Cannon fuse
One of the things I played around with last weekend was waterproof cannon fuse. This stuff burns at the controlled rate of 30 seconds per foot and will even burn underwater. I did not try lighting it with sparks but I suspect it could be done. The fuse has a tendency to jump around a bit as it burns if it left loose but winding it around small kindling works well. If you wrap it too close to itself it will ignite itself at these close spots, speeding up the burn time.

Small, waterproof, hot.
Gee, sounds like my wife!

-Blast

I had to edit my post. I don't want some kids blowing there hands off.... dont ask. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

While perusing this link, I stumbled onto this interesting project. Sounds like it might be worth a try.

Emergency Fire Starter:
http://www.skylighter.com/fireworks/how_to_make/fire_starter.asp

You used to be able to buy something like this, two little bottles, when the contents were combined, instant fire. I will have to do some googling...

I guess to the pyrotechnic mind, that makes perfect sense! <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Jesus, that stuff is almost Thermite..

you wrote that like it's a bad thing!

A nice formula, but not practical from a household or OTC perspective.

I do like the cannon fuse idea. It might be a problem to EDC in places like Manhattan, where I would have some explaining to do if the constable or some such took notice.

There's lots you can do with the 4th of July goodies they still sell. Reliable and effective pryotechnics at an affordable price, like sparklers, punks, fountains, all wonderful little burning items many of which can be EDC'd easy enough.

Still the best for me is either some fatwood or coniferous resin, one of them trick candles, or them tinderquiks you can get at the sporting goods stores.

Not practical! How can you say that? I mixed up a small batch and it worked great, just like the description said.

Blast on the surface the use on cannon fuse seems as it would be a good fire starter. And you might get it to work.

But the ends where you would light it it is not water proof. The end where it is to do it's job needs to be sealed. Then it is either lit out of the water or is sealrd to an igniter.

As it burns it self seals and where it does break through the expanding gas keeos the water out until the burn advances beyond the rupture.

Most of the burn is internal to the coating that keeps it waterproof. You get occasional spurts of flame along the length but not that much. Also the fuse needs to lead to something flamable to ignite.

Any tinder that would be sensitive enough to be reliably lit by the fuse. Would also be as easily lit by wht ever method you would lit the fuse to begin with.

The mentioned fire starter is in fact a self lighting enhanced form of thermite. The Potassium permanganate when exposed to the Glycerin is the self igniter portion of the formula. The called for aluminum is a bit coarse. You really need about 400 mesh for good thermite with the other half the iron oxide about as fine. The addition of the Magnesium is what gives the enhancement out a hotter burn. It is an arson special.

That compound will generat enough heat to start a completely soaked log. The Glycerin and Potassium permanganate is all you need for a good starter with even minimal quality tinder. And Potassium permanganate can also be used to purify water, used as a disinfectent and in strong mixes as an antifungal treatment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_permanganate
http://www.travelhealthzone.com/away/water/5-purification.php
http://rk19-bielefeld-mitte.de/survival/FM/06.htm

Well, color me disappointed. I experimented some more with cannon fuse. Soaking it in water for five minutes renders it useless.
<img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

-Blast

Dude,

You scared the daylights out of me.

I spent 20 years in the Army Field Artillery. The idea of using fuses, det cord, powder, or anything we used is suicidal.

I have read many other ways of starting a fire on this board. Use those.

Even the stuff you linked, (thank god they have nothing to do with FA), are too close to explosives for my taste.

If you are going to use that stuff, why not just throw some gasoline to some sticks and put a lighted match to it.
<img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Some det cord would be really handy for cutting firewood though...