Campfire inside a tipi

[Liver eatin’ Johnson]

In my limited experience of building one 14' diameter tipi with a liner, I found that the campfire inside was very cozy but tended to smoke up the inside after it burned down. Is there a way to avoid that problem and what do you suppose we were doing wrong? :hmm:

 

[Holley]

Most of it has to do with the wood you use. You need good hard wood to keep the coals but a fast burning wood to keep the light. You also build small fires....we all have a tendency to build way to big a fire in a tipi.

So....I use oak with pine. Then....when all else fails...I turn on the propane fire and go back to bed. :crackup:

 

[Liver eatin’ Johnson]

I turn on the propane fire and go back to bed.

I suppose there would be a market for a gas log tipi firepit... ::

 

[Holley]

Actually....there is. I have come down with Adult Asma or severe Brronchitis and have trouble breathing smoky fires. :cry: Too many rendezvous and Powwows.
So...a friend of mine came up with this fire that I use in my tipi. :thumbsup:

No smoke, keeps you warm, can cook on it and do not have to adjust the smoke flaps. And in the morning if it is real COLD, the fight is who has to turn on the fire...other than who gets up to go to the bathroom first.

 

[Kenney Moore]

Howdy,
I size of your fire does make a big differance in the amount of smoke and it does not take much fire to keep your lodge warm. The hard wood idea is a good way to limit the smoke, but the soft wood pine may create more smoke because of the ceasote it produces.
You may need to adjust your smoke flaps some what due to changing wind conditions.
Where you set your lodge up can have a bearing on the smoke inside also. When I used to set my 18' lodge up, I tried to stay out of the woods because the air thru the trees does not blow in a steady direction and I could not keep the smoke flaps adjusted properly.
The gas fire logs idea might be good on someones private property rendezvous, but I don't think it would be acceptable at a period correct event. Gas is usually only ok for food vendors and only then once inspected. If I were you, and wanted to try to use this, I'd contact the event organizers and check on being able to use it.
Sorry if I'm rambling, but these are my thoughts. :yakyak:

 

[Holley]

The NMLRA..of which I am a member since 1974, does not allow propane fires or any liquid like kerosine in camp, not even charcoal fire starter. :shake:

But, with all the problems with forest fires in the West, propane is allowed because it is a contained fire. In my case, you cannot tell my fire from a real one and the tank is well hidden...out of site..covered.

Having seen 5 tipis go up in flames from the old NAPR to the Western NMLRA...the Alafia in Fla. and my own 12' tipi at the New Years Yulee Rendezvous (I use to put on),:cry: those were all burned down by stupididity and carelessness. :results:Either they were cooking in the tipi with hot grease, had their floors stuffed with hay and the fire caught the hay or left the fire or candle unattended for a few moments...and that is all it took. :huh:

No fire is safe around neglegence. :m2c:

 

[TwoShadows]

Back in the late '60's we learned a neat way to reduce the amount of smoke in the lodge. we would bury a small diameter piece of pipe ( say 2 inch diameter) from outside the tipi to the fire pit....creates a natural draft.....works regardless of which way the wind is blowing. Our first attempt at using this method was made of beer cans and pork 'n bean cans with both ends cut out to form a pipe for the draft line. Some of you older members here might remember the 24' Cheyenne lodge at Friendship. Biggest lodge around since Julia-wades-in-the-water passed away back in the '30's they said back then. Lots of bigger ones around since then, but we were quite a commotion back then. We did tend to party a bit. The draft pipe isn't correct of course, but it was essential for us when we did a lot of our winter camping. I suppose it is as p c as "profane" gas though.

 

[Liver eatin’ Johnson]

Perhaps the vent pipe idea could be used by digging a narrow trench and covering it with a board or tree bark? PC correct materials anyway... :imo:

 

[Keith]

Similar to I think it is called a "dakota fire pit".

 

[Claude Mathis]

Similar to I think it is called a "dakota fire pit".

Yep, just a much longer "tunnel"... Primitive Cooking

 

you didnt say if you had a liner or not. a liner properly placed dose a lot to help draw the smoke . If you havnt done it place some ribbons on the tips of your poles , this isn