Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB

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-   -   Spontaneous combustion (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/camping-equipment-and-all-clothing/spontaneous-combustion-49905)

Warthog 25 Apr 2010 16:32

Spontaneous combustion
 
Camping is a "like it or lump it" pursuit.

It can be warm and dry, or cold, wet and windy.

So in the case of the latter two how do you get your heat source going, be it camp-fire or stove?

Lighter, matches, fire-steel, or a pint of unleaded and a marine flare?

Personally, I pack the matches and a fire-steel, but I'd like to know how others fair.

John933 25 Apr 2010 18:15

You can still get Swan Vesta match's ... Keep in a self sealer bag ... With another bag in side that one with a few spare ... The just in case game ...
John933

MikeS 25 Apr 2010 18:41

Cheap, disposable lighters always worked for me.

backofbeyond 25 Apr 2010 19:09

Another vote for cheap disposables. One of them has survived 10yrs in my camping stove bag and still has most of the liquid in it. I don't smoke so it only gets used for lighting the stove, but even when the liquid leaks out the spark bit alone will light petrol.

DAVSATO 25 Apr 2010 20:34

i used to use a disposable but ive changed stove recently. i now light my gas trangia with a firesteel that will work in the rain and wind. i still keep the lighter handy in my pack though

Mr. Ron 25 Apr 2010 22:15

I use gas or oil as a fire starter if things are difficult, my camp stove bottle is always a good resource. I also use disposable lighters, but carry a flint with magnesium bar for emergencies. It;s been very handy and well used for the last 5 years or so.

DougieB 25 Apr 2010 22:26

eat cold food. you get the double bonus of not having to worry about carrying stove/fuel nonsense.

markharf 25 Apr 2010 22:49

I usually carry two disposables, both left over from the days when I smoked and would never be more than three paces from cigarettes and fire (12 years gone, more or less). I suppose the only reason for carrying two is that one backs up the other. This, too, seemed very important when there was nicotine inhalation at stake.

In serious situations (i.e., survival), I carry something which will start a fire no matter what. On foot, it's a candle stub, firestarting paste, vasoline-soaked cotton, whatever. On a bike, it's the gasoline in my tank.

I eat a lot of cold food, too, but there are times (and company I might want to keep) when Skippy Super Chunk and honey sandwiches just don't quite make it.

Mark

From Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros, Brazil, which seems to be closed for some sort of unknown (by me) holiday.

DougieB 25 Apr 2010 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by markharf (Post 286632)
I eat a lot of cold food, too, but there are times (and company I might want to keep) when Skippy Super Chunk and honey sandwiches just don't quite make it.
.

ha ha, very posh cold food.

but, yeah, fair comment. always whip out the camping stove on a date... ;-)

Big Yellow Tractor 28 Apr 2010 06:16

Firesteel everytime. Super reliable. If you can't make fire with some petrol and a spark you need to stay at home.

I can do cold food for a while but nothing gets your spirits up like a hot meal and a cup of tea.

Warthog 28 Apr 2010 06:34

A slight variation.
 
Another thing I sometimes carry is a lighter of sorts.

A candle lighter. Basically, a lighter with a long stalk: has been handy for reaching the stove through a gap in the windshield and under a pots!!

Not heavy, nor bulky, but not a pocket accessory: strictly in you luggage!

holodragon 28 Apr 2010 22:41

Fire steel
 
Personally I always carry a disposable lighter but have been seeing a lot of posts regarding FireSteels,How exactly do these things work? Waterproof? Always work etc? Can an idiot such as myself use one?

oneworldbiker 28 Apr 2010 23:23

yes
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by holodragon (Post 287036)
Personally I always carry a disposable lighter but have been seeing a lot of posts regarding FireSteels,How exactly do these things work? Waterproof? Always work etc? Can an idiot such as myself use one?

SCRATCH AND BURN....... can catch you out when using petrol........WOOOF.:oops2:.. ITS VERY GOOD BEEN USING FIRE STEEL AND MAGNESIUM FOR LAST 20 YEARS AND ITS IN MY SURVIVAL TIN AND IN MY POCKET WHERE EVER i GO..

Big Yellow Tractor 29 Apr 2010 07:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by holodragon (Post 287036)
Personally I always carry a disposable lighter but have been seeing a lot of posts regarding FireSteels,How exactly do these things work? Waterproof? Always work etc? Can an idiot such as myself use one?

You've got a bit of metal that is about pencil diameter with a little handle. You strike it with the back of a knife (or some come with a striker) and it drops a shower of sparks; easily lighting a petrol stove or your tinder. You can go all "Ray Mears" and use the shavings from the inside-leg of a tree shrew or something but a spoon full of petrol gets most things going without faffing around.

I don't have much luck with other lighters. All the ones I've tried from 10pence to 30 quid give up on me I'm afraid.

Mr. Ron 29 Apr 2010 15:06

Being a metal fabricator, i was taught early on to never carry a disposable lighter in my pants pocket while welding. The valves in the lighters are prone to leaking slowly, filling the surrounding cloth with gas, which when ignited can have a dangerous consequence. Never seen it happen and i'm not sure if it applies to what we're talking about here, but i thought i would throw it out there.
I carry a bar of magnesium with a rod of flint attached to it. If you don't have any gas, shave off a penny size lump of magnesium and throw in a spark, the flame is white hot and will light even wet tinder.


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