WALL TENT SHOP

Wall Tent Stove and Tent Stove Information Guide

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Wall Tent Shop
3071 West Twin Road
Moscow Idaho 83843

208-882-1791
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©2002-2004

Canvas Wall Tents

Main Factors In Selecting A Tent Stove
  1. Tent stove heating capacity
  2. Cost
  3. Weight
  4. Deciding on galvanized, titanium or steel construction
  5. Size
  6. Options and standard features available on a wall tent stove

Click Wall Tent Stove for pictures and info on the 35 tent stove and pack stove models by Cylinder Stoves, Four Dog Stove, Kni-Co Stove, Kwik Kamp Stove, Riley Stove, Mountaineer Stove, Titanium Stove, Sims Stove and Idaho Stove. I have a stove or pack stove that will meet your budget and requirement. Tent stove and pack stove prices start at $105.00.

Discussion of Wall Tent Stove Features

General: All my stoves have been used for many years and have proven their reliability. I have listed each stove's features thoroughly so you can compare and decide which stove meets your requirements and budget.

Cost: A wall tent stove with the same gauge of metal (thickness) should be very close in price. When comparing wall tent costs ensure you add the cost of options you want as prices for shelves, water tanks and pipes vary significantly between stove companies.

Rolled Steel, Galvanized, Titanium Stoves:

  1. Galvanized - Galvanization helps prevent rust. A wise choice when buying a lightweight stove.
  2. Titanium - More resistant to burn through and warping. Stronger than steel and weighs about 50% less.
  3. Rolled Steel - Non galvanized and will rust quickly if left outside.

Tent Heating Capacity: Most tent stove manufacturers state the very largest tent the stove will heat. You should consider the next larger stove model to ensure you have a warm tent especially for drying out wet clothes and boots if you plan on using a stove in the cold winter months.

Collapsible Stoves vs Non-Collapsible: Stove that collapses for compactness . Unless space is a critical factor, a non-collapsible stove is recommended.

Pellet Stoves: Stoves that burns pellets. Used in environments where wood is unavailable. Some models of pellet stoves burn pellets or wood.

Double Wall Stove: Riley stoves are the only lightweight tent stove company that have both a double bottom and double wall. (Colt models and larger) Riley stoves makes a high quality lightweight stove because the double bottom reduces the chance of a bottom burn out. Riley double wall tent stoves makes for a durable and heat efficient tent stove.

Weight: Stoves that heat a 12'x14' tent can weigh 30-40 pounds. If you need a stove at a base camp or tent camping near a road buy the stove you need regardless of size or weight.

Packing: Packing smaller stoves fit into panniers easily or as a top pack. Larger stoves can also be easily fit into larger panniers.

Features and Options: Most tent stoves have the same options and features. However, some of the smaller stoves do not have a water tank or shelf that fits into the firebox due to the stove's size.

Storing and Transporting: I prefer a stove that all the accessories fit inside of the firebox for ease of transporting and storing.

Stove Metal Thickness:

  1. Gauge - The lower the gauge number, the thicker the rolled steel or galvanized steel. Thicker metal increases strength, durability and weight.
  2. Metal Thickness - common gauge thickness used in tent stove construction:
    1. 10 gauge .135 inches
    2. 12 gauge .105 inches
    3. 14 gauge .074 inches
    4. 18 gauge .05 inches
    5. 22 gauge .03 inches
    6. 24 gauge .024 inches

LIGHTWEIGHT STOVES TO PACK IN:

  1. Individuals packing in normally take a lightweight stove. However, some individuals take a heavier stove and "cache" it if they use the same hunting camp every year.
  2. Collapsible stoves fold down on themselves and are occassionally used by packers. Only about one half of the stove space on a pack horse is saved because the stove pipe and any other accessories must also be packed in. Stove pipe and accesories normally fit inside the firebox of a normal stove. The biggest drawback of a collapsible stove is that the firebox is not airtight and some smoke will in in your tent.
  3. Lightweight stoves primary drawback is the thin metal bottom will burn through much faster than the heavier metal stoves. I recommed you put one inch of dirt inside the firebox to reduce the heat on the bottom of the stove firebox. The two most common lightweight stoves used for packing in are the Riley Stoves and Kni-Co stoves. The larger Riley stoves, Colt and larger, have double walls and double stove bottoms and are very durable. However, the Riley stove is much more expensive than the Kni-Co single wall and bottom stoves.
  4. A damper for your stove is strongly recommend. I hunt in Wilderness areas and all wood has to be cut by hand. A damper makes your stove 10-15% more efficient. Which means you will reduce the amount of wood you have to cut by 10-15% if you use a damper. This 10-15% increased stove efficiency is very important when you cut wood by hand.

Hunting Tent Stoves:

Carefully review the stove characteristics of each stove you are considering, most importantly stove dimensions. To effectively compare each stoves heating capability/size of the firebox multiply the stoves width x length x height to determine the total cubic inches of the firebox. Deduct 15% of the total firebox cubic inches if the stove is round or octagon. The size of the firebox determines the heating capabiity of the different stoves you are considering. It should be noted that stoves with airtight doors and baffles significantly increases a stoves heating efficency. If you are in a climate with very cold conditions you might want to consider moving up one stove size above the manufacturers tent size heating recommendation.

