Best material for starting a camp fire

winter camping fun!

Oh, thermite. :rockOn:
I will have to test that out on a frozen log this winter.

Thanks guys I think I have a new piece of camping kit!!


If you have never heard of, or seen thermite in action click HERE
 
Ceska said:
Oh, thermite. :rockOn:
I will have to test that out on a frozen log this winter.

Thanks guys I think I have a new piece of camping kit!!


If you have never heard of, or seen thermite in action click HERE
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter what board it's on, every single firelighting thread I've ever read always seems to come down to thermite. It's like Godwin's Law, but for outdoors boards :).
 
Honestly this was the first I had heard of using it. But if a thimble of that stuff could start a frozen log or wet log, it's going in the pack. :)
 
Does anyone know the legality of thermite? Is it a controlled substance in Canada?

(BTW- LOVED the line: "we picked this car to destroy because it's old, it's white, and most importantly, it's french.")
 
thermite i dont think is a controlled item, as its so easy to make for starters, and its extreamly hard to light, as you need a magnesium fuse to light it.

from what i remember all it is to make it is rust, and alimunum shavings.

i dont know if the new magnesium sparking things will light it. but i wouldent want my frickin hands near it when it ignights.
 
"Scout Juice" ... (any highly flammable hydrocarbon) ... one common
one comes in a nice Blue & Yellow unbreakable tin with a good spout ...
says "Ronson" on it ! Birch bark & waterproof matches otherwise works
too !
 
parraowneringp said:
Forget the lighter, extreamly fine steel wool and a welder style flint striker will light any thing that is some what dry and it never goes empty.Lay the steel wool in a bunched up ball put the stricker over top and let sparks fall into the ball at the first sign af a glow lay dry materal over top an blow lightly. No B.S steal wool burns & hot to.
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Try soaking the steel wool in gun oil, a small golf ball size piece of steel wool will burn for quite a while with just a little spark.
 
Pronto211 said:
Try soaking the steel wool in gun oil, a small golf ball size piece of steel wool will burn for quite a while with just a little spark.
Click to expand...

A dry piece (have yet to try it with an oily piece) can be lit by touching it with a 9v battery
And it will burn for a minute or so (fine steel wool)

Edited... Oops, I guess I mentioned this 2 pages back.
 
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Aries- said:
thermite i dont think is a controlled item, as its so easy to make for starters, and its extreamly hard to light, as you need a magnesium fuse to light it.

from what i remember all it is to make it is rust, and alimunum shavings.

i dont know if the new magnesium sparking things will light it. but i wouldent want my frickin hands near it when it ignights.
Click to expand...
electricions used to use thermite for welding ground wire
joints IIRC. check with industrial electric shops.
another good fire starter is the stuff your dentures are made of. dental machanics have lots of scraps for free.
real easy to light,
 
I tend to take a magnesium block firestarter with me when I head out in the bush. I clip a little tiny knife to it, so I always have a knife too, as even a small knife can help a lot in a really tight pinch.

Then it's whatever I can find that's both dry & flammable. A small pile of magnesium shavings on a chunk of wood with tinder nearby & it's hard to NOT start with one swipe of the spark insert.

I've packed the same one for over a decade & there's still LOTS left on the thing.

Better than ANY lighter I've ever tried too. WAY more reliable.

L
 
The problem with thermite is that it burns quite fast, and that it needs quite a bit of heat to ignite. Also, it rarely works well unles it's powdered aluminium and powdered iron oxide. To ignite it with a lighter you literally have to have it poured lightly through the flame, which will result in molten metal getting all over you, as it tends to throw itself in the air because of how fast it ignites. Suggested alternatives, powder magnesium into it as well, and then mix it with wax and make super candles. The wick allows it to burn without igniting the entire amount of thermite simultaneously. The magnesium will catch, and ignite the thermite. Anything immediately above beside or below will be flammable after this point. Just don't look at it or stand too close.:evil:

They're quite impressive as the reaction will burn under water too, once the thermite and magnesium is going. It will also melt any plastic based synthetic clothing near to it and you'll get a nasty burn.

P.S. - it's legal
 
Stand there looking straight north, turn around 360 degrees. There...plenty of stuff ;) For ignition? 7-Eleven matches in a ziploc bag.
 
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