Competition - Hang a pot!

[British Red]

Okay - I've read a couple of comments recently about "we need more skills based articles". So I guess its time for another competition!

I for one really enjoyed seeing all the skills in "pimp my firesteel" and "build a bucksaw" so here we are - in honour of the new site - the third "Red challenges you to...." Make a cooking rig competition

This one is designed to handicap the talented carpenters (sorry Jon and Weaver ) and show a good range of fieldcraft skills

So - here are the rules

1. The purpose is to construct a "field expedient" cooking rig suitable for use over a fire (using field or recycled wood etc.)

2. You need to take photos of your cooking rig and demonstrate it can hold at least a billy can with a pint of water in it. Linked threads showing the construction process are particularly encouraged

3. The competition will run from now until the end of June.

4. The winner will be decided by a poll of the members (or semi final polls and a final poll if more than 10 entries are received)

5. The only allowable tools are knife, axe and folding saw

6. To protect your gardens for urban dwellers, no fire need be lit - just show the rig

7. The price is an "over 18" item so written parental consent will be needed from under 18s (and Lurch who isn't to be trusted with sharp things )

If you would like to enter, please enter in the thread below. If you want to contribute something to the prize fund (unused kit, made items etc.) please feel free - all prizes to be sent directly to the winner - no need to do so though.

So - the prize? A rather nicely made replica of an early I.XL folding knife. Frame lock, wood scales, engraved bolsters, clip point and gentle hollow grind. 10" OAL and 4" cutting edge



If you want to play, please signal your interest on this thread...

Red

[Eric_Methven]

Oh goody! I'll have a bash at that.

Eric

[British Red]

Wouldn't be a competition without you Eric - mind you we'll expect something special with your skills - and no getting your Cegga all dirty by actually using it

Red

[Eric_Methven]

Oh, I must, I must. I'll be using the Cegga mini axe, my damascus knife and my folding saw. Just the stuff I would actually have on me to make a 'field expedient' anything.

Are we to post our entries on this thread?

Eric

[British Red]

Well, I'm hoping for a few "step by step" guides so, for those who do those, I would ask for a separate thread with a link (although a picture in this thread of the finished product would be good).

Theres a couple of more advanced set ups I've been meaning to try myself, so I may try them and post a few piccs (although no point in winning my own knife so info only really - unless anyone offers something I want at which point I'm going to play too!)

Red

[OzaawaaMigiziNini]

I'll see if me and JonM can have a bash at it this week. We're also doing some reviews on gear, so we might as well "test" our saws and knives!

[leon-b]

im in
leon

[woodwalker]

Hi Red,

I can't really say no to another one of your competitions can I (especially as I didn't win last time... )

But just a clarification here ; by cooking rig do you mean stuff like Wayne's Morrisons drainer stove and other things like that, or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

cheers,

woodwalker

[leon-1]

Not an entry, but something to get it started.

This is Ahjno next to the tripod and pot hanger that I made last year.


The sticks that made the uprights came from a shelter that had been taken down the day before by other people on site.

The pot hanger was suspended from linen thread, I had turned into string, from my equipment repair kit.

Like this in detail.



Or there are these type.



this one is a little smokey



As I said just a couple to get you started.

[Biddlesby]

Does this have to be beautifully simple or more of a Rube Goldberg style? All natural materials I presume.

[British Red]

Hi Red,

I can't really say no to another one of your competitions can I (especially as I didn't win last time... )

But just a clarification here ; by cooking rig do you mean stuff like Wayne's Morrisons drainer stove and other things like that, or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

cheers,

woodwalker

Stick is the operative word here! Something made in the field (or the back garden) using available materials (branches etc.). Not so much hobo stoves as pot hangers, fire cranes etc. - similar in fabrication to what Leon has illustrated.

It can be as simple or elaborate as you wish Biddlesby - extra points for illustrating the "step by step" process

Red

[lupus]

i'll have a go at that,has it got to look posh or is function more important.

