View Full Version : Zebra Billies
At the moment I cook over open fires with the pans from a Military trangia, but I notice that many people here use stainless steel Zebra billies.
Could sombody tell me what makes them stand out from the rest please? :)
A good question. I have two. One's modded like this one (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=3811), the other I use for car camping. They're cheap, sturdy and easy to clean. I use the "steamer" bowl as a plate/bowl.
When all's said and done though, a billy is a billy is a billy. If you're just boiling water, you can do the same job with an empty baked bean tin and a length of wire coat hanger.
Oh. And RM uses them. Obv. :lmao:
i have a 12cm billy, i havent had the chance to use it much but over the times i have used it, it works great
leon
Floyd Soul
14-09-2006, 08:39
They do look great arite.... I was gonna get one, but last night I made two of my own.
I just got a stainless steel coffee can, put two holes in each side, and made a wire hanger for it. I did the same with an aluminium camping pot I've been using. I'm quite happy with them now so I'll leave the zebras for sometime in the future!
Ditto Floyd Soul, I use coffee cans from TKMaxx got three different sizes and use them as needed.
This shows the handle that I made out of welding rod.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/2/medium/nettle_soup_and_fish7.jpg
And this one shows it hanging, you can see the setup, although it’s a bit of an obscured juxtaposition with the wood on wood.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/data/2/medium/nettle_soup_and_fish8.jpg
The smaller pots I made have a double twisted strand handle and a single strand handle. They cook fine, they’re durable and they’re cheap. :D
One's modded like this one (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=3811), the other I use for car camping.Thanks thats an Interesting idea, and sory for being thick but what does it give you? :confused:
I take it the wire is not of the galvanised persuassion?
I`ve always used a couple of Bulldog billies which I inherited from my big bruv. I think they`re about 20 years old now and a funny shade of brown :confused: but still do the job perfectly. I think they`re made of aluminium and can still be sourced on ebay etc.
faolin little wolf
14-09-2006, 14:32
i've used a couple of billies and a zebra is oka but if your looking for a more versitile cook pot try the norwegen army tranger (at least i think its noweigen)
Thanks thats an Interesting idea, and sory for being thick but what does it give you? :confused:
I take it the wire is not of the galvanised persuassion?
Mine's braided steel wire of the sort that bicycle brake cables are made from - they sell it by the metre in B&Q for up and over garage doors.
What does it give you...another good question. You get rid of the rigid bale arm, which I find tends to get in the way a bit, but you do need to find a pot/gripper to have some sort of handle. The wire replaces the bale arm that was removed, so you can still use the billy over a fire.
i've used a couple of billies and a zebra is oka but if your looking for a more versitile cook pot try the norwegen army tranger (at least i think its noweigen)
Close. Swedish Army Trangia.
Re: Bulldog billies, I mentioned these in a different thread, I have a couple of the sets (three nesting pans), my first set is well over 25 years old, and going strong, about £10-£15 on eBay.
They are like these by the looks of it
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nest-Of-Billie-Billy-Cans-Camping-Pan-Cooking-Set_W0QQitemZ130026883505QQihZ 003QQcategoryZ16036QQssPageNam eZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
That looks to be good value for money to me
(not connected in any way to the eBay item)
i've used a couple of billies and a zebra is oka but if your looking for a more versitile cook pot try the norwegen army tranger (at least i think its noweigen) Thats what I use now :)
Do you know the fry pan handle "trick? " Put the rings up and force a 1" diam. 12" long stick in them and use that as a handle to avoid getting your hands burnt. Awesome. :p
copper_head
15-09-2006, 02:26
Cant work out how to post a link but slap nesting billie tins into ebay, theres a set for £15. Good quality come with handles suitable for suspension and you get a good frying pan / plate with each one! Good as well cos ya can carry which ever one suits the size of your group. Used my set for about a year, great quality!
copper_head
15-09-2006, 02:28
Ah didnt see rik_uk3 post, but there the ones!
Close. Swedish Army Trangia.
Close, :D
... if it´s the Enmanskök.
Maybe it´s Trangia, maybe SVEA, maybe HP,....
NC63 ....
M40 or M44: alu or st/st
www.soldf.com/enmanskok.html
If it´s one of the more powerful ranger stoves (Jägarkök) it´ll be most probably an Optimus 77 (which also has a lot of cousins, the youngest of them beeing the No.91 Thor ...)
www.soldf.com/jagarkok.html
Keep an eye out for this seller.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Optimus-91Purple-Flame-Stove-Trangia-Type_W0QQitemZ270026122677QQih Z017QQcategoryZ19296QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
The stoves from him come up often, they are genuine and about half price of some other sellers like www.base-camp.co.uk
Good stove, good quality, light and great value for money, cheap as chips in fact :)
as a stove collector I´ve got my Optimus No. 91 Tor/Purple Flame. It´s indeed one of the best ever made meth. stoves money can buy.
One stove just for the collectors box would IMHO the Simon stove: heavy and thirsty.
Other meth. stoves I´ve got so far: Optimus Tor, Trangia T27, Trangia T28 mini, homemade Westwind copy, Simon stove, Trangia and Svea Enmanskök both in st/st, Tatonka made Trangia burner copy in st/st, Enders bulky stove, several homemade stoves, Esbit in different sizes and some dust collecting kerosene stoves