Question 1

Aside from smaller, whats the difference from this and bringing an old antenna from a radio?

Accepted Answer

Note from Epiphany Outdoor Gear: Hi Folks, After a great deal of experimentation we designed our Pocket Bellows basically from the inside out. We start by using rust resistant brass alloy shims to connect the tube sections together (unlike the vast majority of standard antenna). Why is that important? My idiot son Austin pointed out that: "blowing through the tubes creates moisture, and moisture creates rust, and rust will destroy the bellows in short order. With brass and stainless steel our bellows will last indefinitely." At that point I knew I had him for a reason. With your basic car or radio antenna, there are a number of other problems that limit its function as a bellowing tool.For instance most antennas, once you remove that little ball on the end with the solid tube, it will work adequately... ONCE. When you collapse it after cutting off that little ball end, the end will fall into itself and you will need needle-nose pliers (and extreme patience) to extract because that's what the little ball is for.  We engineered the Pocket Bellows to never have this occur.You can crush the fat end or turn up the skinny end, but you take the chance of damaging the whole works, and it will still rust then fall apart.  Also, some antennas use magnets to hold links together and when you collapse it the darn thing just falls apart in your hand. How embarrassing! Then there's the diameter thing that people here have commented on and it's really quite important.  We spent mucho tiempo (we're from the Southwest and use that lingo) blowing thru different sized tubes to find the right dimensions and thickness . We endured endless jokes from our friends and I suspect some brain damage, but we found what was the best volume and length.  Some were too big and some were too small. And one was just right! That's the size we used.Antennas have their uses. If you find yourself in an emergency situation facing hypothermia/exposure, please go ahead and rip that baby off your '87 Grand Torrino or Vega if you happen to be road camping. BTW , have you ever tried buying an antenna WITHOUT the motor? I wouldn't  suggest  cutting off your emergency radio antenna but what the heck. Save yourself! The $$$$ replacement cost will look good compared to the loss of a couple fingers or toes from frostbite. And if you're dead from exposure, well you won't need a radio then anyway. Thanks to all of you that have purchased our Pocket Bellows and Baddest Bees Fire Fuses! (100% natural tinder that's the best on the market!) And for those that haven't, we (EOG) really are the best answer to get that wet wood fire blazing out in the bush. Works great in fireplaces also.  And barbies and fire pits and I could go on and on. Life is about fire! Pappy

Question 2

I use surgical tubing with a 3" piece of copper tubing jammed up into it at the fire end for heat resistance, Does this offer any advantages to that?

Accepted Answer

It's a space saving thing. I've been using a 10" long piece of 1/4" i.d. copper tubing jammed inside a piece of plastic tubing that I've used for years. It takes up a little more room, but it doesn't kink and become useless crap that you have to pack out...

Question 3

Were is it made?

Accepted Answer

The short answer is that a substantial amount of value was added to it within the U.S.A..
I am not a lawyer...
Others have posted pictures of the labeling that says:
"Country of Origin U.S.A."
and
"Assembled in U.S.A."
From what I am reading the first phrase has legal requirements greater than the second.
It may be that the sheet metal was manufactured elsewhere and the forming and assembly was done here.
One web page suggested that some of the work may have been done in a place with ties to the U.S., e.g. Puerto Rico, but that was kind of vague.

Question 4

What are the actual dimensions? I don't see 6 x 10 x 3 inches in the displayed image.

Accepted Answer

I'm not sure how those dimensions came to be associated with the Pocket Bellows.  Those are not what we posted.  The outside packaging is 7.25" x 1.5" x 1.25", but the bellows are much smaller and fit loosely in the package.  Without taking them out and ruining the packaging I can say the tube the bellows are in is about 4" long and .625" in diameter.  The bellows themselves are just under 4" long and about .5" in diameter.  My understanding is they extend out to at least 18-19" so none of the dimensions listed match the outside packaging, the tube or the bellows themselves.Keri-LynnFour Seasons Survival

Pocket Bellows - Weatherproof Collapsible Fire Bellowing Tool for Starting Fire- an Essential Camping Gear

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