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  1. #1
    Senior Member Klaussinator's Avatar
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    New tree shelf - now UL !

    I have given in to the peer pressure here to reduce my pack weight, and this post focuses on item in particular found in my hammock camping setup.

    I've been using my original tree shelf every chance I've had, and I've really gotten used to the convenience of cooking at a comfortable height rather than at ground level. The original version weighed almost 15oz and was pretty compact. Several members asked about a possible titanium version, and after pricing sheet material, discovered that it would cost about $70 for just the titanium alone. We'll stick to buying small bling (go Dutch!)

    So... I remade my shelf with something much cheaper: Formica.

    Tough, light weight, moisture & heat resistant. (Besides, I had part of a sheet left from a remodeling project last year.) It's just flexible enough to conform to pack movement without bending or breaking. But it needs some help to be stiff enough for a solid shelf. So I came up with a bracing system that works great, yet folds flat. All support lines and tree "straps" are now braided masons line, further reducing overall weight. Total weight of my new UL tree shelf: 6.9oz including a Tyvek carry sleave! Less than half the original design, but still the exact same size. Well, it is thinner, 3/16" packed thickness to be exact.

    On the initial test, I discovered that sheet Formica (when not laminated to a surface) will bend and deform slightly when exposed to prolonged heat. My hot-rodded alky stove (will post about that later) warped the shelf base after two uses, where the stove sat directly on the Formica. Still usable, just... warped. So I came up with what I call a stove pad, and it works wonderful. It's a 6" round piece of carbon felt with an aluminum disc laminated to it. Very light weight, and sized so it fits inside my Imusa pot. The carbon felt takes care of the heat issue, and the aluminum plate makes a stable surface for the stove, so it doesn't wobble on the felt pad. Figure I can use it on other sufaces too that are a little uneven, where the stove would otherwise be unstable.

    Here are some pics... I'll do a video on it soon. Formica can be tough to work with if you don't have the proper tools, so I'm not sure if this will become a DIY project. If there is enough interest in these, I'll consider cranking a few out for fellow hangers. Cost should be minimal, especially compared to the titanium version that never was.

    -Klauss

















    My YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/rexmichaelson

    "But hey, 2 trees anywhere is a bedroom waiting to happen, right?"

  2. #2
    Senior Member 12trysomething's Avatar
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    Well done!

  3. #3
    Senior Member Floridahanger's Avatar
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    Nice, and welcome to the world of UL. Way to do it on the cheap, price that is.
    Enjoy and have fun with your family, before they have fun without you

  4. #4
    Senior Member Dos's Avatar
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    well done!!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~

    AT '12. AT '14. FT '15. CA '15.

  5. #5
    Senior Member raiffnuke's Avatar
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    New tree shelf - now UL !

    Well done indeed!

  6. #6
    Senior Member dangerous's Avatar
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    Thats awesome!
    -Jon-

  7. #7
    Senior Member Mountnman's Avatar
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    That's slick Klauss, nice job
    "I love not man the less, but Nature more."
    Byron

  8. #8
    Senior Member
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    Looking good! really love the tree cooker idea. If your unable to cook on the ground I bet this is a life saver.

  9. #9
    Senior Member swankfly's Avatar
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    That's sweet... Have you seen smokeater908's his is 3.75 oz...alum I think?

    Just shows the ingenuity and multipurpose of materials, great idea.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Klaussinator's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by swankfly View Post
    That's sweet... Have you seen smokeater908's his is 3.75 oz...alum I think?
    Yes I have, love his creations, quite the craftsman and just seems like a decent cool guy. His design relies on finding the right sized tree, plus requires a trekking pole. Sometimes I have neither. All mine needs is some type of vertical pole/post/tree and you're good to go. The two outer bottom braces are hinged at an angle so when folded down into place, each have a corner that sticks out behind the shelf and into the bark, allowing it to fit securely against different size trees.

    - Klauss
    My YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/rexmichaelson

    "But hey, 2 trees anywhere is a bedroom waiting to happen, right?"

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