How Volcano Kettles Work


Volcano kettles, also known as Kelly Kettles work in a very similar way to Ghillie Kettles and Storm Kettles. They are most environmentally friendly way to boil water: economical, sustainable, renewable.

How it works

A Kelly Kettle will boil water very rapidly depending on the fuel you're using. Made from aluminium it is essentially a double-walled chinmney with the water contained in the chimney wall. Once the kettle is filled with water, simply start a very small fire in the base, set the kettle on the base and drop additional fuel (twigs, leaves, grass, paper, etc.) down the chimney. The large internal surface area of the chimney heats the water very quickly. When the water boils, hold the Handle at an angle of 90° to the Kettle - then lift the Kettle clear of the base. To pour, lift it by the handle and tilt it using the cork chain.


The tradition of using the kettle as a method of boiling water at lunchtime goes back over a hundred years and the design has changed little since it was first introduced. The shores of the lake provided ample fuel for use in the kettle, where washed up twigs, sticks and dried grass were easily available. Visiting anglers are as amazed today as they were some hundred years ago with the speed at which the water could be boiled and, through word of mouth, these anglers have spread word about the kettles worldwide.



How to use it

The Kelly Kettle is easy to use. We recommend that you follow the following five steps when using your Kettle:

  1. Remove base from the bottom of the kettle and place the base on level ground – flat side down. Fill base with combustible material such as newspaper, dry grass or very small tinder.

  2. Remove protective cork from kettle and fill kettle with water. Do not replace the cork. Then place the kettle securely on the base.

  3. Light fire through the hole(s) in side of the base and face into wind for extra draught.

  4. Insert additional fuel through the chimney (use small twigs for best resultsl).


NOTE: Never hold the handle above the chimney when the kettle is lit. Always keep children away from the kettle when in use. Use surplus water to extinguish fire