FINBAR FIRE GRATE
A folding pot support for wood fire cooking in the back country.

Initial Test Report - April 14, 2004

"What do you mean that a campfire is 'unnecessary'?  Have you never experienced what a friendly, companionable thing a campfire is? How generous and outright it is?  How downright useful it is?  It will dry you when you're wet, warm you when you're cold, cook your food, sterilize your water, and enliven your mood.  It plays for you when you are lively, and it glows for you when you are reflective.  'Unnecessary', you say?  Why you might as well say that laughter and joy are unnecessary!"  - Shane Steinkamp in a conversation with a Scoutmaster in the middle of a bottomland hardwood forest in the deep south after hearing the response to, "How can you sing campfire songs without a campfire?"

SPECIFICATIONS

The Finbar Folding Fire Grate is manufactured by Innovations by Fin.

Web: http://www.finnovations.org/

Year of Manufacture: 2004
MSRP: U.S. $24.00

WEBSITE

The Innovations by Fin website is above average compared to other small manufacturer's websites.  The site is simple, easy to navigate, and provides images and reasonable information about the products offered.  A page of outdoor tips is also provided and may educate the reader on some truly useful but little known hints for the outdoors.  A greater use of photographs would be helpful in some places.  Easy ordering instructions are provided on the site.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

PACKAGING & PACKAGE CONTENTS

The Finbar Folding Fire Grate arrived in good order via U.S.P.S. Priority Mail packed in a cardboard tube.  

OVERVIEW OF MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION, AND FEATURES

The Folding Fire Grate consists of three pieces of stainless steel tubing, and two stainless steel end braces. The pieces are riveted together in such a way that allows them to pivot when folding and also to interlock when in the open position.  It's rather clever, actually.  Rather than try to describe the grate with words, I have provided ample photographs below.

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

The instruction sheet is simple and straightforward.  I have provided a readable copy in the photograph below.

TRYING IT OUT

The Finbar Fire Grate slides easily out of its storage sleeve and if you dangle it by one end, gravity will unfold it instantly into a long segmented rod that reminds me of some kind of wicked martial arts weapon.  Bringing the serpent back together in its proper arrangement and clicking the joints of the grate into the metal end pieces does indeed provide a light but sturdy grate.  While I haven't had time to light a fire under it yet, I did try it with various pots and pans, pictured below.  All sizes were held easily by the grate, although smaller pots did better to one side or another.  The Teflon coated aluminum pot is 5.75 in (14.6 cm) in diameter, while the stainless steel pot is 5 in (12.7 cm) in diameter.

Detail of the snap-in joint.

Detail of the folded sections.