SEC Candle

Have anyone heard of or used the SEC Candle? If you have what is your opinion?
Thanks!
www.seccandle.com

I have never heard of it before, but I have used candles quite a bit including some of the beeswax ones that come in cans.
I like candles as easily stored sources of heat and light. I keep a few candle stubs in my emergency pack and camping gear for that as well as using them as fire starters.

I am not trying to offend here, but I have to ask this.
This candle seems a bit pricey, so what are the points about it that would justify the cost compared to other candles or lanterns?

Hope this is not hijacking, but just want to put a bug in everyone's ear.

The couple days after Halloween are a great time to buy orange and black candles for pennies on the dollar. Stores just try to dump them. Especially those Spirit Superstores.

No they are not perfect but quantity can overcome a lot of problems.

I think the proprietor of the company needs to hire a PR person or advertising firm. The site does a poor job at explaining what the strengths of the SEC Candle may be on its own and what strengths it may have in comparison to other stoves or heaters.

As an example:
Question: Will this candle keep me warm in my RV or tractor trailer in the event of an emergency?

Answer: Yes, it will keep you warm.

The tractor trailer's heater, a small wood fire or a wool blanket will keep you warm as well. There is no mention why the SEC candle would be better than any of the above to people uninitiated in survival situations. While we here can can understand that the truck's heater may not be useable, or that a fire by another source may release toxic fumes, none of these things are mentioned.

Also, on a side note, the videos are very weak and most of them aren't necessary. Yea! I can cook a pot roast with 3 SEC Candles, and get the equipment in Christmas colors!

While many of us who frequent forums such as ETS can see why a person might want to buy a light/heat source such as this, it's not explained very well on the site.

So, having said all that, I have many ideas why the SEC Candle may be a worthwhile purchase, however, I'd like to see some specific information on why the SEC Candle may be better than all of the other options on the market. Perhaps I just missed this on the site, but I think I gave it a thorough once over... Twice...

Man, that sounded harsh.

I didn't see anything that would cause me to even consider buying this. I little to hokey and clunky for me. The videos, as previously stated, don't do much to drive a person to purchase it. I think there is are better options out there. I lean towards Tinny and his Minibull Designs.

Standard Disclaimer......

$, Weight, + Lots of Parts = Why Bother

Sorry I would neither buy or recommend this candle.

Well, I am a bit surprised by the negative reactions.
I think it reflects on the ad not explaining the benefits wax offers, for example it is stable in long term storage as an emergency fuel.

I do think the item is worth considering, particularly for somebody who would be forced to store more volatile fuels instead.

For people who are going to have alternative fuels like kerosene or wood then it is not as attractive, but if you were choosing between wax, kerosene or white gas (coleman fuel) and lived in an apartment it becomes much more attractive.

Even the price isn't too bad, if they were to compare it to the cost of a gas or kerosene lamp, stove and the fuels.
(although it must be admitted that it is not comparable in concentrated heat or light)

Because of my previous use of candles for heat and light I am a bit more in favour of them, but if I had to decide just on their advertising I would be reacting exactly like Bruce and MoBOB.

I think the makers of this product really need to do as Nicodemus suggests and work on their sales pitch a bit more.

Hi I am the owner and creator of the Sec Candle. I was also very surprised at the reaction of a couple of members.

This product is in the hands of SAR search and rescue personnel, NSP national ski patrol personnel and State Troopers associations building programs to assist patients in the field, and save lives.


True our budget will not allow us to create the finest web site on earth, and marketing is moving forward very quickly. This is a grass roots product, i have created it, manufactured it, and i am now presenting it to market, and we have sold hundreds of them, and have them in many small retail locations around the country.


Please do not judge this product until you give it a try, there are many people who love this product, and we will not let vicious attacks affect my dream of saving lives.

I will accept concrete critisiam, and apply it when resources allow.

Thanks
Bob

Hello Stoneplanking;
Glad to see you posting Bob.
So how about a rundown on why we should consider your SEC candle.

As I mentioned before I have used candles in every size from tea lights and dinner candles up to bee's wax can candles and home made buddy burners (tin can full of wax with coiled cardboard wick)
Candles do have some serious advantages, but if a person only thinks of candles as something for romantic dinners those advantages will never be thought about.

Your system seems a bit different with the wicks in separate holders. It also seems your wax might be a lower melting point because you show it fully liquid in the videos.

Would regular candle waxes work if that was all a person had?
If the wax melts like that, almost like fat, would it work in a koodlik?
(maybe like the one described by Monty Alford in his 1923 Wilderness Survival Guide
http://www.sheltron.us/sheltron/Primitive_Skills/Survival_Oil_Stove.pdf

" to assist patients in the field, and save lives."

I'm curious, how specifically is your candle saving lives?

As for your unwarranted comments about being "viciously attacked", if you think that the comments here are either vicious or an attack, you need to immediately stop trying to market your products on the web. You haven't seen vicious yet, at least not on these forums.

