Bell tent. Stove flap or flashing kit?

[Laurence Milton]

Fires in tents of any sort are always a danger. Used to have a tipi and even with an open fire because of the flaps at the top it was much safer. Plenty of ventilation for the fumes to escape.
Sewn in or zip in groundsheets are also a bit of a problem as there is no airflow from the bottom to the top. I don't have a fixed groundsheet if I have any sort of heating and leave a good crossflow of air either from door to wall window flap or window flap to window flap.
It's very tempting to button up tight to keep the warm air inside, but you also keep any fumes inside too! Fire needs to be out before sleeping and some venting too while you sleep as fumes from the fire can still be around even if you think the fire is out.
Yes the chimney needs to be higher than the tent to carry smoke and fumes above the tent and away.
I've camped in tentipis with a fire both open and contained in a stove. They have excellent venting that can be controlled from a sleeping position. You don't have that with a bell tent. That makes them more dangerous.
I'm surprised they are so popular with less experienced " glampers " nowadays.
Careful management is important . Many glampers come from a sealed centrally heated home and try the same with bell tents. I'm surprised there havnt been serious accidents.

Curious, my bell tent has superb venting from the bottom to the top? Indeed most seem to have several adjustable "windows" with mesh in the side walls and vents in the apex?

 

[Nice65]

Curious, my bell tent has superb venting from the bottom to the top? Indeed most seem to have several adjustable "windows" with mesh in the side walls and vents in the apex?

Mine too, it has 6 zipped mesh panels. I can’t believe that people still burn openly in a tent despite the invention of stovepipe. I’ve chucked a log on the fire many times and seen the release of thousands of sparks. They need to be outside.

 

[CrispyDuck]

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread, but @Woody girl what did you decide in the end?

I have a canvas Bell tent (untreated), one of those bolt on silicone stove jack things and a double walled section of flue and I’m wondering if that will be sufficient. I’m trying to avoid having to send the whole tent off to have a fabric jack sewn in too, as I have read it is necessary for untreated canvas.

 

[Woody girl]

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread, but @Woody girl what did you decide in the end?

I have a canvas Bell tent (untreated), one of those bolt on silicone stove jack things and a double walled section of flue and I’m wondering if that will be sufficient. I’m trying to avoid having to send the whole tent off to have a fabric jack sewn in too, as I have read it is necessary for untreated canvas.

I sold the 4m Bell, and made a profit, as it was in A1 condition, and I'd bought it so long ago the second hand price had risen above its origional price.
I bought a 3m bell which cost almost the same, but I couldn't afford the extra £100 to have one worth a smoke flap already sewn in and fireproof canvas, so I've got one of those horrible orange silicone flues and a smaller stove (sold the frontier and got an outbacker.)
Double wall flue would be a tight fit..if at all possible so I'm sticking with this set up, and careful management. Not perfect, but nothing ever is! (Unless unlimited funds allow!)
My perfect tent would be fireproof canvas with the tripod interior frame and a ready built in jack with the flap.

 

[CrispyDuck]

Thanks for the response and glad to hear you made a profit.
So, you’re using a stove with standard canvas and alls been ok so far?
I really don’t want to have to send mine off to have the fireproof flap sewn in due to cost and faff.
I’m hoping the silicone jack and double wall section will be ok on its own, but before I cut a hole in my tent, just wanted to see what others have done.

 

[Woody girl]

You should be OK, just make sure you can fit the double wall bit of the flue through the hole in the flashing kit. I'd give bell boutique or another well known firm a call, and have a chat with them about what stove and tent you have and the fact it's not fireproof canvas. Make sure you have a good gap between the stove and tent wall. It will mean bringing the stove out into the tent a bit, and loosing some floor space, but a 4m is a good size, so shouldn't be a problem.
I always use a fireproof mat to put the stove on too. Just in case coals fall out. You don't want to ruin your groundsheet!
Better safe than sorry!
A bell tent is an investment, I know the feeling about making what seem like irreversible changes to it.
If you change your mind later about your choice of flue, it is possible to patch the hole you've made, but unless you have experience of sewing canvas and know how to do the job properly it's a bit of a job, and there is a technique to it. Seams need to face down to keep it waterproof. So it realy needs a professional job. I learnt to do in situ canvass tent repairs in girl guides as part of my camp leader badge. I doubt they teach it nowadays with modern cheap nylon tents.
I used to make tipis, so I know how hard it can be to sew heavy canvas with a heavy duty machine, let alone by hand.
Tho a speedy stitcher is a great help there if you have the tent erected and a handy helper.
Good luck, stay safe, and enjoy.