The Kelly Kettle
More Articles Related to Survival GearThe Kelly Kettle or Storm Kettle or Volcano Kettle is an ingenious device used mainly to heat water and cook food. Its efficiency in heating water to the boiling point
- with a minimal amount of fuel – just a few handfuls
- using just about any type of fuel – dry leaves and twigs, newspapers, olive oil, animal dung, or what have you
- In a very short time – within two to five minutes
makes the Kelly Kettle an excellent piece of survival gear.
What is A Kelly Kettle?
The Kelly Kettle isn’t like an ordinary kettle or cooking pot. Also known as Volcano Kettles and Storm Kettles, Kelly Kettles are essentially hollow double walled chimneys. Water is placed between the walls of the chimney and a fire made at its base.
When a fire is lit the Kelly Kettle will generally roar as its chimney creates a great suction effect. As air is sucked through a couple of holes in the base, it is burned with the fuel you supply, creating great heat and shooting flames through the top opening. This is probably where its alternative name of Volcano Kettle came from.
The double walled construction of the Kelly Kettle means that the contact surface area between the kettle chimney and the water you are heating is at a maximum. Add to this the roaring volcanic blaze that the Kelly Kettle produces, and water is brought to the boiling point very quickly and with a minimum of fuel.
How to Use a Kelly Kettle
To use a Kelly Kettle
- Fill the inside of the double wall (which is actually the chimney) with water via the top opening.
- Start a small fire in the detached base pan.
- Place the chimney over the base pan and fire.
- Feed the growing blaze by dropping twigs, leaves, or other fuel down the top of the Kettle’s chimney.
As I mentioned, the Kelly Kettle’s chimney will create a strong suction, efficiently burning the fuel you supply. The hot roaring fire produced will heat the water located between the double walls to the boiling point very quickly.
In addition to boiling water for a variety of purposes the Kelly Kettle can be used to cook a quick meal. I frequently multi-task with the kettle, heating water to the boiling point within the Kelly’s walls while at the same time using its flame and heat that exits at the top to heat soup or fry up a quick meal.
If I have not yet finished cooking the food when the water has come to a boil, it is an easy matter to remove the double-walled portion of the Kelly Kettle and continue cooking on the fire contained in its base.
Kelly Kettle Safety
Improper use of a Kelly Kettle can cause serious burns, especially from spilled scalding hot water. It takes a little practice and forethought to properly pour water from the kettle without exposing yourself to the heat and flame that exits through the top . This is how it is done safely:
- Place the fingers of one hand on the cork handle of the Kellie Kettle.
- Using your other hand, life the chain attached to kettle.
- The opening containing the water will swing downward. The higher you lift the chain the more the water will pour out.
Kelly Kettle Sizes
The Kelly Kettle is made of aluminum and comes in 1-pint and 2.5 pint sizes. The 1-pint Kettle weighs in a just one pound / .453 kg with a height of 27cm / 10½ inches and diameter of 12cm / 4½ inches. The larger 2.5 Kettle comes in at 1.99 pounds / .9 kg with a Height of 34cm / 13½ inches and Diameter of 16cm / 6¼ inches.
1 Pint Kelly Kettle
I find that 1-pint Mini Kelly Kettles work very well for a single individual on foot. The 1-pint Kelly Kettle weighs only 1 pound (.453 kg). This compares favorably to a typical liquid fuel hikers stove, with the added advantage that the Kellie Kettle will burn just about anything. This means an end to having to carry heavy, bulky fuel and the worry of running out of fuel at inopportune times.
It has been my experience that I have always been able to scrounge up something that burns. As I am hiking, I keep a lookout for pine cones and dry twigs. A half a dozen pine cones or couple handfuls of twigs are more than enough fuel to boil a pint of water in the Kellie Kettle.
During rest stops it is a simple matter to take out my Kelly Kettle in order to quickly brew up a pint of hot tea or coffee, heat some soup, or even fry an egg. I also use it to rapidly bring water to a boil to destroy pathogens when practicing water discipline. Though the kettle itself can only process a pint at a time, the water boils so quickly and efficiently it is easy to process several pints within ten minutes. Additional water can be boiled at the same time using the flame that shoots out through the chimney.
A secondary use of the Kelly Kettle during rest stops is in discouraging buzzing, biting insects. While running the Kettle, drop a few green leaves down the chimney as it burns and enough smoke will be generated to drive them off.
