Sticks, chains and lashing in the garden

Let me be clear this post has nothing to do with S&M, so apologies for the racy title.


It's actually about building a campfire tripod from a few odds and ends. I have actually bought a proper metal version, but this is both heavy and expensive. So, fitting some new lights in the kitchen (also heavy and expensive) left about 3 metres of chain spare I wondered if there was some way I could use it.

3 poles, 2 hooks, 1 chain and a length of cord.

I also had a few metres of para-cord lurking in the camping kit. What I needed was something to attach the chain to tripod and the cooking pot to the chain. Two 100mm butchers hooks for £1.64 seemed to fit the bill - literally and metaphorically.

Like me, perhaps you were never a Boy Scout, but luckily the internet can show you a whole of places to learn how to tie a half hitch and then lash the 3 poles together using a figure of 8. Once that's done, it's simple to hook your chain onto it with one of the butchers hooks at the top and attach your pot to the bottom with the other. 


There are a couple of health warnings. Firstly, anyone who's seen Long Good Friday will know that butcher's hooks are very very sharp, so a good idea is to blunt them - either saw off the point or smack them hard with a big hammer. Secondly, wood of any shape will burn, as will nylon-based para-cord, so either make sure that your fire is small enough not to get close to either or regularly douse them in water.


I've made a slightly rustic video to demonstrate how to make it. No quiet vocal this time, instead a rather groovy blues riff - thanks to Ella and Geoff.

The total cost? About a fiver - except for the poles, though I think that they are pretty easy to find so long as you have a sharp camping knife. Well that's it for now.


But tomorrow look out for my attempt to cook pulled pork. The meat is already marinading in beer, smoked paprika, garlic, honey, rosemary, Worcester sauce and Smoked Chipotle pepper (thanks dad). All I need to do is make sure it cooks under the Weber lid.....for 7 hours!


Wish me luck.