Umm, yes you can drink it, but no, it won't make you drunk <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, while looking for a field knife sharpener, I came across this interesting sharpener/survival kit.

http://www.survivalschool.com/products/survival/survival_tool.htm

Included in the kit is the fire-water powder which they claim will start fires (place small pile on board and then scrap edge of provided tool or stick through pile making sparks and heat). They say it can also be used to purify water (no instructions for use found in site). So, does anyone know what this powder is?

Thanks

I'm thinking potassium permanganate, KMnO4.

EDIT: On second thought, I have no idea what it is after reading the .doc file that comes with it. Seems "iffy" though. FWIW. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

My guess would be, potassium permanganate.

Sorry I have no idea what fire-water is either. This quote caught my eye:



Since when? True I know very little about tracking, but I don't recall seeing Kalhari bushmen, nor any other so called "primative" tribe carrying optical lens around with them. The fact is they don't need them - and therefore neither should the "non kalahari" eye.
Sounds like nonsense to me.

Almost certainly a chlorate or perchlorate (sodium or potassium salt). Think swimming pool chemicals, particularly like a "shock" treatment chemical. It's undoubtably a powerful oxidizer and the instructions for grinding it on an organic substrate (wood) plus the claim that one may "purify" (disinfect, actually) drinking water with it points VERY strongly at the common swimming pool treatment chemicals. Don't try this at home with a big pile of the stuff from the pool supply section of your local store unless you already know what to expect. Any further discussion will probably bring the HLS folks sniffing after me, so I'll stop here.

I don't regard it as a useful inclusion in a prepared kit. Knowing how to do that sort of thing in a MacGuyverish situation is great, but otherwise it's an unreliable gimmick IMHO.

Tom

I'm no chemist but based on what is included in this kit and how much $$ they are asking for it, I'd have a hard time believing anything written on this website. This is one of those situations where even if they told me the sky was blue, I would go to the window and take a look just be sure. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I doubt this is the same powder but I'm paasing it along as an FYI.

From "Magic Campfire Starts"
Compiled by Scouter Stewart Bowman, 8th Whitby Scout Troop, Whitby District, Lakeridge Region, Ontario, Canada, November 1992


"3] Crush 1 teaspoon of iodine crystals to a very fine powder, then mix with 2 teaspoons of powdered aluminium. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THIS MIXTURE REMAINS ABSOLUTELY DRY.

Place this mixture in the fire lay on a piece of plywood, forming a volcano shaped mound. When the participants are gathered around the campfire, ask if anyone has a canteen of water in case the fire gets 'out of hand' (you may want to set this up beforehand). Pat your pockets as if looking for a match, but finding none, ask to borrow some water. Sprinkle it on the fire lay (ensure a few drops hit the iodine/aluminium mixture) and you will be greeted by billowing purple smoke, followed by deep red flames. Someone is bound to ask, "OK. So how do you put it out?” Simply tell them you'll throw matches on it!

Note: The powdered iodine "evaporates" very quickly. As a result this mixture must be used within about 10 minutes of preparation. "

I purchased one of those kits some time ago. Rather than paying hazmat shipping charges, the vendor sends you the formula for making your own "firewater" powder.

As I recollect (I'm not handy to the instructions) it was half potassium permanganate and half processed sugar.

I subsequently read a warning on another site that this mixture isn't perfectly stable, and may spontaneously ignite.

I have no experience either way.

-- Bear