View Full Version : Millets tipi question
HI all,
Now I know this is going back to an old thread, but one of my explorer scouts has bought the tipi sold by millets. A lot of dicussion was going about how good or bad these were, but I recall some of you were " modifing " them to make them better. Was wondering if any one has altered the tipi and how they did it so I can pass on the info to my scout.
thanks, miniac
i also bought one but have not tested it yet after putting it up in the garden i realised that the skin didnt stand straight, so i cut a piece of 4 x 4 post approx 2" deep and placed it under the centre pole which straightened the sides up nicely which should shed water more easily thus preventing problems of water ingress.
havent tested it yet but will be taking it out this w/end, so will see if it works.
it is the easiest and cheapest mod to make.a flat rock on site would suffice .if all goes well its the only mod to make which is what i personally think is the flaw with these but will keep you posted on results
I've purchased one of these and like brasst it;s only gone up in the garden at the moment.
Also like brasst the only mod is a piece of timber to go under the centre pole.
Additional mods I'm thinking of are;
loop at the top so it can be suspended from a tree, thus eliminating the pole when circumstances permit
I'm also interested in how I can fit a suitable chimney hole for using a fire box inside the tipi. Not sure yet what to use to ensure the nylon doen't melt etc, so welcome any suggestions.
david
Spikey DaPikey
12-10-2006, 11:58
Would a fie blanket, what you use for a chip pan fire, work as a 'guard' for the nylon, if you used it as a hole for the chimney to go through ??
Never tried it, just an idea..... :o
That's an idea Spikey.
I think some of the "proper" tipi makers use a kevlar panel, but where do you buy kevlar from?
David
I have not seen the tipi up yet only seen piccies from the millets web site. I am running a skills day at our local campsite an the lad asked if he could put it up on site so we can have a look. That will not be till the end of the month. I gathered from the original thread that the pole seems to be to short, but as you guys have said a flat rock or lump of wood will cure that. Do the tipi's have a smoke opening? as I am sure he would like a small fire inside especailly as he has seen my tentipi in action with a lovely warm fire in it :D
Thanks for the returns guys....... :thanks:
miniac,
No smoke opening. The top part of the tipi proper is mossie netting with an external cover that is adjustable to improve ventilation. There maybe sufficient updraft to allow smoke to escape but probably not fast enough to avoid suffocation.
David
I have modded mine and put in a wood burning stove.
I cut out the crappy heavy groundsheet it sits much better without it.
I never use the massively heavy steel pole I use wood from where I camp, this gives me built in hooks to hang things on.
Fabsealed the whole outside, seam sealed inside and sewed in 3 layers of fireblanket to make the chimney port in the side of the tent structure, not the top opening, about 10 inch by 10 inch patch to be on the safe side.
I was out for five days, three of those it poured down and it was as tight as a drum.
The fire blanket works well, just slightly chared but apart from that it's ok.
I bought one just to try a teepe out and I'm hooked looking at a tentipi now for winter use at christmas in Finland!
For £60 it's good with a few mods but the material is not the strongest and I wouldn't trust it under snow.
Golite do a fantastic looking tipi called the hex 3. I've craved one for ages. You can buy them from ebay direct from America, for about "£130, I believe. I don't think they are recommended for use with a stove, or fire, though. They have a lightweight aluminium pole, and detachable floor with mosi net. Anybody got any views on these?
Golite do a fantastic looking tipi called the hex 3. I've craved one for ages. You can buy them from ebay direct from America, for about "£130, I believe. I don't think they are recommended for use with a stove, or fire, though. They have a lightweight aluminium pole, and detachable floor with mosi net. Anybody got any views on these?
Great tent, very waterproof, stable in wind, great bit of kit all round, go get one :)
Greywolf
31-10-2006, 19:16
That's an idea Spikey.
I think some of the "proper" tipi makers use a kevlar panel, but where do you buy kevlar from?
