marlin55388 wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2010 at 5:13pm:

Is this quest for a fuel source for warmth or light...ease of ignition...?

From the original post in this thread:


DentonDoc wrote on Nov 28^th, 2010 at 9:57pm:

So, you are ditched and you'd like to have a little light, or a small flame that you can use for a little heat (I remember my dad talking about using a candle to heat his pup-tent during WW II).  Perhaps you want to dry out some small tender in preparation for making a larger fire. Here is my small fire/candle trial setup:  a piece of cotton yarn for a wick and a 44 mag shell casing for a fuel holder.  (For those not familiar with a 44 mag round, the casing is approximately 1 1/4" long with a 1/2" diameter ... makes a fair metal tube with one end capped.)  In each case, the candle was ignited by using a butane lighter flame for less than 5 seconds--in most cases, less than 3 seconds.  If the accelerant is not listed, either I haven't tested it or it wouldn't stay lit for at least 30 minutes, without re-light or tending.  Keep in mind that I'm only considering things that have a good possibility of being with me/on me during a canoe-type trip.