My frontier stove will be delivered today and I'm wondering what to do about a spark arrester. We're camping for 2 nights at the end of next week, on a campsite, so I don't want any sparks flying onto anyone's tent! But my parents have given me 2 bags of sawdust based logs that are apparently spark free. And I see that the official spark arrester from Camping Solutions will be on sale in May anyway. Could I confidently get away without one for this first trip? If not, am I right in thinking that a metal bird feeder with the bottom cut off can be attached to the top of the flue somehow and will do the job?
we use a modified bird feeder from B&M which fits perfectly over the flue but will get a 'proper' one when they are out, would agree with Val that the sawdust logs leave a lot of ash and tend to be very smokey before they start burning properly, also when they are red and glowy the slightest knock and they fall apart and burn out faster so be careful when you are tending the fire.
Get any hard wood for burning, preferably oak or fruit/nut trees. Pine and other resin holding wood can get very sparky. Also, make sure the wood is well and dried or the 'pockets' of moist in the wood can boil and burst in the fire giving off sparks, too.
You could make your own temporary spark arrester by getting a sheet of very fine mazed metal gauze and twist it in a tapered shape, then inserting it at the end of the exhaust.
But I would refrain from using those sawdust blocks; as Val (experienced arsonist... )has explained.
Get a sack of kindle dried hardwood from the local DIY or hardware store, axe it up in sticks no bigger than what you can circumcise with your thumb and middle finger and you should have a very nice and comfortable fire.
Also, think fire hazard and take some preliminary actions i.e. extinguishing equipment. You may not prevent your tent from burning down to a cinder but at least you have shown an effort...
Thanks all, sounds like a trip to B&Q is in order then! Are the sawdust logs better for house stoves then? My parents have found them very good, but admittedly they live in the middle of nowhere with no neighbours to think of!
So, if I get a B&Q bird feeder.. do I just cut the bottom off and slide it on? :)
A tent peg pushed through the mesh a few inches from the bottom will stop it slipping down. I made up a bird feeder type, but found I have never had any sparks from the chimney, so have not bothered the last few times. I'm not selfish, and only used it without the arrester when solo camping, or camping down wind of all other campers.
------------- Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.
Quote: Originally posted by raf48 on 05/4/2012
A tent peg pushed through the mesh a few inches from the bottom will stop it slipping down.
Thanks. So.. bird feeder, take the bottom off, remove any plastic bits and replace with baked bean cans if needed (hopefully not!), tent peg through mesh to stop it slipping down. Is that it?
Can't wait to try it out!