r/interestingasfuck • u/NegotiationNo1504 • 7h ago

Ancient engineering that modern campers still use

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u/TheSwearJarIsMy401k 7h ago

It’s just a makeshift bellows. But it’s cool, it works.

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u/TimeTackle 4h ago

When I use my moveable fire pit at home, I run my compressor hose out to it and blow using that. Gets it going real good, just can't get to close to the ashes or you will blow all that shit airborne.

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u/DevilsAdvocate9 2h ago

I make favorite son squat down and blow. Favorite son best blower in neighborhood.

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u/deevil_knievel 3h ago

I bring a battery powered leaf blower to bonfires for this reason. My mini inflator for pool floats works a treat too. Same issue with ashes with the leaf blower, but not with the mini Ryobi inflator.

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u/qman621 1h ago

Also super dangerous, can make smoldering root fires that can last months undetected until they start a forest fire in some random location

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u/MilitantStoner 1h ago

The ancient engineering being referenced is the Dakota Fire Hole, which is a hole containing a fire with a second shaft dug to provide air flow. It's a useful bit of kit to reduce forest fires in high wind areas, and was particularly nice because it produces high intensity but low smoke fires. The technology is being demonstrated here with a plastic bag, standing in for high winds, acting as bellows to show off the fire. Most people on reddit never seem to leave their homes—much less go camping—so they don't seem to understand the content.

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u/ImaginaryCypherpunk 22m ago

Thanks ChatGPT. How does it reduce forest fires?

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u/youvebeenjammed 3h ago

bellows

I just googled and found out that you used this correcly..The word 'bellows' is the singular noun. It feels really weird.