Fires

I’m just sitting here watching rugby and got thinking when was the actual last time I slept in a doc hut. Came up with December 2019. The point been I’ve done a heap of trips since then. 95% of them roaming the back country and living out of a pack. So if I get into a camp cold ,tired and wet from crossing rivers - guess what the first job is after putting up the fly?

Seasoning cast iron is a very simple process.

Heat skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat and rub with a vegetable oil-soaked paper towel or rag. ...Allow the skillet to dry out on the stovetop.Repeat this process until skillet looks glossy, smooth, and dark, and is not sticky or patchy, about 3 rounds.

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Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

yes they are great if properly treated from new - and ones knows how to look after them - but sadly many dont - been to a lot of huts and there is a cast iron camp oven been left there but sadly rusted so badly cant be used - we always had aluminium camp ovens when I worked in the bush - much easier to look after - so Black Rabbit be good if you could tell us how you treat a new cast iron camp oven and how do you fix a rusted one ??

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I enjoy cooking, outdoor cooking particularly. One thing I learned is the real cast iron cookware when it `s new is not black, but is more silvery. After treatments, it `s black, shining black, you can fry a egg without oil. I am no expect of metals...you get lots pigs, so use the pig skin, take little time about 30 minutes then you will have a good pan. It `s a long story to tell, I will PM or post here after this weekend since I am on fishing trip. Sorry

I love a campfire after a big day in the bush it seems to chill you out and get the stories flowing before you crash out. One night sitting around the fire talking to my 3 hunting mates a Sika hind came flying through our camp and jumped over the fire we were sitting around making my mate drop the bottle of Whiskey we were having a nightcap from, that certainly doesn't happen very often and would be a once-in-a-lifetime event for me. Has anybody else had that happen to them?

There is nothing more primal to modern man, than a fire. Nothing !

In fact 1/3rd of the 8 billion people on this planet today, still cook over an open fire

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Originally Posted by 57jl

... Has anybody else had that happen to them?

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No I have never dropped a bottle of whiskey due to deer jumping over campfire. Very unusual indeed.

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Originally Posted by 57jl

I love a campfire after a big day in the bush it seems to chill you out and get the stories flowing before you crash out. One night sitting around the fire talking to my 3 hunting mates a Sika hind came flying through our camp and jumped over the fire we were sitting around making my mate drop the bottle of Whiskey we were having a nightcap from, that certainly doesn't happen very often and would be a once-in-a-lifetime event for me. Has anybody else had that happen to them?

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Must have been a (heat sika)

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Originally Posted by Bushline

Must have been a (heat sika)

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Post of the year. Well done.

Hi@Barry the hunter

I am no expert for metal works, only share my living experience, and I have those modern cookware but they are only designed for cook a hot meal. The cast iron ones is not cheap in NZ, so if you bought one here is the steps what how I prepare it.

1st, use water and dishwashing liquid clean it up and put it on fire heat to dry, and do it again,
2nd, heat it up and use pig skin as brush to do further clean up, you could see how dirty it is, pig skin will turn into black, and you may do this step for two or three times, and then wash it with hot water, not cold water.
3rd. heat it up, use pig skin like step two to check if it cleaned, and if so your cast iron should be shiny black in color. and fry a egg see if the egg without adding any cook oil and if the egg is not sticky with it, then you are done.
step 4 is you have to actually use your cast iron for sometime before you leave them into bush or outside. And the one you found rusty one, it can be restored, only take more time like to do with new ones. Hope this could help.

cheers