Some have said the Mini Kelly Kettle is excessively bulky. I have found that the interior space of the kettle (which is actually the chimney) is ideal for stowing my basic survival gear items as long as I seal them in a plastic bag from the thin layer of soot. Items such as a plastic signal whistle, 550 paracord, a candle, waterproof matches, magnesium firestarter, 50-gallon drum liner, bandages, and other survival gear fit snugly and safely inside. Since I need to carry this survival gear anyway, filling the 1 pint Kelly Kettle with these items means there is actually little additional bulk in my backpack.
2.5 Pint Kelly Kettle
The full size 2.5 Pint Kelly Kettle is probably too bulky and heavy for an individual traveling on foot. However for a group of several people or more, this size kettle would be a good choice as it can boil substantial amount of water and perhaps more useable for cooking purposes.
Another excellent use for the 2.5 pint Kelly Kettle is at home for the family or stored in the trunk of your car. In an emergency this size kettle can boil plenty of water to make it safe to drink. Its advantage in being able to efficently burn just about any kind of fuel makes it a perfect piece of family survival gear.
Accessories for the Kelly Kettle
Accessories for the Kelly Kettle include an aluminum grill and saucepan that fit neatly over the 2.5 pint base and used for cooking. These can only be used when the chimney has been removed from the base, but allow you to utilize the coals and remaining burning wood after having boiled your water.
There is also a special pot support attachment that allows you to place a pot on top of the Kettle as it boils your water. I recommend purchasing the pot support since it allows you to cook with the heat and flames as they exit the kettle top.
History of Kelly Kettles
Kelly Kettles go back at least as far as Irish fishermen in the early 1900’s. They found the device more useful and efficient than a typical pot for brewing hot beverages while away from home.
Origional Kelly Kettles were made of tin or copper and were sometimes called “Storm Kettles”. More modern versions of similar design are usually made of aluminum, copper, or stainless steel. There has been a call for a titanium version of the 1.5 pint version in order to significantly decrease weight.
The Kelly Kettle Company has registered the name as a trademark and currently manufactures these handy devices in England.
Alternatives to the Kelly Kettle Company
A competitor of the Kelly Kettle Company is the Eydon Kettle Company.
The Eydon Kettle Company makes a product very similar to the Kelly Kettle which they call the Storm Kettle. There is also a device called the Thermette which is manufactured by the Thermette North America Company. The Thermette is generally larger and is built of a slightly different design but works on the same principle.
The Kelly Kettle is a good piece of survival gear. It boils water quickly and efficiently using a minimum of low grade fuel of nearly any type. The kettle can be also used for cooking. The 1 pint version is easily carried by anyone on foot while the larger 2.5 pint kettle is and excellent choice for group or family use.
If you are looking for a good, versatile survival stove that can boil water and cook food with a minimum of easy to find fuel, consider the Kelly Kettle.
worc, s england
have you seen the new ghillie volcano kettles? The cork has been replaced with a whistle.
Alberta
I have been using Kelly Kettles for the past year, and heartily endorse them. It also gets you a lot of strange looks when you set up.
The only drawback to Kelly Kettles are the relatively steep price, but one should last quite a while. Do not transport water in it, as it may leak at the seams when storing water longterm. Some leakage is normal, and this usually seals after a couple of uses.
poole dorset
Have you seen the gillie volcano kettle with whistle, made in poole dorset.
Survival Topics - I have seen these Gillie Kettles online. If you have used one let us know what you think!
Toronto
Yes, I have a 2.5 pint Kelly Kettle and the cooking setup too. A very nice little design that is tried and true. I recommend Kelly Kettles.
Chicago, IL
Gosh, why are Kellie Kettles so expensive? Isn't there a cheaper alternative?
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BFE, KY
I like the Thermette better myself. I have one made of copper that has lasted a long time. Health-wise I feel better about copper than aluminum, plus if you had to carry water in it, copper has antimicrobial properties.
As an emergency stove the water-jacketed volcano-type stoves are a really good choice. Can run on twigs, heat hot water for beverages and thermos cookery and cook meals if you're careful to feed the small, but hot fire correctly. We even used ours in conjunction with a garden sprayer to provide hot showers one fall off the grid.