You can accept criticism or not, that isn't going to stop people from voicing their opinions about yours' or any other persons products.

Hi scafool, JohnE
I am not trying to promote my product in this forum, please contact me directly at info@seccandle.com, thanks

OK, I'll have a go at some constructive criticism...


1) First it's a great thing you post videos. You may want to edit and relabel them so they are more clearly divided into thematic parts. (This shows how to assembly the stove, here's showing that you can boil water on stove, here I show how to refill stove and so forth, not just video 1:Start here, 2, 3, ...).

2) You put a lot of thought and effort into making this. Add your design philosophy on the web page. (Something like "I wanted to make a stove that was ... and better than ... "). I would really like to read that.

3) Contact someone who writes gear review on a regular basis and ask if they would like to test your stove. You give them your stove, they write their review (which you may or may not like). A link to an independent review from a well respected source does wonders....

4) Your web page seem to take for granted that people will look at your web page and realize: HERE is exactly the kind of portable heat source I have been looking for. Well, it doesn't work that way. You need to tell people WHY your solution is better than the alternatives.

5) Some technical questions should be addressed. How do I use the "wax beans" to refill the stove? Do I need another heat source to melt them, or can I refill as I go? What are the materials used in the stove? How heavy is it? Physical size when packed and assembled?

Okay, let's look this over....

I see a product that looks as though it could be quite useful in the event one is looking for a multi-use heat/light type situation. Having been a small business owner, I understand the difficulties of trying to create viable and professional looking advertising and web presence.

This appears to me as an item that will fit a niche market, and that can be a good thing. Find you niche, and then find a need within said niche that you can satisfy.

Granting that there are a substantial number of parts involved, I see that this gentleman has tried to address issues for those who are and AREN'T prepared. His ideas of including cooking cups might seem overkill to some, but I challenge you to find 10 car trunks that have a dedicated cooking cup included in them. When you find those 10 cars, I bet 8 of them have owners with an account here at ETS.

I am possibly headed into the "Great White North" this winter for work, and this might or might not be a bad idea for my vehicle kit. (Being from Texas, the "GWN" starts around the northern Oklahoma border. However, I am going to Canada.)
Bees Wax looks a lot safer to store in the truck than white gas, and more temperature stable than LP canisters for my Jet-Boil.

Let us all give this fellow a break. I bet given a little "hands-on" time, it's merits would become evident and change a few opinions.

Disclaimer: I have zero connection with this fellow, the company, etc. Now add the standard disclaimer here.....

Stoneplanking, hopefully you are still checking out the forums and are reading this thread regarding your product. I belive it would be useful for you to remain active in this thread instead of going private with the members. Why? Well we have a fairly broad membership, which based upon their depth of knowledge/experience in survival, camping, hiking, rescue, marketing, small businesses, etc. could become a useful and constructive sounding board for a potentially useful product such as yours. I am not advocating marketing your product here (although there is a specific section for marketing that you might find useful), but rather explain and engage in useful discussion on why your product is beneficial, how the membership (again there is a lot of potential expertise here) views your product and marketing strategies that may lead you to other venues of sales.

I might even suggest that you consider selecting a few of the folks here to field trial/evaluate your product. A few kind words in the right places can have enormous potential on the success of a product. The original poster, Redflare is a retailer and is highly regarded by a number of people on the forum for his customer service and while I certainly cannot say whether his interest was for personal or business reasons, I am sure he is examining this thread carefully for how the product is viewed. We are fortunate in that we have had a number of manufactures of various products participate, not necessarily to defend their product, but to consult with the potential end users of their product. When this approach is taken, almost everyone comes out a winner.

Pete

Greetings! Bob and myself would be happy to invite several members of this forum to field test our Sec candle. We know it's life saving benefits and features in an emergency survival situation will perform yet because of it's newness to the world many do not as of this post.
We are looking for a few good men or women to put our device to the test. Any Volunteers?
Thanks! Jef

I'm interested in reviewing it, especially as a way to boil water and heat food.

-Blast

Since I posted the suggestion, I will recluse myself, but look forward to such an evaluation by other members.

Pete

I PM'd Bob regarding this test. I am currently in Texas, but will be spending the winter in Ontario for my job. I am actually looking for something like this to augment/replace my Jet-Boil stove due to the fuel instability in extreme cold, and I really do not like the idea of storing LP tanks in the cab of my truck. Please PM me so we can work something out.

That is the kind of information that needs to be featured on your site!


I've bought items off of some pretty awful looking sites in my day. And while I like a great design, it's going to come down to the information on a product that makes me want to purchase.

It's a tough time to be in business. Best of luck to you!

Not trying to be a stick in the mud, but how is your product different than this:

http://countycomm.com/Candle.html

I mean, it's cool that you offer packs of wax as refills, and the accessories are kind of fun. But really, I already have a pot, could figure out a stand for it, etc.

