grilled bear moment

lesterg3 · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 10:21 am Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

I am not getting involved in this conversation. For once I am going to keep all my innuendo and fire sticks out of it. Embarassed

Bushmaster · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 10:38 am Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

Me too Lester. Me too.

Aloysius · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 12:01 pm Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

did you forget to oil your fire stick?

gelandangan · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

In my bushcraft group we practiced using fire sticks (fire drills) to light fire.
We found that the best fire lighting sticks are made of SOFT wood and OIL is not good because friction is exactly what we aim for.

So Suz, Vince and Aloy keep your lints dry.

Vince · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 2:46 am Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

Suzanne wrote:

Dryer lint works equally as well, no vaso required, although the vaso makes it water proof and a hotter fire I suppose.

Suz

Yep, just pull as much cotton ball off as you need and strike into it. The cotton ball also burns a little longer than ordinary tinder which allows the fire to catch better.

PaulS · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

I make fire sticks from sugar, sulfur, and potasium nitrate. I blend it all together with a mortar and pestle and then add alcohol (denatured 100%) to make a paste. I cast it into a stick 1" wide by 1/4" thick and 4 inches long. When it is dry I wrap it in wax paper and keep a few of them in my pack. To use you break off an inch or two and then ignite it with any spark or flame. It starts easily and burns for about 20 minutes with a very hot flame. They will continue to burn if submerged but only for a short time.
I grew up learning to build fires in the rain forest where dry wood was very hard to obtain. I developed these "fire sticks" to make it easier to get the fire started. (after spending years doing it the old fashion way.)

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 9:10 pm Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

Except for the sugar instead of carbon...That's gun (black) powder.

Vince · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 10:41 pm Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

I like that Paul. Now, where can I get some Potassium Nitrate, and can I legally possess said product???

EDIT:

Well it seems that it is quite legal to possess KNO3 (saltpetre) here, so methinks I might look at making some fire starters, although I'm not real fussed with all the smoke.

gelandangan · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 12:13 am Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

Vince wrote:

I like that Paul. Now, where can I get some Potassium Nitrate, and can I legally posses said product???

Yes you can legally get them Vince.
Some scientific supply house will sell them in small bags of 500 grams, but they are very costly and might not be postable.

dhc4ever · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 1:28 am Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

Vince bunnings have basically 1 lt bottles of napalm in the BBQ section.
Not small but the possibilities are endless Wink

For your intended use the vaso soaked cotton balls are the go, and at the right price.

PaulS · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

You used to be able to buy Saltpetre at the drug stores. I know you can get it in 1 and 2 pouind jars at the chemistry supply places and ounce for ounce it is cheaper than the drug store. It is not flammable but it is an oxidizer so I don't know about shipping.

lesterg3 · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

I buy it all the time for curing meats.

PaulS · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

Lester,
Are you using potassium nitrate or potassium nitrite?
The nitrite is typically used in the curing of meat.

lesterg3 · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: grilled bear moment

Potassium nitrate, saltpeter, is what is printed on the label.