On the subject of backpacking...

"Wolfgang" wrote in message
...

Ping-pong balls.......I've seen 'em burn.......nitrocellulose (or a close
cousin) would be my guess.

Start small.

Unfortunately, they'd probably be thoroughly useless for starting wet
kindling......they burn too fast.

Well......unless you've got like a shoebox full or something.

Wolfgang
ducking and covering.

Like I said, I ain't tested my theory yet--not that I actually have a
theory. But I plan to head up to the property on sunny day, **** on some
kindlin', break out my trusty little plastic magnifyin' glass and ignite
some PING-PONG BALLS!

You'll see, you big fat liar! Not only will you be coverin' yourself with a
duck, you'll be eatin' a crow too!

Love,
Op

"Mr. Opus McDopus" wrote in message
...

"Wolfgang" wrote in message
...

Ping-pong balls.......I've seen 'em burn.......nitrocellulose (or a close
cousin) would be my guess.

Start small.

Unfortunately, they'd probably be thoroughly useless for starting wet
kindling......they burn too fast.

Well......unless you've got like a shoebox full or something.

Wolfgang
ducking and covering.

Like I said, I ain't tested my theory yet--not that I actually have a
theory. But I plan to head up to the property on sunny day, **** on some
kindlin', break out my trusty little plastic magnifyin' glass and ignite
some PING-PONG BALLS!

You'll see, you big fat liar! Not only will you be coverin' yourself with
a duck, you'll be eatin' a crow too!

Well, I've seen recipes for crow.....and heard reports that it is at least
edible. However, having extinguished the embers of a few campfires by the
obvious natural means, I think I'll take a raincheck on your gourmet
preparation.

Meanwhile.....

You're certainly too far south for Betula paperifera, but pennsylvanica is a
real possibility and I'd guess that nigra is pretty certain. It would be
interesting to see (and I'd risk as much as a shiny new nickel on) the
results of a side by side comparison with the ping-pong balls.

Wolfgang

On Mon, 6 Feb 2006 19:29:06 -0500, "Mr. Opus McDopus"
wrote:

I found a very light weight survival type gear...PING-PONG BALLS!

If you need to make a fire quickly, in wet conditions, ignite a ping-pong
ball under some kindling. If ya have any cracked or spare ping-pong balls
handy just take a cigarette lighter to it and be prepared to drop it
quickly! Don't do this in the house over the livingroom sofa.

I too have heard of the magical ping-pong balls.

I had a friend who spent a lot of time cross-country skiing in New
Hampshire, and also did winter canoeing. His basic survival kit
always contained a highway flare. It worked even when it was soaked,
he needed nothing to start it, and the intense heat would start even
wet kindling.

On Wed, 8 Feb 2006 09:45:05 -0700, "John Hightower"
wrote:


(snipped)

I've really never NEEDED to start a fire when the sun was in all
its glory- when I'm thinkin FIRE its usually cold and raining or a blizzard
just dropped in to say hello when you're 5 miles from the car trying to
track an elk, or in my case, trying to find evidence of an elk to track.


Yep. If you've got sun, you can often find somewhere out of the wind
enough to enjoy it. But if you've got cloudy and ugly or rainy, you
really want that fire right away. You may _need_ that fire right away
and your chocolate will do you more good as calories and a morale
boost than as a polishing item.

But this sort of thing gives Scoutmasters and Scouts something to do
while on their outings or preparing for them. It'll probably be
harmless if they've also been taught a few other fire starting
methods.

--

r.bc vixen. Minnow Goddess. Willow watcher.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.

On Tue, 7 Feb 2006 17:37:12 -0500, "Mr. Opus McDopus"
wrote:


"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message
...

What's so hard about starting a fire if you have a book of matches or
lighter?

If it has been raining for two days and there's not a dry twig to be found?
And I did say ignite with a lighter?

Ping-Pong balls = less room in your pack.

Can you honestly say that 2 to 4 ping-pong balls would take up room in your
pack that otherwise would have been used? Or are going to tell me that you
wouldn't want to be weighed down by them?

Drill holes in 'em and fill 'em with a mix of magnesium powder and
coffee creamer...on second thought, don't...

I have no doubt that Navy Seals are prepared for anything that might come
their way. However, I challenge any Navy Seal to light a fire with a
plastic magnifying glass when there is no sunshine, unless he takes out his
survival lighter and ignites the trusty plastic magnifying glass to start
his fire.

See above - magnesium bars and your knife...seriously. They can be
bought specifically for this purpose, with a striker rod attached. I'd
carry at least one pack of WP matches, one well-protected or sealed, at
least a small Bic in a balloon (put it in, suck the air _out_, and tie
like an inflated one), and a mag bar, _all carried apart_ - no "Lil'
Survivor" firestarter kits, please - don't put all your eggs in one
basket. And before I got into a situation where a fire might be a need,
I'd practice getting one started in various conditions.

Op --maybe ping-pong ball shouldn't be sold over the counter?--

Hell, if you think ping-pong balls are subject to misuse, just think
about what one could do with...um, nevermind...

TC,
R

wrote:
On Tue, 7 Feb 2006 17:37:12 -0500, "Mr. Opus McDopus"
wrote:


"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message
...

What's so hard about starting a fire if you have a book of matches or
lighter?

If it has been raining for two days and there's not a dry twig to be found?
And I did say ignite with a lighter?

Ping-Pong balls = less room in your pack.

Can you honestly say that 2 to 4 ping-pong balls would take up room in your
pack that otherwise would have been used? Or are going to tell me that you
wouldn't want to be weighed down by them?

Drill holes in 'em and fill 'em with a mix of magnesium powder and
coffee creamer...on second thought, don't...

I have no doubt that Navy Seals are prepared for anything that might come
their way. However, I challenge any Navy Seal to light a fire with a
plastic magnifying glass when there is no sunshine, unless he takes out his
survival lighter and ignites the trusty plastic magnifying glass to start
his fire.

See above - magnesium bars and your knife...seriously. They can be
bought specifically for this purpose, with a striker rod attached. I'd
carry at least one pack of WP matches, one well-protected or sealed, at
least a small Bic in a balloon (put it in, suck the air _out_, and tie
like an inflated one), and a mag bar, _all carried apart_ - no "Lil'
Survivor" firestarter kits, please - don't put all your eggs in one
basket. And before I got into a situation where a fire might be a need,
I'd practice getting one started in various conditions.

Op --maybe ping-pong ball shouldn't be sold over the counter?--

Hell, if you think ping-pong balls are subject to misuse, just think
about what one could do with...um, nevermind...

TC,
R

Magnesium bars, good ideal. They last a long time in seawater.

Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:
I found a very light weight survival type gear...PING-PONG BALLS!

If you need to make a fire quickly, in wet conditions, ignite a ping-pong
ball under some kindling. If ya have any cracked or spare ping-pong balls
handy just take a cigarette lighter to it and be prepared to drop it
quickly! Don't do this in the house over the livingroom sofa.

Op
Speaking of stoves, fires and all.
I borrowed a MSR SuperFly Stove with Piezo Igniter a couple of weeks
back. It's supposedly a backpacking stover but I was tailgating with
it. It uses canned butane or something. I set it up on a picnic tabel
turned the valve on and pressed the button ( no match required ). The
little ******* really roared and was boiling water in a few minutes.
I am going to buy one and the french press coffee maker/cup that REI
sells. If you want to make a cup of soup or coffee out by the crick
you need to look at one.
It reminded me of the old Primus I had, roars, get damm hot but not
much chance of burning a whole in a picnic table, no large fire balls
etc.

"Wolfgang" wrote in message
...
Meanwhile.....

You're certainly too far south for Betula paperifera, but pennsylvanica is
a real possibility and I'd guess that nigra is pretty certain. It would
be interesting to see (and I'd risk as much as a shiny new nickel on) the
results of a side by side comparison with the ping-pong balls.

Wolfgang

How on Earth am I supposed to find this extremely flammable stuff you speak
of, if'n I can't even pronuncianate them?

Op

"BJ Conner" wrote in message
oups.com...
Speaking of stoves, fires and all.
I borrowed a MSR SuperFly Stove with Piezo Igniter a couple of weeks
back. It's supposedly a backpacking stover but I was tailgating with
it. It uses canned butane or something. I set it up on a picnic tabel
turned the valve on and pressed the button ( no match required ). The
little ******* really roared and was boiling water in a few minutes.
I am going to buy one and the french press coffee maker/cup that REI
sells. If you want to make a cup of soup or coffee out by the crick
you need to look at one.
It reminded me of the old Primus I had, roars, get damm hot but not
much chance of burning a whole in a picnic table, no large fire balls
etc.

I don't know? I gotta Primus "Himalayan," of some such, and it will scorch
concrete using any number of fuels: butane, propane, white gas, diesel,
unleaded, leaded...you name it and it'll burn it....in liquid form of
course. Hell, I bet it'd burn liquefied horse ****!

Op --great ping-pong balls of fire!--

"Mr. Opus McDopus" wrote in message
.. .

"Wolfgang" wrote in message
...
Meanwhile.....

You're certainly too far south for Betula paperifera, but pennsylvanica
is a real possibility and I'd guess that nigra is pretty certain. It
would be interesting to see (and I'd risk as much as a shiny new nickel
on) the results of a side by side comparison with the ping-pong balls.

Wolfgang

How on Earth am I supposed to find this extremely flammable stuff you
speak of, if'n I can't even pronuncianate them?

Well, as it happens, none of them speaks Latin. That's not the real problem
though. None of them answers even when called by their common names either.
Just go out on a really wet day and apply a match or a lighter to a bunch of
tree bark. If it burns, you got the right one.

Wolfgang