Ultimate PSK Water Boiling Container

On a whim I added a stainless steel foil pouch to my last order for McMaster-Carr. They are used to protect metal parts during heat treating. The foil is only .002" thick but it is infinitely more robust than aluminum foil.

It has VERY sharp edges. I carefully folded over the foil on three sides with some pliers. There's not much you can do with the open end, so I would advise against trying to drink directly from it.

I used a needle to poke a small hole on each side of the open end to thread with some snare wire as a bail. The pouch I tried is 2.5"x5" and when puffed open, it holds just over 1/4 cup. A one of the wider sizes would probably be better, even if you cut it down to be shorter.

Here's a short video clip of the pouch in use: Ultimate PSK Water Boiling Container

As you can see, the edges are cool enough to hold within seconds of taking it out of the fire.

What do you think?

Very nice! Can you carry it for some period of time in your PSK to see how it will withstand wear? Any ideas for the sharp edge cover? Perhaps a piece of duct tape will do?

I was wondering about the pouch one of these comes in:

http://www.woodsmonkey.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=324:best-glide-ace-emergency-ration-pack&catid=36:misc-gear&Itemid=57

I think you are on to something that may prove viable... let it withstand the abuse of being part of your kit, and see how it stands up to that.


I suggest you make it just large enough to fit into whatever PSK container you're using - i.e. just a bit smaller than that container. You can also use tape (duct tape, electrician's tape) along the edges to prevent them from slicing up your gear. If you find a tape flavor of your liking, it may even prove helpful for drinking....

That one looks like a plain plastic. I doubt it will allow to boil water. Especially having the aluminum cooking pan in it for that purpose.

Looks interesting. On the subject of containers for boiling water, why don't kit makers just give us a kit with a container that opens only on one end? Sure, capacity wouldn't be fantastic, but being able to easily boil small amounts of water to empty into a plastic bag from your kit seems like a good idea.

Like a metal bandaid box?

I'm saving a foil CapriSun juice pouch for experimenting with as soon as possible. Have to convince the wife it's worth starting a fire to see if it can boil water without too much detriment. Has anyone tried this technique and succeeded?

I thought these were made of plastic (mylar?). Then again, on one of the survival guy cable shows, the guy showed you can boil water in a regular PET plastic bottle if you're careful about how close you get it to the fire.

I'm liking the metal Band-Aid box idea. Not much capacity but it would make a good PSK carrier and it's pocket-carry friendly. Rust would be a concern, as they are not stainless steel. Do they still make them? I can't remember seeing one in a long time.

What's the reason for a tiny amount of boiling water? I'm curious because for either melting snow or re-hydrating meals you don't need boiling and 1/2 c at a time is slow; and for water purification it's also slow.

Good question. There's only one reason: It is better than nothing.

In a "pocket" sized survival kit there really isn't room for a metal container. Traditionally, aluminum foil is included to improvise a cooking container. However, the wear and tear of carrying it around tends to cause pinhole leaks at the corners where it was folded.

This was my attempt to find something a little better for a pocket kit.

I'd never purposely go into the woods with just a pocket kit. I always bring a metal cup, among other things. But it is possible that you might end up with only what's in your pockets.

A cup of tea?

How about a Reynold's Oven Bags? They sell them in different sizes in your grocery store. If you want it even smaller, just go at it with a pair of scissors. They are food grade, and made for high temperatures. Take one, fill it with a quart of water, and then use a Sharpie marker to trace the water line (while still at home). To boil water in the field, fill to the water line mark, tie off the top, and suspend over a fire using the end of the cord/wire you tied it off with.

Another thing to consider is a foil bread mini-loaf pan. Also found in your local grocery store. They are much much heavier foil than typical aluminum foil on a roll. Fold the pan in on itself so it's flat and store in your kit. To use, simple unfold. You probably wouldn't find any holes. It may not be good for many fold/unfold operations, but fold once, unfold once is OK. And once you're in a emergency situation you'll just unfold it once and leave it that way.

Haertig has the correct on loaf pans

Never seen the oven bag thing though - if the top is sealed, wouldn't steam pressure just split the bag?

I don't believe in oven bag. There is no open flame in the oven. Anyone to try that for real?

> Why don't kit makers just give us a kit with a container that > > > opens only on one end?
Someone suggested a spectacle case for this one time. In the UK there are metal ones that open at one end. You'd have to flatten one end to stand it up as they are always rounded at each end.
They appear to be stamped together not soldered. (I was worried about lead in the solder - is this a real concern anyone?)
Any reason this won't work?
The Sock

Sock, I can't tell you for sure on the lead thing, but I always thought the big concern was developmental delays in kids with lead exposure. I couldn't tell you effects on adults. Good question.

A case that's something like 5x3x1 on the inside would hold about a cup of water. Yeah, that's not a lot, but a stainless steel container designed for kit carry would remove a lot of fussiness concerns with water in a kit. If the container is solid, and you've got means for a fire, then maybe you don't have to pack tablets or foil or what have you. It's just another approach.

Here is an option that looks promising, though I have not tried it.

That cooking pan option had been discussed many times already. Single use thing. And still prone to wear when not in use.

Wish they made a smaller version of this coffee can.

If the discussion is moving to the size range of something that can wrap around a 32 oz Nalgene bottle, there are numerous possibilities:

1) a stainless steel cup specifically sized to fit a Nalgene. Commonly available, it takes up little space, will heat a significant amount of water, and is quite durable. Drawback is that it is fairly heavy.

2) a Snow Peak 700 cup - titanium, which means it is pricy, but it is very light and extremely tough. I swallowed hard and bought one of these last year. It was worth it. Larger capacity - it is really all you need for a minimal cook kit, and it comes with a lid.

I would love to see an aluminum version of these cups. It would be light, cheap, and not quite so durable, but I have not found one.

A metal cup that will fit a shirt pocket PSK is a real toughy, as this thread demonstrates. The closest is the old Tacoma Mountain Rescue PSK which is contained in a tobacco can (Prince Albert). Just a little too big to really fit in the average shirt pocket, but it can produce a reasonable amount of liquid from snow.

I would hate to melt snow in an Altoids tin, but if that was all you had.......

I developed a companion kit to my PSK, it is the "Shelter" componant (Heatsheet Bivy/2-Person Heatsheet/matches/75' nylon twine) that is contained within a Hersey's Chocolate Syrup can (284 ml), this can is wrapped in cordage (nylon mason cord and parachute cord if I remember correctly) then this unit is inserted into a small stainless steel container with a see-thru lid. The final size is about 3 1/4" dia by 4 1/2' tall.

With this kit you have overhead shelter and the bivy bag, plus 2 containers to boil water in. The metal containers have 2 holes punched in the top and wire to make them into billy cans. I will post this kit someday when I get free time to take the pictures and do the write-up, maybe after Christmas.

I used the outer can on last springs ovenight trip seen here hanging over the fire between my boots in image # 8.

The ability to drink a hot liquid when it is cold allows you to take the heat energy of the fire and apply it directly to your inner body core. Helps me get through the night when I have minimal equipment.

Mike