One of the groups I belong to is getting together its annual Spring fire-starting fling. The goal is to show-and-tell, then provide hands-on opportunities with, as many different fire-starting combinations as we can lay our hands on.

Time to actually use all your toys and try out ones you have just heard about!

I think we are going to add car battery and jumper cables as spark generators this time. With fine steel wool, fire should be easy, but I wonder how many other types of tinder we can get going?

As the plans advance I will post our list of fire-staring combinations and ask if we have missed any.

Thanks.

Sounds like fun! Please keep us posted!

I wouldnt use car batteries as the risk is abit to high for just trying something out. Best to go with eye protection leather gloves and a basic 9volt battery.

May I suggest a competition for who's tinder burns the longest? Rules would be No store bought premade tinder such as the firesticks fatwood or tinderquick but more home made combinations of wax wood paper cardboard so on so forth.

Canon fuse.
-Blast

I've been itching to try potassium permangante. I gather there are a few things you can mix it with to create the reaction, but I'm not a chemist so it scares me a little.

Changed my mind on this post. Responsible members can PM me for details.

-Blast

Blast,

I'm not exactly known as responsible by my co-workers but if the post was what I suspect it was I commend you on your judgement. Chemistry is almost as much fun as electrical engineering.

-Eric

PS - Technically I am an avionics system engineer which is even more fun - if just a bit scary that they let me play with such important toys!!

There's an old say, "If you want a bridge, call an engineer. If you DON'T want a bridge, call a chemist."

-Blast, who really misses the good ol' days

Binary fire! About a week ago I got 2 lbs of Potassium Permangante and some Glycerine- I have to say the results are impressive! I've tested them in good weather and rain, and so far the flame is fool-proof (and I'm a very advanced fool! ). Might be worth adding to your "bag of tricks".