Portable fire tripod

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Portable fire tripod

So a while ago I saw a design for a large portable fire tripod somewhere online (if anyone knows where, let me know) made of conduit pipe. I did a bit of modification and came out with this little stand, made of much smaller materials. Not only is it portable, but it's adjustable. Ignore the chainmail and tools in the background.

I have a bunch of accessories bundled in a bunch tied together so they won't clank. Each has their purpose. S-hooks of several sizes to change the distance between the fire and the item (this is the equivalent of a medium, low and high setting on a stove) and there are odd shapes such as the misshapen spiral which can house several ties at once (say a string of fish, hooks full of wood to dry, etc.) which can be spread apart, or large lengths cross wise and we have what looks like the top of a spade (the playing card type, not the digging tool) which forms a right angle which is good for things with wide handles.

There are smaller S hooks of various sizes and shapes to link the chains which may or may not hold a container.

And here is a closeup of the mechanism which makes it fold up so easily.

February 07, 2010, 06:08:38 am

#1

DocNinja

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Re: Portable fire tripod

I think I sent the link while discussing Dutch Ovens, though I don't have the original, here's a similar one:

http://www.dutchovenpro.com/product/40433

http://www.cabelas.com/p-0009974.shtml

« Last Edit: February 07, 2010, 06:12:43 am by DocNinja »

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February 07, 2010, 05:41:42 pm

#2

dothacker

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Re: Portable fire tripod

Now that you mention it, it was probably you. But there were instructions and a host of other info on the site. I may have it somewhere, I'll look for it.

Now I just need pans and pots. I'm going to next make a cup holder.

February 07, 2010, 09:58:34 pm

#3

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Re: Portable fire tripod

How about a photo of it set up? That way the mechanism will be shown in action! Did you ever get a Dutch Oven?

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February 08, 2010, 03:30:01 am

#4

dothacker

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Re: Portable fire tripod

I did not but I was thinking about making one from some stainless steel. I'm not sure how to test it for alloy, but I figure if the stuff I think I've got enough of, that it can hold vinegar until it evaporates without a spot of rust, that it should be fine to eat out of. Or if there happens to be a cheap one somewhere, I may just buy one. Pictures later.

February 08, 2010, 04:21:04 am

#5

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Re: Portable fire tripod

Most that you see are cast iron, which has to be seasoned. I interpret seasoning as getting the right coat of rust on there, like black iron oxide instead of red. It's part of the process to add flavor! I should think stainless would be lighter.

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February 08, 2010, 07:31:04 pm

#6

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Re: Portable fire tripod

Stainless would indeed be lighter than cast iron. I was under the impression it was mild steel with a teflon coating like I see on all these newage pans. If it's just cast iron, it's just as safe as the stainless to use.

Your mechanism closeup, Doc. A bit ugly in macro shot, but then again so is the smoothest skin.

Set up with a basic tooling.

Easily holds 20+ Lbs.

Variety of tools.

February 09, 2010, 03:52:20 am

#7

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Re: Portable fire tripod

Chain is adjustable for height, what is the length of the legs and the triangle formed. Also, how would the steel legs hold up to heating? Will they oxidize away or should they be stable? Looks like a very utilitarian set up! You should be ready for some real camp cooking!

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February 09, 2010, 04:16:28 am

#8

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Re: Portable fire tripod

Each leg is 30" long (I cut to an arbitrary length by eye) and the triangle is any you desire. Originally, I had no intention of making adjustable chain and hook heights, so with the free range of motion and a shove into the ground, mostly any triangle is good. The leg tips are not sharpened because at that thin diameter, they will shove in the ground nicely, and with no tips, they will not damage surfaces, or slide on slippery surfaces as easily (unless the spike is in the ground, it makes a leg much slipperier where flat ends find friction or bumps) but pretty good either way. As for heating, the only thing that will go away will be the paint that nears the fire. It's only there to prevent rust during storage. Metal takes a lot more heat than a cooking fire can provide to weaken steel. Though, pipe would be more susceptible to heat bending, as the cross section would be thinner. Say, you can heat a soup can to red hot in a cooking fire, but not a solid eighth inch.

I had my doubts on how much weight it could hold until I tested it, it should be quite stable. Now I just need cookware.

March 20, 2010, 01:54:44 am

#9

DocNinja

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Quote from: dothacker on February 09, 2010, 04:16:28 am

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Re: Portable fire tripod

I had my doubts on how much weight it could hold until I tested it, it should be quite stable. Now I just need cookware.

Fire up that forge! Alternatively, have you looked in a thrift shop or Goodwill outlet? They sometimes have old cast iron cookware for cheap prices.

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March 20, 2010, 05:44:55 pm

#10

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Re: Portable fire tripod

Summer and spring cleaning are coming quick, may tag sale shop as well.

March 21, 2010, 04:34:20 am

#11

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Re: Portable fire tripod

A hammered wok is supposed to be highly desirable/ How about a hammered (or forged) cook pot?

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March 21, 2010, 04:36:33 am

#12

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Re: Portable fire tripod

I did try my hand at hammering out a stainless pot. It tore, so I need to figure out how to seal ~5 small holes. Would work for solid foods, just no liquid.

March 21, 2010, 04:06:25 pm

#13

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Quote from: dothacker on March 21, 2010, 04:36:33 am

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Re: Portable fire tripod

I need to figure out how to seal ~5 small holes.

What about using copper wire like a rivet? You could peen out a broad "head" on each side. There must be a some pioneer method. JB Weld is only good to 600 degrees.

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March 21, 2010, 06:05:11 pm

#14

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