STOVE AREA REQUIREMENTS IN A TENT: You must plan on a stove taking up to 7 feet along a wall in your tent. There is an automatic 2 + feet standoff from the front wall due to the stove jack location. The stove itself is normally around 2 feet in length. There is normally a 3 feet heat standoff distance from the stove before you can place a cot or table.

STOVE PIPE ABOVE RIDGE OF TENT: It is best to have your stove pipe long enough to extend 6 inches or more above the tent ridge. Having the stove pipe above the tent ridge allows the wind coming from any direction to blow sparks away the tent roof thus reducing the possibilty of spark holes being burnt in the roof.

FIRE TREATED CANVAS VS STOVE SPARKS: Stove sparks will even burn holes in a fire treated roof. A spark arrestor will prevent most sparks from reaching your roof. However, the only 100 per cent method to prevent spark holes in a tent roof is to use a fly to protect the roof.

REDUCE SMOKE ODOR IN YOUR HUNTING TENT: To reduce smoke in your tent always open the stove door slowly with the damper wide open. If you open the stove door quickly , the smoke is drawn into the tent.

CREOSOTE BUILD UP IN YOUR STOVE PIPE: The more you damper the stove pipe down or/and reduce the air intake on the stove door the more creosote build up you will have in the stove pipe and spark arrestor. If you get too much creosote in the stove pipe you can possibly have a fire in your stove pipe. When breaking camp, remove the creosote in your stove pipe by gently banging the stove pipes together to loosen the creosote. It is normal to periodically clean the spark arrestor every 2-3 days.

REENACTOR STOVE: The most authentic looking reenactor stove is my 4 Dog stove. All 4 Dog models are rectangled shapie compared to the current round or octagonal shape stoves.

CURING THE PAINT ON A NEW WOOD STOVE: Set your new stove up in your backyard or driveway and burn wood in the stove for 1-2 hour to cure the paint. Burning wood in your new stove will cause a burning smell. You will have this burning smell on your hunting clothes if you do not cure the stove at home before hunting season.

SPARK ARRESTOR : When properly used this device reduces the amount of sparks coming out of the stove pipe. Check spark arrestor daily to inure there is no buildup of creosote blocking the smoke from going through the spark arestor.

NON FLAMMABLE AREA around your stove should be a minimum of 2 feet. This 2 foot standoff prevents any flammables from catching fire due to the stove heat, prevents sparks from popping through the air intake openings and catching flammales on fire and also in case sparks pop out when you open the stove door.

WOOD FOR STOVES: Dry hardwoods burn the most efficiently and provide the most heat. If you use soft woods you will have to cut much more firewood and you will have more creosote buildup.

NEVER USE FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS TO STATR A FIRE IN YOUR STOVESTOVE.

WATER HEATER: Install the spigot in the hole in the water tank. Insure you place the rubber washer on the outside of the water tank and the nut on the inside of the tank. Before starting a fire in the stove attach the water tank to the stove by using the brackets. Fill water tank with water. Always keep the water tank filled. A filled water tank prevents the washer on the spigot from melting and also warping the water tank. I recommend you remove the water tank at night to prevent any chance the water tank might go empty.

STOVE EFFICIENCY: It is best to use dry hardwoods. Standing dead trees are usually the driest wood available. However, never cut down a dead tree by yourself. Cut down dead trees at you own risk as it is very dangerous. Always have a spotter watching the top ot the tree . Sometimes when a dead tree is about to fall it causes the top 5-10 feet of the tree to break off and can fall on top of you. The result will be a major accident or death.

CAMPING IN WINDY CONDITIONS: Recommend you secure all sections of stove pipe at the joints and where the pipe attaches to the stove with sheet metal screws. Windy conditions will cause the stove pipe to loosen when the tent roof billows in the wind. Also stake down the front and back of your tent with the gommet on each end of your ridge.

Recommendations

  • Put 1/2" - 1" of dirt or sand in firebox to reduce heat on bottom of stove where most burn outs occur.
  • NEVER put your stove on a tent floor or other flammable material.
  • Have a nonflammable area in front of your stove in case sparks or wood falls out of your stove when you open the door.
  • Always ensure your stove is on a level surface to avoid any possible problems.
  • Never allow your stove to get so hot that your stove or stovepipe becomes red. A red hot stove will cause the metal to warp. Reduce airflow on your door air intake to reduce the stove temperature.
  • If you are going camping in the backcountry I strongly recommend you take a kettle to boil drinking water 5 minues to prevent guardia lamblia. Water in the water tank normally doesn't boil.
  • I would recomend a stove constructed of 3/32" to 1/8" steel if you are not packing in where weight is a major consideration. The heavier stoves are much more durable and will last much longer.
  • Never store your stove with ash in the firebox. The ash will draw moisture and your stove will rust.
  • If you are going to camp in very cold weather considering purchasing a stove that is one size larger than the stove designed for your size of tent. The one size larger stove will ensure that you stay warmer in very cold or wet conditions. Additionally, you will need a very warm tent to dry out wet boots and clothes.
  • Compare the listed stove heating duration of each stove you are considering vs actual size of its firebox. Some stove manufactures list very long burn times compared to other manufactures with approximately the same size of firebox.
  • Purchase a damper. A damper in the stove pipe does not allow the heat to escape quickly which increases the stove heating efficiency 10-15%.
  • Stove Heating Duration vs Tent Heating Capacity: To me, how long the fire burns at night is more important than tent size heating capability. I need a stove large enough to burn all night to dry my boots and clothes during hunting season.