Trioxane

H

Hazardous

Joined
Nov 27, 1999
Messages
42
I purchased a few boxes of the large military Trioxane fuel bars recently to test them as a possible addition to my survival equipment and I was quite impressed. After conducting a few tests, I now think it might be very useful. The best thing is that you can by this stuff dirt cheap.

The bars I have are in U.S. military marked cardboard boxes, three bars to the box. The bars are about 1 inch by 3 inches and scored to break into three pieces. They light very easily from a match and burn cleanly with little odor. I soaked some pieces in some water and they still lit right up, it just took a fraction longer. I even had some pieces burning in a puddle of water!

I haven't tried to light them with a sparking device, but I have one on the way from Greg Davenport and I'll post an update when I try it. I'm also going to try some water boiling experiments under field conditions.

Is anyone familiar with this stuff? It seems to be a great tinder and fuel. I'm wondering if there are any drawbacks.

 
I've been a fan of this stuff since I got ahold of some on a FTX a few years ago. I picked up a large supply (can't remember where, but Sportsman's Guide has them cheap) and usually bring a few on outdoor excursions. The stuff is great to get a fire going since it lights readily and burns steadily. You can even break off chunks and store the rest for later as needed. One thing I never bothered, though was testing with a sparking tool. Maybe I'll try it with a Blastmatch tonight, and I'll be interested to see your results.

cj
 
I've been picking up cases of them every so often, from Brigade Quartermaster. They've been selling them for about $4.50 a case, or there'bouts... a case consisting of 12 boxes, or 36 bars.

Pretty decent deal.
 
Good info, Marion David Poff...I pulled out some boxes I had tucked away, only to find that a couple of the trioxane packs were
only about half full and unopened! So I used one of these for the experiment.

First, I shook out a pile of powdered bar from the package and went after it with a blast match. No luck. Same with larger, more solid chunks (this makes sense). So I tore off a small chunk of a cotton ball and put it in with everything and it all lit up great. Interestingly, the solid pieces seem to catch and burn more easily than the powder did...

cj
 
Ya know what burns and canNOT be extinguished no matter what?

A stick of "Brut" deodorant.

Some twit (no, not me!) lit one off in my HS locker room once...the crap acted like napalm, repeated beating on it with everything from brooms to towels just added to the pandemonium. It stuck as it burned...water just made it float around burning.

Unreal. Smelled pretty good, too
smile.gif
.

Jim
 
I received my metal matches from ANEW/Greg Davenport today (just a few days after I ordered them online BTW, and Greg even charged me LESS than I expected because the shipping charges were less. Thanks Greg, great service!) and I immediately tried them on some of my Trioxane stash.

I broke a piece off a bar that was about the size of a quarter, placed the end of one of the small Davenport specials on it and scraped it once, twice and FOOM the thing lit right up! Now, this experiment was in my kitchen, not in a driving rainstorm, but I have to say I am impressed. The sparking device throws an amazing amount on of sparks for its size, but I didn't expect the stuff to light so easily. Trioxane will have a place in my kit.

I don't know how I missed this stuff when I was in the Army. It works great. I suppose it was because us Tankers had the multi-BTU M1 exhaust to cook with. I even heard of a guy cooking an entire turkey (wrapped in foil so it didn't taste like diesel) off the back deck of an M1, but that's another story.

Now if I can only find that stick of Brut...
 
Experament with a tuna size can for a stove! Cut holes for air and when you get it right 1/3 tab will heat about 1/2 canteen cup of coffee! I know I've done it alot!!
 
Try cheaperthandirt.com . They sell them pretty cheap compared to many sports stores I checked.
 
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