This is quite interesting: http://www.trapline.com/1.htm
"The best thing about a tipi is the opportunity to have an open fire in the dwelling. There is nothing quite like a tipi fire with yellow and orange light from the flames flickering off the inside walls and the faces of those gathered within. Dig a small indentation in the soil just forward of center of the floor. Around this shallow pit place stones to create a hearth. A small and efficient fire will lessen the amount of smoke created. In a tipi, the walls block all the wind and the smoke rises up in a perfect column to exit out the opening at the top. It is important to take note of the prevailing winds before setting up your tipi; put the back of the tipi into the wind and this will help in the drafting of smoke from the lodge. In the Western United States this normally means positioning the tipi facing toward the east.
Keep a large supply of wood to the right of the door and smaller pile of immediate use nearer to the fire. Experiment with different kinds of wood... . Pine throws more sparks than most wood but it's easy to light, burns furiously and gives off very little smoke if maintained and throws ample light. For serious winter living I would suggest a wood burning stove, it contains and controls your fire much better. During a storm the wind can change direction ruining your careful plans for drafting smoke out the flaps. With a wood stove you can keep the flaps closed at the top and keep the heat from escaping.
There are two ways to vent your pipe from the stove. You can vent it out through the smoke flaps using triple layered stove pipe. It is important to note triple layered pipe is used - anything less and you will burn your tipi. The other way is to install a stove jack on the outside wall. This is a square piece of heat shield rated at 600 degrees where the stovepipe is inserted through for safe venting.
The smaller the tipi the easier it is to heat. Heating is a major factor in choosing the size of tipi..."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. You have an excellent and informative site. I think all of us should try tipi living especially during the winter and would advise all Americans to make or purchase a tipi and become acquainted with their use. The way things are going economically and or in the event of a natural disaster where families are displaced from their homes, having this workable survival knowledge would be quite beneficial. With a tipi you would never be actually homeless. God bless! :)
Post a Comment