Sorry Greg, I made the original post and no one seemed interested, so I didn't add what I'd found out from playing with it in the field. Havn't tried Chocolate yet, instead I tried things that i was likely to have or find in the field. The times varied from 5 minute for the stropping compound I use on my belt to almost an hour for dried grass. A small piece of char, tinder fungus or bone dry rabbit pellet works great. The problems i've seen with people learning it , are that people don't point it at the sun and focus to a pencil lead size " steady" spot and they forget that since it is parabolic the holder and target have to be as small as possible or you greatly reduce the amount of energy avaible in some cases to the point that it won't work. So far the most fun i've had with it was at BoyScout camp, It rain 24/7 for the hole week and toward the end some of the boys were [censored] about how hard starting the camp fire was getting. I try to set a good example for the boys and keep them on their toes, So I said, " You know a good woodsman can get it done no mater what his resource are, I'll bet I can get it done with just this can of coke" ( I'd pre polished one of the can in my six of coke) ; ) ; ) ; ) I had some previously gathered tinder fungus in my pocket and their was some dry natural tinder in camp that the boys had completely missed. It took me maybe two minutes to get the fire started and after their shock wore off, i let them in on the secret and broke out the raggs , aircraft aluminum polish, and char I'd brought so they could make their own. The only thing I really don't like about this tech. other than you need the sun, is that finding an aluminum can in the woods when you need one has become " WAY" to easy. : ( : ( : ( <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />