Basecamp plus stove

[Moondog55]

https://www.tomsoutdoors.com.au/collect ... kit-w-fire
Seriously thinking of getting one
Using part of my small inheritance

UV damage and lifespan is my only concern

[Zapruda]

Chris spoke very highly of this to me and although I haven’t had the chance to use it my Helsport Himalaya is a really well made and designed tent.

I don’t know what your question is Moondog but I say do it! Looks like a great Basecamp shelter and a nice place to relax after a day of skiing, especially with that stove!

[Moondog55]

UV damage
Yes Sorry I forgot the question mark
Here it is now
[?]

Chris is contacting Helsport to ask them but I would spend some extra cash and use that Nikwax Solargard I think.

[Moondog55]

Well Cecile says I should buy it.
Chris from Toms Outdoors no longer frequents this forum but given our harsh sun I think Helsport should provide a bottle of Solar proof with every tent purchased here. No mention of the supplied peg size but I'll be taking up plenty of extra big pegs and stakes just in case

[stry]

UV is always a concern with anything synthetic. Or should I say "more of a concern"?

That thing looks like the duck's guts if you have a use for it. High vents. Double skin. Snow valances. Steep sides. Standing room. Vestibule to enter, take off boots etc.

I'm sure it has failings, but I can't think of any.

[Moondog55]

I won't need it but this stove just got listed on the FB market place link

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 7303129981

Considering the cost of these in the US and the fact that it costs over $200- to post one to here from there this is a bargain

[Neo]

That's a nice tent. 4m diameter should be comfortable.

[Moondog55]

Probably won't be getting it.
Hellesport say the fabric is only good for about 40 days of our intense UV radiation and it would cost over $200- to use Nikwax Solarproof on it, so that is $400- of maintenance cost alone in its first year and then $200- each year after that and Dad wouldn't approve of that and neither does my beloved wife.
Toms Outdoors service has been really good but mine is a very particular need, I think I'm the last bloke who camps out for the full winter

[Moondog55]

OK So things can happen quickly
Chris from Toms Outdoors just decided to clear all remaining Varanger Camp tents and they are now $1500-, so I just bought one. The extra discount will pay for several treatments with Nikwax SolarProof
There were 3 left and now only 2 of them, considering the stove is worth ~$400- the tent really is a bargain now

[Neo]

Woo-hoo snowtime

[Moondog55]

Woo-hoo snowtime

Well we certainly hope so

[stry]

Good move making the commitment

You could always violate the new tent by adding some sort of pyramid shaped fly made of something sacrificial. Would need to have enough separation not to hinder the venting, would look dreadfull and maybe not be good in wind, but would stop UV.

[Moondog55]

You could always violate the new tent by adding some sort of pyramid shaped fly made of something sacrificial. Would need to have enough separation not to hinder the venting, would look dreadfull and maybe not be good in wind, but would stop UV.

I had briefly considered doing so but then I thought about how it would catch the wind.
I'll just treat with the SolarProof on a regular basis, 40 square metres of fabric to coat so that is a litre of concentrate every season, and a big step ladder to access the peak

[Moondog55]

There are still two of these left.
As somebody who drooled over these even at full price I can't believe I am the only bloke who still snow camps long enough and often enough to make one of these worthwhile. I thought S358 would have been one of the first to take advantage of the sale

[Neo]

It's a unique pursuit MD and impressive logistics/planning.

(I'm eyeing off something under 3kg!)

[Ms_Mudd]

My word, what a palace, looks like you got a great deal. Congrats on the purchase Moondog.
I am sure you will give it a great run this season, look forward to hearing about it.

[Moondog55]

Chris spoke very highly of this to me and although I haven’t had the chance to use it my Helsport Himalaya is a really well made and designed tent.

I don’t know what your question is Moondog but I say do it! Looks like a great Basecamp shelter and a nice place to relax after a day of skiing, especially with that stove!

I'd like a follow-up on that Himalaya when you get a chance to use it.
I think the tent i have bought is borderline to much tent for here but better a little too strong than too weak

[Moondog55]

It's a unique pursuit MD and impressive logistics/planning.

(I'm eyeing off something under 3kg!)

I can sell you a Macpac Minaret cheap now

[Moondog55]

Well the Lavvu and the stove have arrived
This is one heck of a Bulldog pole and the stove is actually a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Stove is very well made and comes with enough flue to use in the biggest of the Helsport tents so there are extra sections there. Not designed to be an airtite but I think a gasket would fit if it was small enough in diametre
Did I mention that I was excited?

[Zapruda]

Congrats, Moondog. Please post some pics of it set up when you can. Very exciting!

[Ms_Mudd]

Some seriously exciting mail you have there!

[Moondog55]

I assembled and fired the stove up over the week-end.
It gets very hot quite quickly but the small flue diametre keeps it throttled down, it would be a furnace with a 100mm flue.
Something that didn't show in any of the U-Tube videos is that this iteration of the stove is baffled to increase the length of the flame path and the grate has changed from a wire rack to a perforated stainless steel plate which should last a lot longer.
I am headed to Bunnings today to get some materials to make a quick stack robber for the flue, just some LW steel battens and a couple of large hose clamps will do it with some high temperature black stove paint

[Moondog55]

Chris from Toms Outdoors says he has had no problems with rain ingress using the standard flue but it may need a rain cap to be absolutely sure, I'll see what they have while I am at Bunnings

[michael_p]

Good looking stove. I'm jealous. Should warm that tent nicely.

[Moondog55]

I just painted the flue with high temperature stove paint because black does radiate better and I had the paint already, bought some steel plaster battens and some big hose clamps at Bunnings and as soon as the paint dries I'll assemble the stack robber/heat exchange and test it.
The service from Toms Outdoors has been amazing, Australia Post dropped the shipping box and one corner of the stove bent a tiny bit, Chris immediately offered an exchange on another stove; I said no because I will probably do as much damage myself in the next few years and I think the business already lost money on the deal.
Toms Outdoors does have a few stoves left but I don't know the price as they are not listed on the website; you have to call up to find out.

[Moondog55]

Bunnings sells plastering battens for $7- a length, this was damaged so $4-\ Cut into sections and paint with the same HT paint as the flue and hold tight to the flue stack with hose clamps
I've been making these stack robbers for a long time but it isn't my idea, I first saw it in The Mother Earth news a long, long time ago

[Neo]

So, the heat off the flu metal spreads out and radiates more? Greater metal surface area?

[Moondog55]

So, the heat off the flu metal spreads out and radiates more? Greater metal surface area?

Not quite as it isn't yet finished.
As well as the greater surface area there will be a continuous flow of convected air going up those channels. I still need to drill some large holes down at the base of each tin section, so cold air in at the bottom and warm air out at the top, important when drying clothes is a priority. Only the bottom 4 flue sections are painted black, I don't want the flue to cool off too much or it won't draw as well

[stry]

Don't have any sort of grate or perforated plate up off the bottom of the stove/heater. Such contrivances greatly increase the rate of wood consumption and also discourage the formation of lovely coals.

If you want to protect the bottom and maybe provide a bit of a heat bank, I would think about putting a loose, plain, steel plate on the bottom (inside). You won't be carrying it on your back so the weight shouldn't be an issue.

[Moondog55]

This is true but they do burn cleaner with a grated base so I will need to balance creosote build up against the fast rate of consumption of wood. Mind you Stry neither Alpine Ash/Mountain Ash or Snowgum leaves coals. I have a small 5mm plate that will/ may just fit right in tho, I'll check the size later today. If you look at the picture of the bottom in the post above you will see that the bottom is dished, the existing perforated rack sits just above this dishing, the plate I have may sit in the same place