A truly telescopic stove pipe
This post describes the telescopic stove pipe or flue pipe. It is quick forming method and avoids crinkle damage that is caused by the conventional method.
The method is somewhat tricky and is not suitable, for an impatient person or someone who is a bit thicker than the stove pipe. “However, I am a self-declared impatient person and some say I’m a bit thick, but I can do it. Also, I do have another crinkle-free method for dummies”.
Note: This is just part of a 12 part series on improved stove pipe rolling. You may wish to start at Part 1 to taste from the banquet.
Background
In a previous post, I have described how a new roll up stove pipe can be screwed and helically pulled to give a perfect crinkle-free initial formation before ‘burning the pipe in’ with heat. In the same post, I described how the process could be done more easily with subsequent deployments after burning in.
At the end of the post, I alluded to the possibility of reversing the process to put ‘push’ the pipe back into its coil formation, within its holding, rings for backpacking.
The screwing can be done by one person, with very long arms that can hold both ends. “A big Silverback Gorilla might manage”. However, for a 3,000mm long pipe, this screwing is much better and more fun with two people. “Sound familiar?”
The technique is particularly relevant to tight small diameter stove pipes with narrow seam overlaps that allow the flue pipe to be conveniently fitted inside a tiny tent stove while backpacking. However, it works very well, and is much easier, for larger diameter stove pipes as shown in the photo below.
Using ‘pulling screwing’ for deployment and ‘pushing screwing’ for roll up will makes it a truly telescopic process. It avoids the repeated crinkle damage that is involved with traditional methods and can be very quick and convenient while camping.
Here is a little ode to the possible success of a telescopic roll up stove pipes;
Could a stove pipe be fully telescopic? Be radical, smooth and not dystopic? Crinkle free extension and slippery retraction, Is it the best pipe deployment in times anthropic?
Telescopic stove pipe
Telescopic forming with two people
The telescopic un-roll of a flue pipe can be done without causing any creases and wrinkles. It is easiest if a second person can hold one end of the pipe. However, it can be done by one person (see below).
The re-rolling of the foil into a simple compact roll for backpacking without any creases and wrinkles involves the simple reversal of the above process.
Luckily, the roll up process is easier and quicker. This is because the screwing action reduces the diameter of the helix and allows the layers of foil to easily slip over each other during the roll up process.
Also, the holding rings can be left in place and can be easily slipped down onto the diminished outside diameter of the finished coil of foil. “It could not be easier and avoids crinkle damage and the risk of losing holding rings.”
Solo telescopic roll up
For the solo roll up the pipe needs to be held so that it can not rotate at one end (the end that will become the outside of the coil) while it is gently twisted (or rotated) at the other end. At the same time, the rotating end should be gently compressed against the static end. The holding rings can eventually be stacked side-by-side on the rolled-up metal foil.
Another approach that I took was to hold the static end with a thick rubber ring (A thin slice of an automative inner tube.) to tether it to the back of a chair (A branch of a tree could be used as a substitute.). “It was not easy at first, but I very rapidly got better and faster at it. My success spurred me on.”
As with all screwing activities, plenty of practice at home would be worthwhile preparation for the first time in the bush while camping.
A little finishing ode to my stove pipe terminology:
With stove pipe terminology trouble was brewing, A suitable rotary word I was carefully eschewing, The coupling of pushing, rotation and pulling, Damn it all, either way, I will use that term screwing.
Conclusion
The telescopic deployment and pack up of a roll up stove pipe is a novel way to avoid crinkle damage in roll up pipes.
It should provide a convenient way to deal with set up and pack up in bad weather while camping when tent stoves are so welcome and conditions are difficult.
If the technique does not work for you, you can always fall back to using the best conventional crinkly method as shown late in this LiteOutdoors video.
However, you may be the person who wants all the benefits of crinkle-free stove pipe deployment without the patient and tricky manipulation described by me in this post. “Well, I have another open sloppy spiral method for you below.”
Tim
