Fire reflector.

[wanderinstar]

Happy New Year to everyone.

People talk about long fires and putting a reflector behind fire to throw heat into basha. But what everyone omits to say is, what reflector is made from.
Any ideas. Obviously a big piece of shiney stainless steel is out of the question.
Ian.

 

[Ogri the trog]

Wanderinstar,
The reflectors being discussed are simply a stack of logs. Long and straight are better, just piled against two stakes just off vertical - they reflect the heat that would otherwise escape from the far side of your fire, into your basha or whatever. In wet weather it also dries the logs that make up the reflector so you can cycle damp wood through it to get a better burning fuel. Be aware though if you intend to sleep in the basha, as the reflector can catch fire, burning your dry fuel source and leaving you with nothing for the cold damp morning.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Fenlander]

Happy New Year to everyone.

People talk about long fires and putting a reflector behind fire to throw heat into basha. But what everyone omits to say is, what reflector is made from.
Any ideas. Obviously a big piece of shiney stainless steel is out of the question.
Ian.

Does this help?

 

[MagiKelly]

Bill Mason who wrote the Path & Song of the Paddle books used to carry a roll of tinfoil to make a reflector. He used a "campfire tent" which is open at the front to catch the heat from the fire so he wanted a efficient reflector.

I have always thought it a brilliant idea but have never got round to trying it.

 

[wanderinstar]

Well, I feel a bit more enlightened now. John, actually I believe there is one of those foit type blankets in my first aid kit. Suppose that would do if very careful?
Ian.

 

[Goose]

Well, I feel a bit more enlightened now. John, actually I believe there is one of those foit type blankets in my first aid kit. Suppose that would do if very careful?
Ian.

The foil blankets are plastic and wouldn't last long! I think the tinfoil would improve the stack of logs rather than replace it?

 

[Shewie]

I`ve used that foam backed foil you put behind the radiators of your house - but once again it is flammable and so getting the distance right is just a case of trial and error.

Used along with stacked logs it really effective and definitely worth a bash.

Doubles up as a mat to sit on also when you`re on the move.

Wondered if anybody had used this as a kip mat ever - it`s not the thickest of stuff though but with the foil it might be fairly efficient. - Just a thought

 

[gregorach]

Wondered if anybody had used this as a kip mat ever - it`s not the thickest of stuff though but with the foil it might be fairly efficient. - Just a thought

Unlikely - the reflective surface is great for reflecting radiant heat, such as from a fire, whereas your kip mat needs to stop heat being conducted away from your body. It would only be the foam backing that provided any insulation.

 

[Shewie]

I`ll stick to the thermarest then

 

[Biddlesby]

There are two issues here. One is the reflection of the radiant heat, such as that gregorach talks about. This can be reflected with a shiny surface (e.g. metal), but not logs. Most of the heat is not radiation, however. This also means that a shiny foil kip mat will efficiently reflect radiative heat and stop it being lost to the ground, but, as gregorach says, the major problem a kip mat needs to deal with is conduction.

Another is the conductive/convective heat. I presume what happens with using logs as a "firewall" that the heat escaping from the other side of the fire heats up the logs, which are facing you, and then the logs "release" their heat towards you, thus having a sort of secondary reflection effect.

 

[Povarian]

One is the reflection of the radiant heat, such as that gregorach talks about. This can be reflected with a shiny surface (e.g. metal), but not logs.

Just being picky, but logs will reflect radiant heat. They'll also absorb heat and then emit it too once their temperature is above ambient. Only a material that had an absorbtion profile of a theoretical black body would absorb all incident radiation.

Of course, as you stated, the shiny surface will make a much better reflector.

 

[bothyman]

This is a better way to reflect heat??? why waste it??

>>>>>>>> http://www.kayak2go.com/reflector.htm


MickT