I also hear that coghlan hexamine tabs, similar to esbit, but cheaper work well. thanks for all the input guys.

I'm not saying you're wrong. What I am saying is that "non toxic" is written right on the package. Maybe you can sue them for false advertising <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

They probably say non-toxic becuase of, again, the question of when does a concentration become toxic. It's like saccrine- yes, it will give a mouse cancer. If you eat your own body weight of the same thing every day it will give you cancer, even if it's wheat bran. :P

With military solid fuels, it becomes an issue becuase people who are in places where they are effectively seiged in, or just flat out under seige, don't like to go out where the bullets are just to make coffee. I remember reading years ago that hexi and triox had been pointed at in a small number of Vietnam veterans' kindey and/or liver damage caused by formeldahyde injestion, but I also seem to recall stories about this beer brewed in the Republic of Vietnam where the special ingrediant WAS formheldahyde. Thats probably the reason any attempts to get it covered by the VA was backburnered, or at least you don't hear about it- it wasn't like defoliant exposure, who get's a cup of Agent Orange to go?

But even if it was caused by fuel tabs, it was becuase people were using it in bunkers and hooches on a regular and prolonged basis, which isn't what the stuff was designed for. Open air and you are fine.

I can tell you from experience that sparks are NOT enough to get an Esbit tab going. You will have to use some tinder at least to catch the spark and get the Esbit going.

There are no Toxic substances......only toxic levels.

Old Chemists Addage