sort of billy do you use and how big is it? pros and cons of that size ?

[JEEP]

My Zebra is a 12 cm.

[resnikov]

Do find that an ok size ? I was thinking about the 10cm but thought it might be a bit small ?

[Fletching]

I have a ten and a twelve. In my opinion, I find the ten's big enough for a decent feed (unless yer a porker) and you could even feed two with a 12 (unless yer both porkers). I started with the twelve but usually just use the ten these days.

Hope this helps.

Steve

[paul standley]

I use a 10cm diameter 'tea caddy' in stainless steel, it holds just over a pint and cost me £1. I just added a wire handle and a tag on the lid to lift it off.

Depends what you want to do with it really, that determines the size more often than not.

DIY billy's aren't everyone's cup of tea, so if you want an off the shelf one then a Zebra 12cm is probably a good choice.

[luresalive]

I'm a serious porker, I like the 14cm..

[jack_in_the_green]

ha! i have a 16cm zebra billy and i am a real porker lol! I use mine mainly for group cooking or brewing up over a fire for 5 or 6 people as it has a 3 litre capacity. i usually do most of my personal cooking with a crusader cup as i like the fact it fits over my water bottle in a pouch and saves space. just my tuppence...

[feebullet]

I use a 16cm zebra, I've done a few mods, like a pouring point and fitted the lid to water tight. Added a stainless mesh steamer / fishnet / butterfly net. The mesh is useful, don't know about the size issue though, 16 is a good size if you want to be able to utilize the pot for larger tasks.

[comanighttrain]

about 8...oh billy? never mind.

[Martin]

I've got the 12cm Zebra billy as well. It's so nice and shiny, I can't bring myself to use it on the fire at the moment so it's being gently broken in on meths and gas stoves. :ashamed:

Martin

[Ben Casey]

I havent got one yet but I'm reading with interest :)

[Fletching]

I havent got one yet but I'm reading with interest :)

Let's see what happens when comanighttrain puts his '8' over the fire. Might help you with your choice. ;)

[Bambii]

I've got the 12cm Zebra billy as well. It's so nice and shiny, I can't bring myself to use it on the fire at the moment so it's being gently broken in on meths and gas stoves. :ashamed:

Martin

Martin... Tuttutut...

Mines a stainless steel tea thing, it fits inside my hobo stove. I think its about 10cm?

[klause]

Another porker with a 14cm Zebra.

[jikido]

Mine is a 14cm. I like it because I can fit two MRE packets in it no trouble, also I stand it in the fire so the wide base makes it sturdy. I picked up a stainless steel biscuit barrel from a charity shop for 50p. My trangia pot lift fits it and it has a good lid. That is 10cm so occassionally use that to brew up. Its a lovely little pot. I like to make a brew while I cook my rice. Hence two pots.

[bigzee]

Whilst packed size (and perhaps heatsink /air cooling) may be an issue, surely a larger pot would hold a small amount or a large amount of liquid or food? It could also be used to store all the other bits of kit securely.

Martin: If you'd taken the cheapskate option of using a black S/S tea caddy then fire blackening "doaan ma'err do it?"

[jikido]

Whilst packed size (and perhaps heatsink /air cooling) may be an issue, surely a larger pot would hold a small amount or a large amount of liquid or food? It could also be used to store all the other bits of kit securely.

Martin: If you'd taken the cheapskate option of using a black S/S tea caddy then fire blackening "doaan ma'err do it?"

I don't care about the pot getting black on the outside, I keep the food on the inside, and its for use, not for inspection, most of it cleans off with a good scourer and the actual cleaning of it is a kind of meditation in itself, reminding me of the fantastic experience I had getting it blackened.

It goes in a bag in my rucksuck so don't get other things dirty.

[bikebum1975]

I'm gonna make one from a 2 pound coffee can for larger stuff and a one pounder for myself. Yeah I know I can go buy one but got the cans and some brake cable for the bails handles just need to sort the lid out toying with some scrap copper from a roofing buddy. Yep will take pics soon as made up

[andy202wr]

4" for when I go alone or with my son John, 8" for three or more. I put mine on a pouch as well, it keeps my bag clean.

[bigzee]

I'm gonna make one from a 2 pound coffee can for larger stuff and a one pounder for myself. Yeah I know I can go buy one but got the cans and some brake cable for the bails handles just need to sort the lid out toying with some scrap copper from a roofing buddy. Yep will take pics soon as made up
Some of these food cans are designed to be stacked, and therefore if you skim the bottom 3-5mm off the bottom of one horizontally you have a pefect fitting lid. If you leave a "tab" about 10mm square as you cut, you have a small handle to lift it off with, as I have done with the Lidl chicken noodle soup tin cookpot I keep in my car-boot brew kit. Poke a few small holes in the edge for steam indication or draining.

[bikebum1975]

Some of these food cans are designed to be stacked, and therefore if you skim the bottom 3-5mm off the bottom of one horizontally you have a pefect fitting lid. If you leave a "tab" about 10mm square as you cut, you have a small handle to lift it off with, as I have done with the Lidl chicken noodle soup tin cookpot I keep in my car-boot brew kit. Poke a few small holes in the edge for steam indication or draining.


Thanks Mate appreciate the info

[bigzee]

Picture showing lid made from bottom of identical stackable can.

[LandRoverMatt]

zebra billy 10cm proper little thing for makin a cupper , had to take these plastic clamping things they melted dont know why they came with it :(

[jikido]

zebra billy 10cm proper little thing for makin a cupper , had to take these plastic clamping things they melted dont know why they came with it :(

I also replaced the handle with copper wire, this helps with the packing of it and is better for pot hanging over a fire. We are all bad uns, we should have mentioned pull off them plastic fittings. The zebra pot is designed for regular cooking stoves. Its just blooming handy for us camper types.