David
Never used this company, but did notice they sell Kevlar fabric. Don't know it it helps :dunno:
http://www.cfsnet.co.uk/acatalog/CFS_Catalogue__Kevlar_Fabric_3 3.html
Greywolf
Golite do a fantastic looking tipi called the hex 3. I've craved one for ages. You can buy them from ebay direct from America, for about "£130, I believe. I don't think they are recommended for use with a stove, or fire, though. They have a lightweight aluminium pole, and detachable floor with mosi net. Anybody got any views on these?
Great tent but save money by buying a mozzie net from Ikea as they fit perfectly in the hex 3, if not a little long!!
I have modded mine and put in a wood burning stove.
I cut out the crappy heavy groundsheet it sits much better without it.
I never use the massively heavy steel pole I use wood from where I camp, this gives me built in hooks to hang things on.
Fabsealed the whole outside, seam sealed inside and sewed in 3 layers of fireblanket to make the chimney port in the side of the tent structure, not the top opening, about 10 inch by 10 inch patch to be on the safe side.
I was out for five days, three of those it poured down and it was as tight as a drum.
The fire blanket works well, just slightly chared but apart from that it's ok.
I bought one just to try a teepe out and I'm hooked looking at a tentipi now for winter use at christmas in Finland!
For £60 it's good with a few mods but the material is not the strongest and I wouldn't trust it under snow.
Any photos? I'd love to see how this looks.
Don Redondo
10-01-2007, 15:39
I might be bumping this up un-neccesarily but regarding the installation of a stove and chimney, is there a way to use the steel pole supplied as the chimney?
- or better - get a chimney that's strong enough to support the tipi on a rigging wire 'crows nest' at the top and with a T piece somewhere near the bottom where a shorter flue from the stove would go?
would this obviate the need to carry both, the flue would issue from the apex and not from the side, the outlet would be well clear of the tent fabric and could carry some form of cowling. the stove stays central and out the way..........
As Requested Millets Teepe and stove pipe (http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/brendan99/CIMG1910-1.jpg) Pic2 (http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/brendan99/CIMG1907.jpg) Pic3 (http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/brendan99/CIMG1905-1.jpg)
I have since tidied up the hole and waterproofed the outside of the stove pipe patch.
The pipe is long as I new I wanted to use it in a larger tepee, I am in the process of ordering a 4 man Bison from Norway in which it should be spot on going up through the center.
Ogri the trog
10-01-2007, 19:34
Brendan,
Fantastic modification there mate.
I hope you won't mind if I follow your example.... I just have to find a Millets somewhere near.....
ATB
Ogri the trog
£20 off now !!
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/shopping.can/Millets+Summer+Virtual/MIL+SS06+Camping(BLG+Base+Cata log)/MIL+SS06+Tents(BLG+Base+Catalo g)?CatalogNavigationPageNumber =2
brenda, have u got any pics of ur moded tepee cos i know miniac and he has suggested some but im not sure if they will work
lloyd
:Thinkingo
Check below they are there!
Just found another pic if anyone thinking of doing the same thing Stove Pipe (http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/brendan99/DSC00037.jpg)
I didn't put the pipe through the center because it looked too complicated going through the mesh and cap and fireproofing both.
These Kifaru stoves can get so hot, the fire box and a foot or so up the pipe glow red.
With this in mind I didn't want to risk not fireproofing the pipe exit point properly.
I used a sewing machine to sew in the fire patch but I did have a bit of a mess up and had to unpick some stitching but it still looks ok and the main thing is that it works and seems totally waterproof.
As I have said previously the millets Tepee is a good cheap way of trying one out but I really need one slightly bigger and taller and green preferably hence now going for a Tinde 4 from Bison.
If you missed the group buy like myself you can get one for about £155 inc postage to the UK.
I will probably get one of these soon - esp at the current price! and I am interested in adding a stove like you have Brendan.
Now this is probably a stupid question but how does it cope in rain? - I would imagine fire blanket is not waterproof and as you need to cut a hole in the nylon I would have thought you would get an ingress of water - more commonly called a leak!:lmao:
I can understand that the pipe will probablt boil of any watter dripping down it but I would expect the edge of the hole to weap water to the inside of the fly.
Any advice comments apperciated