In terms of the actual candle, what makes yours better? Also, are you planning to sell the candle seperately? I could see more people willing to give your product a try if they could get the candle at a reasonable price instead of the whole package. They could always buy a full package later if they decide they like your product.

My only issue is that if burning a candle inside for heat/cooking, there's a CO (carbon monoxide) issue.

Just my .02...

I wouldn't consider it for the following reasons:

-wax stored in packs or vehicles usually ends up in a glob or melted into fabric… or both;

-I have found bug repellent to belong in one of two categories: 1.) toxic (which is not good for food or in closed spaces) or 2.) ineffective;

-I don’t like the idea of using dirt in my cooking vessels. (“Use as a heater. Use of solids such as dirt, sand, gravel, water etc.in both the 10 ounce cup and the 22 ounce container, aid in its use as a heater.”);

-Soot causes a mess, and “Aluminum foil is provided to use as a wind break, light deflector, and for soot control. Tear off one 4”x 4” piece for wick control. This cures the problem of soot which has been a factor in the use of candle.” doesn’t explain how the soot from 3 wicks is eliminated;

-“(Wick control is very important)” does not give me an image of an easy-to-use stove.

-“Currently in the hands of emergency professional building programs to assist patients in the field, and save lives.” … makes me wonder… are you saying this stove has saved lives?
How many saved lives do you attribute to the stove?
Is there any documentation?

I am looking at this as someone who has spent several years on a SAR team in the field and several more years in the basecamp. I realize different folks like different items of gear, just don’t see how this would be on my list.

Hey guys, before we armchair evaluate this product into oblivion, Blast has agreed to test it out. I trust Blast and believe he will provide an honest appraisal of the product. Keep in mind the producer did not come here simply to promote his product, it was introduced thorough the question of a fellow forum member asking our opinion. The product may not be for everyone (or no one), but lets give it fair shake and wait for Blast’s (and any other evaluator’s) evaluation.

(Basecamp you were next in order, so this post is not being directed to you in particular)
Pete

Thanks, no offense taken. What I entered here is opinion related to concerns based on my experiences with items which appear to have similar characteristics with component items and beliefs based on a brief viewing of this product's information... not "gospel" by any means.

I haven't physically seen it, held it or used it, and will read with interest any reviews generated here.

Ladies and Gentlemen...

I am going to have to second what Pete said above. I have been in contact via E-Mail with these folks, and they have been nothing but hospitable. I have offered to do a test on the product here in Texas, on the way to, and in Ontario. I learned today, that this company almost lost one employee to hypothermia last winter (someone learned the price of failing to prepare for being stranded), so I suspect I will have covered all the bases regarding climate/region sufficiently.

I had already planned to build some "Buddy Burners" before going, so this can be a win/win situation for all. I get to test some gear finally, the makers will get an unbiased evaluation, and ya'll will have my mediocre literary skills forced upon you once again.

And when I say unbiased, I do mean that. I will call it like I see it, and my long ago experiences at the arctic warfare school taught me what works and what doesn't.

Let's ease up on these guys for a bit. If it works, I will let you know. If it doesn't, I will also let you know.

Blast and Desperado,

I look forward to your evaluations. It will be interesting to see the differences based on latitude. Have fun!

Another thanks to Blast and Desperado.
I'd be interested in your report, and maybe a comparison to other products such as the one mentioned by MDinana above.

Just a note, I have not heard anything back from the SEC-people. However, I have talked with Desperado about possible tests and trust him to do a good job.

-Blast

This thread has got me thinking. We always have approximately one gozillion tealight candles around. They are supposed to burn for up to 5.5 hours according to the manufacturer so 200 of them would give you 1100 hours. I wonder how well two, three or four tealights in an old esbit stove would boil water?

I disagree with this statement. I don't see anything but good advice and valuable marketing input here. In my opinion, all of the questions and concerns raised by members posting in this thread are valuable information for anyone wanting to market a product. Only a couple of these have been phrased in a somewhat negative way, IMHO, but even those reactions have value.

For my own input: The whole system looks a bit complicated, with many pieces, and mention of managing the wick to a specific height seems complicated. I'm also curious about storage in the heat.

Just one thing to consider - google SEC Candle and see that the top result after the manufacturer's website is now this thread.

The ETS forum carries has a lot of weight.

I'm a noobie here, and most don't know me. But I have no ax to grind nor friend to feed. I've done equipment evaluations before and have some experience at it and at writting objective reviews of strengths and weaknesses of the product, not the advertising.
If you're still soliciting volunteers, I'm in if you want me.

I also sent a PM as I would be willing to evaluate it as well. I too have done some product reviews for a company in the past. Being on an island, I suggested that the candle product might be a good option for small boaters as the fuel is stable. And the old sea water test can show how it lasts in corrosive environments.

If they send one for review, I will post my evaluation(s).