Hot burn or long burn, that is the question!

S

stitchawl

Joined
Jul 26, 2008
Messages
2,849
What's your opinion?
We know that magnesium shavings burn really, really hot, but for a short time.
We know that wood shavings, fat wood, etc., burns for several minutes but not nearly as hot as magnesium.

Anybody know of any lab testing done to see which if actually better for lighting a fire?

For me, I like the combination of both.... why mess with success?

Stitchawl
 
You're right. Both hot and long is the best.

However, IMO the choice of one or the other is going to depend on how wet the kindling is.

Dry kindling doesn't need much to light, so long duration of the fire starter isn't that important.

Wet wood on the other hand needs a longer burning firestarter, to dry & ignite enough of the kindling for it to become self sustaining.



Kind regards
Mick
 
If it is down to picking one or the other I'm going with long over hot. With long hopefully I have time to construct things in such a way as to get a good enough core of heat going to boil any moisture out. By contrast, although temps involved with burning magnesium are very high, if it is too transient to do anything useful with...
 
I often use the magnesium to light a section of rubber that burns longer. Burning rubber is hot enough and will dry out smaller kindling. I carry my mag-block fire starters wrapped in a section of bike inner tube for this reason. Mac
 
Yeah, I sacrifice a bit off a rubber band too if need be. I don't like doing it 'cos it's dirty, but there's no denying it is a great waterproof accelerant.
 
I just recently started using PJCBs, they seem like an excellent balance of long and hot :D
 
Okay, sigh of relief. From the thread title, I was worried folks were gonna post pictures of bongs...

:eek:

:D
 
What matters is the total heat output, and how easy it is to transfer that heat into the kindling. I find it easier to work with a longer burning tinder than a hotter burning tinder.
 
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