Hi Folks<br><br>Anyone know where to get a decent plastic fresnel magnifying lens (apart from the opticians who want a weeks wages to make one : - )). Preferably a web mail order place - I'm in England. If not - what kind of magnification does it need to have to be useful for both fire lighting and reading the small print etc?<br><br>Thanks & Cheers<br><br>Nik T.<br><br>"If you tolerate this, then your children will be next." MSP

You might try Ultra-Optix. They have fresnel lenses for sale online here.

this should help<br><br>http://www.ultraoptix.com/magnifiers/fresnellens.html<br><br>brian

Wow! Within one minute of each other!<br>How's that for service, Pilgrim?

Oh, and sorry Pilgrim, I forgot to say that I don't really know much about starting fires with magnifying glasses, as I've never successfully done it. I need much practice in many of my skills.

The HL-1 and HL-1T models are small enough to fit in a PSK tin. But are they a practical addition? I don't recall hearing anyone saying that they have used these types of lens as a firestarter. Or maybe I just wasn't listening?

Guys<br><br>Thanks very much for your prompt response - i'm impressed, will let you know if i succeed in getting hold of the elusive lens. I've seen guys using these things to start fires in hot climates before (unsure how powerful it would need to be in England : - )) - I guess if the diameter of the thing is small enough to fit into my tobbacco tin I might go for it - I carry a lot of kit in my pockets etc so my tin has become more of a specialist tool box to some extent. Once again many thanks.<br><br>Nik T.

Got my Fresnel lenses at a Barnes and Noble book store. The credit card size was $1.95. It works far better than the other lenses that I've tried. Just remember to focus the beam carefully and very , very steady (shaking hands won't do the trick ) Cotton bursts into flame very quickly, but natural tinders take some time. Hpe this is of help.

Neglected to mention that it's probably unwise to stare at that focal point of light. When I did that during my initial attempts, it left me with "after images". Glancing away every 30 seconds seems to eliminate the problem.

Hi Neandertal,<br><br>Also trying to light a fire also only works from one side of the Fresnel lens although both sides work enlarging.<br><br>I have both the Credit card as the 4" by 5" model from Barnes and Nobel and they are perfect and cheap.<br>But practice a lot then it's not easy to start a fire with them, my Swedish Military Firesteel starts a fire in 15 seconds but with the Fresnel lens it takes a lot longer also depending on a decently powerfull sunshine and the right fine tinder materials.<br><br>Best Scouting wishes from Holland,<br><br>Bagheera

You might look here:<br><br>http://www.magnifyingglasses.co.uk <br><br>I found the site with www.google.com by searching on "fresnel lens magnifier uk" (without the quotes). There are probably more sites in the UK. I also suggest checking bookstores and stationery shops. <br><br>I carry a credit card sized lens in my wallet and a lens the size of a sheet of typing paper in a backpack in my vehicle. I bought both at an office supply store. I never thought about the magnification of the lesnes. I think any of them will work for starting fires. <br><br>I know I'm overstating the obvious here but in my opinion the fresnel lens is useful only when conditions are good- dry and sunny. Using the lens to start a fire saves your matches or lighter fuel. No matter how many matches you might carry, you don't have an endless supply. The fresnel lens is just one more firemaking tool, and you should ALWAYS carry other means of making fire. <br><br>If I had to give up one of my firemaking tools, the fresnel lens would probably be the first to go. (My ferrocerium rods would be the last to go. Thanks, Bagheera!) <br><br>When I first experimented with a magnifying lens I tried to light a single piece of dry grass. No luck. By experimenting I discovered the following technique. Gather a large handful of dry tinder and break it up by twisting it. This breaks down the outer surface of the stems and exposes the interior portion. It also creates more surface area. The preparation of the tinder is important with any firestarting method. Next, shine the light into the center of mass of tinder, focusing the beam of light not on the surface, but down into the tinder. I think that this helps to trap the heat. The tinder will heat up and begin to smoke, then burst into flames. Try not to stare at it as the light is very bright. Blowing on the tinder when it begins to smoke might help. The main thing is to experiment and find out what works for you. You might also experiment under varying light conditions- cloudy days, late in the day, etc. I have not done this myself, but I should. <br><br>The headlights (headlamps) on newer cars have fresnel lenses to magnify the light output. However, I don't know if one could separate the fresnel portion without destroying it. Also lenses from binoculars, camera lenses, etc have reportedly been used to make fire, but I have never attempted these techniques. <br><br>If you are a smoker the fresnel lens lights cigarettes easily (in strong light, of course), saving your matches or lighter. <br><br>Good luck!<br>

Nik, <br><br>Don't know if you have Wal-Mart available, but after reading this post yesterday, I became intrigued and located one at my local store. It cost a whopping 97 cents, but I have to check out how capable it is for starting a fire in the next few days.<br><br>It came with a vinyl sheath, and is a size suitable for a altoids-sized PSK; about the thickness of 2 sheets of paper, and weighs nothing.<br><br>Thanks for the thread; it generated a few good ideas.<br><br>Tristan

Bill --<br><br> I, too, have Fresnel lenses in several kits.<br><br> Just for grins, I combined a couple of threads here and decided this weekend to try using a Fresnel lens for firestarting. Additionally, I tried using Vaseline (petroleum jelly) on a cotton ball, and again on dryer lint, instead of using a Sparklite tinder to start the fire.<br><br> A couple of things jumped out at me:<br>1. Don't count on a Fresnel for firestarting unless you've tried it under non-critical circumstances first. I started with a bright, clear day in tropical sun (where I live in St Croix), and first noticed that it takes a really steady hand to focus the lens properly. Even a momentary cloud passing over kills the heat. So does a wavering hand.<br>2. Black dryer lint, moistened with vaseline and fluffed up, smokes/ignites almost instantly. But it'll smoke without creating enough of a flame to easily ignite larger tinder. And the white smoke actually interferes with the focus of the lens as you keep at it.<br>3. A white cotton ball doesn't light easily, even with Vaseline on it. Being white, it's a lot harder to focus a pinpoint of light on the white surface compared to the black one, which shows your focus (or lack thereof) quite clearly.<br>4. Either way, if you're planning on using Vaseline and cotton or dryer lint, the Vaseline dries very quickly in the wind, down to a mere greasy feel. If you're gonna carry this kind of tinder, keep it airtight and light it quick. Black is easier by far. <br>5. Magnesium scrapings and flint and steel were no problem at all. I'd count on that if my lighter and matches were gone. <br> The Fresnel and cotton MAY work in ideal weather -- but it's no cinch!<br> Try for yourself and see. Fortunately it's one of those fun, cheap and easy weekend projects that you can really learn from,<br><br> Regards -- Karl