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HomeSurvivalFireOther Fire-making Methods

Something's Burning in the Kitchen

Photos by Sky Bicevskis, text and demo by Rob Bicevskis

 

I have played with a number of "solar" fire starting methods (all on this website):

There is a saying: "When all that you have is a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail."  Source unknown (to me anyway!)

So, after having spend a bit of time playing with various ways to focus the sun's rays in order to light tinder for fire, pretty soon the "filters" in my head started to see lenses and parabolic or spherical reflectors everywhere I went.    I wonder if the psychologists or psychiatrists have come up with a name for this affliction!?!

One morning, while having breakfast, I started to look around the kitchen and decided that I would spend the day trying to see how many "common" kitchen objects could be used to start a fire - hence the title: Something's burning in the kitchen.

Note - Every picture shows a working lens or reflector.  In all cases a coal was generated (note the smoke in every photo).

 

This is a view of some of the things that I first tired.

 

A large light-bulb filled with water works well.

 

A small light-bulb also worked.

 

A comparison of the two light-bulbs.

 

Why not a wine glass?

 

Works with different amounts of water.

 

Bowls are often the right shape.

 

Smoke.

 

This wine glass didn't work at first.

I put plastic wrap over the top so that the glass could be oriented in a better direction - and then I had success!

 

Soups on and so is the fire.

 

An even smaller soup ladle worked too.

 

The smallest reflector that I could get to work.

This is a kitchen measuring tablespoon!