[leon-b]

Right heres my entry and mini tutorial

first up
gather your wood, you need two Y shaped ones and one long straight ridgepole


push the two Y shaped sticks into the ground like this


rest the ridgepole on top, like this


now for the hook:
get a bit of wood that has a sideshoot coming off it, cut just below this and cut above it leaving enough wood so that it will reach the fire

then you need to batton it to create your notch, you should end up with this




put together, light your fire and you should have this


leon

[weaver]

I was going to stay out of this. Didn't even open the thread until today. Just wanted to see who is playing. But I see that I am directly challenged so I must, and if I win I'll donate the prize unless someone contributes some red antler or a chunk of flint.

So, I'm off to the woods Saturday to see what I can do.

[British Red]

Good entry Leon - nice to see it isn't just the "old hands" that can do it!

Lupus - its down to a vote so it can be fancy, simple, ingenious whatever you like!

Weaver - wouldn't be a competition without you and Mr Pickett - no planes allowed though

Can't do Antler but I reckon I can find some flintas an alternative prize if you win (postage permitting)

Red

[weaver]

Weaver - wouldn't be a competition without you and Mr Pickett - no planes allowed though

Can't do Antler but I reckon I can find some flint as an alternative prize if you win (postage permitting)

Red

I read the rules Red.

I plan to do the whole thing with my Wave. A pocket knife is OK, right? No different than a SAK really.

But what about measuring tools, a micrometer sure would come in handy! But to keep in the spirit of the outdoors I will cut a stick for a gauge. Now to hire a photographer.

[British Red]

Thats what DD is for mate

Any "pack portable" knife, saw axe type stuff is just fine

I'll do a quick rig in the next couple of days too - better stuff to follow naturally!

Red

[weaver]

Thats what DD is for mate


Red

But, she won't work for free. Teenagers are funny that way. And her mom won't let me withhold rations.

[JonnyP]

I might just have an idea........I am in ...

[weaver]

Ohhh, watch out! He has an idea, clear the roads!

This is going to be fun!

[weaver]

Don't you need to be careful with fire or does it not spread over there? If I had a fire at home with all those wood chips around it would burn the house down. We have to dig a hole or circle some stones to keep the fire together.

In some other pictures I have seen fire right next to big piles of leaves and even inside a debris hut. That would catch the whole forest on fire here.

Why so (what we would call careless) little concern for fire spreading? Or is the weather so damp that nothing burns?

[JonnyP]

Ohhh, watch out! He has an idea, clear the roads!

This is going to be fun!

This is going to be fun, can't wait to start......

[leon-b]

it was very damp mate, it didnt seem to spread so i didnt worry to much about it, if it did start to spread though i would have done something about it
leon

[weaver]

Yes, I know you would, nothing against you. You've come a long way in a short time for a young man!

It just dawned on me that I see a lot of fires burning very close to leaves and such. Must be damp as you say? That could never be allowed here, much too dry.

[Silverback]

I am usually an interested lurker on these type of threads so I guess it is high time I stuck something up

[Northern Giant UK]

WEAVER "In some other pictures I have seen fire right next to big piles of leaves and even inside a debris hut. That would catch the whole forest on fire here.

Why so (what we would call careless) little concern for fire spreading? Or is the weather so damp that nothing burns?"

Lmao!

Over here What we would consider "Dry" you would consider "Wet", In fact a countryman of yours wrote a song on the subject called "Forty shades of green" most dont realise it was written about the UK and that the forty shades do not refer to grass etc. they refer to algae & moss! (J.K.)

Britain is a nice place, it just needs a roof lol.

Kev

[leon-b]

ok mate, point taken
on your question, yes it is very damp, especially in the winter and autumn, doesnt bother me to much though, i quite like the rain
leon

[rich59]

I usually stick my pot in the side of the fire. I have just realised why I do this. Because it hasn't got a handle! I guess it is designed to go on a gas burner.

I will declare an interest in hanging my handleless pot. Not sure what I will come up with.

[jon r]

count me in on this one Red. You may see my entry in a few days. Nice prize by the way!

[British Red]

Excellent Jon I'm delighted - I've been hoping you would enter one of these

Red