I know many men - but not all - believe the blacker the billy and better the taste.  IMHO that is hogwash!  I use mine in and out of the van and also at home and I insist they be kept in as new condition as possible. Mine are years old and still shining. I always smear some washing up detergent around them before putting them on an open fire.  They clean up quickly in the washup without any scrubbing or having to use steel wool, but obviously a good idea to just wipe the outside with paper trowel or baby wipe before washing with any other stuff. The process is known as soft soaping and when first introduced they used leftover bits of soap which into collected in a jar and a little water added to,make it like a paste. The washup liquid is easier and quicker than the old method.

Gday...

Interesting how we have different ideas, expectations and preferences.

I have always thought that the best reason to keep the billy in its 'blackened' condition (on the outside) was so that it absorbed heat much better - shiny outside 'reflected' heat taking longer to boil. [those with differing proof enter the discussion here ]

I have three 'main' billies -

1. open fire (my favourite) which has its own liddle "sleeping bag" to keep the black off other things - carried in the 4X4. I bought this billy in 1986 in the Alice on my NT trip;

2. for the outside 'camping' gas stove (only gets a bit darker from the gas heat) which also has its own liddle "sleeping bag" - carried in the 4X4. A newer model, bought in 1997 in Brisbane, and;

3. for in the van on the gas stove - it stays much cleaner for some reason but still has its own liddle "sleeping bag" - lives inside the van. This one is the baby of the group - bought in 2003.

I have never in my 50 years of camping seen the need to have a 'shiny' billy. I haven't met many, if any, who clean their billy on the outside.

Cheers - John

rockylizard wrote:

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Gday...

Interesting how we have different ideas, expectations and preferences.

I have always thought that the best reason to keep the billy in its 'blackened' condition (on the outside) was so that it absorbed heat much better - shiny outside 'reflected' heat taking longer to boil. [those with differing proof enter the discussion here ]

I have three 'main' billies -

1. open fire (my favourite) which has its own liddle "sleeping bag" to keep the black off other things - carried in the 4X4. I bought this billy in 1986 in the Alice on my NT trip;

2. for the outside 'camping' gas stove (only gets a bit darker from the gas heat) which also has its own liddle "sleeping bag" - carried in the 4X4. A newer model, bought in 1997 in Brisbane, and;

3. for in the van on the gas stove - it stays much cleaner for some reason but still has its own liddle "sleeping bag" - lives inside the van. This one is the baby of the group - bought in 2003.

I have never in my 50 years of camping seen the need to have a 'shiny' billy. I haven't met many, if any, who clean their billy on the outside.

Cheers - John

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 Ahhhh, John, guess we must agree to disagree, as you say, we all have different expectations and that is what makes each  and everyone unique.  Perhaps its something about being a female of the species ..... My kids even tell me that I am anal in how I like things done  Lol!  Just hate the thought of getting that hideous black stuff over each and every thing it touches ... including me.  Good luck with your colourful billy collection, i am sure they have served you well, as mine do me!

cheers

Libby

rockylizard wrote:

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Gday...

Interesting how we have different ideas, expectations and preferences.

I have always thought that the best reason to keep the billy in its 'blackened' condition (on the outside) was so that it absorbed heat much better - shiny outside 'reflected' heat taking longer to boil. [those with differing proof enter the discussion here ]

I have three 'main' billies -

1. open fire (my favourite) which has its own liddle "sleeping bag" to keep the black off other things - carried in the 4X4. I bought this billy in 1986 in the Alice on my NT trip;

2. for the outside 'camping' gas stove (only gets a bit darker from the gas heat) which also has its own liddle "sleeping bag" - carried in the 4X4. A newer model, bought in 1997 in Brisbane, and;

3. for in the van on the gas stove - it stays much cleaner for some reason but still has its own liddle "sleeping bag" - lives inside the van. This one is the baby of the group - bought in 2003.

I have never in my 50 years of camping seen the need to have a 'shiny' billy. I haven't met many, if any, who clean their billy on the outside.

Cheers - John

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 I agree John,,, our campfire billy is as black as the ace of spades,,, why clean the outside???? Takes away the camping / bush feel I think,, am I being a bit romantic (surely not me,, lol). I has a braided fencing wire handle to replace the crummy one it came with.

Ours goes in its place, no cover, but in its place to avoid blackening everything.

PS The inside is clean,,, apart from years of bore water use and calcium stains.

One 20 + yrs old stainles & black  for the fire & looks like it been used. One clean one for the gas stove.

JC.

I've had a billy with a pouring spout and a lid for years..yes black on the outside, and has it's own bag. But I don't often do a campfire these days, so it just sits in the pot drawer. When I bought the caravan, I bought a whistling kettle for inside use, but it's since lost it's whistle.  Very disappointing, but it still makes a bit of noise to let me know it's boiling.

No offence chaslib, but me thinks your kids may be right.  

Yep, agree the kids are right, but dont tell them.  still stick with my anti black Billy's stand ... When you have Only a couple of good Billy's that are used in and out of the van and also at home ... Black is not an a acceptable colour.  

Just finished the washup tonight after fried chicken and baked veggies all cooked on the open fire ..... 3 nice shinny billys all in a row ...   

And, no offence taken,  everyone has their own opinions.

Cheers

chaslib wrote:

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Yep, agree the kids are right, but dont tell them.  still stick with my anti black Billy's stand ... When you have Only a couple of good Billy's that are used in and out of the van and also at home ... Black is not an a acceptable colour.  

Just finished the washup tonight after fried chicken and baked veggies all cooked on the open fire ..... 3 nice shinny billys all in a row ...   

And, no offence taken,  everyone has their own opinions.

 

Cheers

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 Good for you! And wouldn't it be a very boring world if we were all the same. 

GaryKelly wrote:

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How come we say it would be boring if we were all the same but we point at people who are different? :)

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 hmmm