Sawtooth Stove Ideas

cfdjay

WKR
Joined
Feb 21, 2016
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807
Hey guys. Been playing around with my new sawtooth and stove. I can already see that keeping that thing stoked while trying to sleep is going to be an issue. Have any of you played around with ideas of ways to have it burn longer?
 
I'm sort of unsure why you would want to burn it throughout the night, unless camped in bitterly cold conditions. When actively hunting I only burn my stove in the evening (chilly ones). Mainly I just want to warm up and help dry out my gear if damp. I burn it fairly aggressively and then give it a final fuel load before zipping into my bag. It's probably out by midnight or so. In the morning I'm too busy to mess with lighting and tending a wood stove. I hustle up and get dressed...water heating...make breakfast....eat....finish gearing up and I'm out the door.

The best tip I have for extending the burn time on any stove is to have a good bed of fresh hot coals, and then load the stove with as much large, dry wood as possible...placing the wood to minimize internal air space. Do it quickly and close down the air supply and draft (damper) as much as possible. With luck you'll get a decently slow burn lasting quite a while.
 
I haven't seen a collapsible stove that will provide a longer burn time as there is just too many air leaks. My large 4 dog TI is too large and in the 12 man Tipi but I did find a used half size [narrow] TI and that is perfect for the Sawtooth.....and our wood is dry, softwoods.
 
My stove is a Seek Outside but similar to yours. In the winter I use a little aluminum foil to plug the vents and any air leaks. I'll let the stove burn down and then just before I turn in I'll fill it with the largest wood I can fit through the door. With the right wood ( not green but not to dry either ) I can get a 6 hr burn. It just smoulders all night not throwing a ton of heat but at least I don't have to light it in the morning. Just peal off the foil, throw in some dry wood and I have instant heat.
 
Can someone confirm/deny this for me, as I have been thinking about this same question lately. If one was to put a big rock inside the stove in the evening while continuing to keep the fire going until turning in would the stone stay heated long enough to provide warmth?
 
Can someone confirm/deny this for me, as I have been thinking about this same question lately. If one was to put a big rock inside the stove in the evening while continuing to keep the fire going until turning in would the stone stay heated long enough to provide warmth?

Have to be careful with that, if it's a river rock or from a stream or creekbed you can heat that thing up and the moisture will turn to gas and you've got a grenade on your hands. Best thing to do is to take a Nalgene, fill it with almost boiling water, and put it in the foot of your sleeping bag. Instant, long lasting heat.
 
Can someone confirm/deny this for me, as I have been thinking about this same question lately. If one was to put a big rock inside the stove in the evening while continuing to keep the fire going until turning in would the stone stay heated long enough to provide warmth?

My reaction: The stone might radiate a little heat inside the stove, but unless it can actually heat the stove enough to make IT radiate heat...most will be lost up the pipe. I have seen rocks explode firsthand...no way will I try it.

Obviously the denser hardwood species will make for a longer burn if you have access to them. My stove is mostly getting used in areas with only softwoods and they burn quickly leaving coals that turn to ash in short order. Black spruce, birch and cottonwood are the official camp wood where I hunt.
 
Yea we built a fire in an established fire ring pit and one of those rocks exploded. Grenade is right. There were branches falling out of the trees above us.
 
Have to be careful with that, if it's a river rock or from a stream or creekbed you can heat that thing up and the moisture will turn to gas and you've got a grenade on your hands. Best thing to do is to take a Nalgene, fill it with almost boiling water, and put it in the foot of your sleeping bag. Instant, long lasting heat.

Ah, gotcha. Never even thought about that!


The Nalgene idea is awesome!
 
The Nalgene in the bottom of your bag really does keep you warm. I usually put almost or slightly boiling water in mine, put it in a Nalgene insulated sleeve (neoprene sleeve really) and it keeps me toasty warm on really cold nights.
 
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