diff --git a/digilines_inventory/chest.lua b/digilines_inventory/chest.lua
index 2ae499b..c7a0ea8 100644
--- a/digilines_inventory/chest.lua
+++ b/digilines_inventory/chest.lua
@@ -25,9 +25,18 @@ local sendMessage = function (pos, msg, channel)
 end
 
 tableMerge =  function(first_table,second_table)
+    if second_table == nil then return end
     for k,v in pairs(second_table) do first_table[k] = v end
 end
 
+tableMergeImmutable = function(first_table, second_table)
+    if first_table == nil then return second_table end
+    if second_table == nil then return first_table end
+    copy = table.copy(first_table)
+    for k,v in pairs(second_table) do copy[k] = v end
+    return copy
+end
+
 local mychest = table.copy(defaultChest)
 
 function defer(what,...)
@@ -36,13 +45,20 @@ function defer(what,...)
     end
 end
 
-tableMerge(mychest,{
+function maybeString(stack)
+    if type(stack)=='string' then return stack
+    elseif type(stack)=='table' then return dump(stack)
+    else return stack:to_string()
+    end
+end
+
+mychest = tableMergeImmutable(defaultChest,{
     description = "Digiline Chest",
     digiline = {
-        receptor = {
-            rules=digiline.rules.default
-        },
-        effector = {}
+        receptor = {},
+        effector = {
+            action = function(pos,node,channel,msg) end
+        }
     },
     on_construct = function(pos)
         defaultChest.on_construct(pos)
@@ -52,11 +68,14 @@ tableMerge(mychest,{
     end,
     on_receive_fields = function(pos, formname, fields, sender)
         minetest.get_meta(pos):set_string("channel",fields.channel)
-        return defer(defaultChest.on_receive_fields, pos, formname, fields, sender)        
+        return defer(defaultChest.on_receive_fields, pos, formname, fields, sender)
     end,
-    tube = {
-        -- note: mese filters cannot put part of a stack in the destination. 
+    tube = tableMergeImmutable(defaultChest.tube, {
+        -- note: mese filters cannot put part of a stack in the destination.
         -- space for 50 coal with 99 added will pop out 99, not 49.
+        connects = function(i,param2)
+            return not pipeworks.connects.facingFront(i,param2)
+        end,
         insert_object = function(pos, node, stack, direction)
             local leftover = defaultChest.tube.insert_object(pos,node,stack,direction)
             local count = leftover:get_count()
@@ -64,8 +83,8 @@ tableMerge(mychest,{
                 local derpstack = stack:get_name()..' 1'
                 if not defaultChest.tube.can_insert(pos, node, derpstack, direction) then
                     -- when you can't put a single more of whatever you just put,
-                    -- you'll get a put for it, then a full                    
-                    sendMessage(pos,"full "..stack:to_string()..' '..tostring(count))
+                    -- you'll get a put for it, then a full
+                    sendMessage(pos,"full "..maybeString(stack)..' '..tostring(count))
                 end
             else
                 -- this happens when the chest has received two stacks in a row and
@@ -73,54 +92,53 @@ tableMerge(mychest,{
                 -- You get a put for the first stack, a put for the second
                 -- and then a overflow with the first in stack and the second in leftover
                 -- and NO full?
-                sendMessage(pos,"overflow "..stack:to_string()..' '..tostring(count))
+                sendMessage(pos,"overflow "..maybeString(stack)..' '..tostring(count))
             end
             return leftover
         end,
         can_insert = function(pos, node, stack, direction)
             local can = defaultChest.tube.can_insert(pos, node, stack, direction)
             if can then
-                sendMessage(pos,"put "..stack:to_string())
+                sendMessage(pos,"put "..maybeString(stack))
             else
                 -- overflow and lost means that items are gonna be out as entities :/
-                sendMessage(pos,"lost "..stack:to_string())
+                sendMessage(pos,"lost "..maybeString(stack))
             end
             return can
         end,
-        input_inventory=defaultChest.input_inventory
-    },
+    }),
     allow_metadata_inventory_put = function(pos, listname, index, stack, player)
-        if not mychest.can_insert(pos,nil,stack,nil) then
-            sendMessage(pos,"uoverflow "..stack:to_string())
+        if not mychest.tube.can_insert(pos,nil,stack,nil) then
+            sendMessage(pos,"uoverflow "..maybeString(stack))
         end
-        local ret = defer(defaultChest.allow_metadata_inventory_put, pos, listname, index, stack, player) 
+        local ret = defer(defaultChest.allow_metadata_inventory_put, pos, listname, index, stack, player)
         if ret then return ret end
         return stack:get_count()
     end,
     on_metadata_inventory_put = function(pos, listname, index, stack, player)
         local channel = minetest.get_meta(pos):get_string("channel")
-        local send = function(msg) 
+        local send = function(msg)
             sendMessage(pos,msg,channel)
         end
         -- direction is only for furnaces
         -- as the item has already been put, can_insert should return false if the chest is now full.
         local derpstack = stack:get_name()..' 1'
-        if mychest.can_insert(pos,nil,derpstack,nil) then
-            send("uput "..stack:to_string())
+        if mychest.tube.can_insert(pos,nil,derpstack,nil) then
+            send("uput "..maybeString(stack))
         else
-            send("ufull "..stack:to_string())
+            send("ufull "..maybeString(stack))
         end
         return defer(defaultChest.on_metadata_inventory_put, pos, listname, index, stack, player)
     end,
     on_metadata_inventory_take = function(pos, listname, index, stack, player)
-        sendMessage(pos,"utake "..stack:to_string())
+        sendMessage(pos,"utake "..maybeString(stack))
         return defaultChest.on_metadata_inventory_take(pos, listname, index, stack, player)
     end
 })
 
-if mychest.can_insert == nil then
+if mychest.tube.can_insert == nil then
     -- we can use the can_insert function from pipeworks, but will duplicate if not found.
-    mychest.can_insert = function(pos,node,stack,direction)
+    mychest.tube.can_insert = function(pos,node,stack,direction)
         local meta=minetest.get_meta(pos)
         local inv=meta:get_inventory()
         return inv:room_for_item("main",stack)