[Stoves] scoping out a practical solid fuel stove igniter

Fri Jul 11 16:30:40 CDT 2014

All,

A well placed sparker in a TLUD could re-ignite the flame if it is extinguished by a wind gust or stove mis-managment.  This could save the house from being filled with smoke, especially if the spark is automatic.  Could such a sparker also be used to start a new fire, thus getting two uses from one device?  How have stove fires been started before?  The people using the stoves have been starting cooking fires all their lives, and they must already know what works for them.

I did some experiments for backpacking with good results.  Wax impregnated corrigated cardboard found at the local grocery store as lettuce boxes, can be torn to seperate the layers.  The torn surface has lots of small hairs which ignite easily with a flint and steel spark, match or bic lighter.  Because of the wax, a fairly small piece burns long enough to start some kindling.  This is free starter material where available.  Stoves could be shipped in waxed boxes or recycled lettuce boxes to provide some starter material.  Though this might increase costs, one box could last perhaps a year since so little is needed for one fire.  Could a piece of torn waxed cardboard be ignited by placing it in contact with the above mentioned sparker, and once ignited placed below some kindling to start a new fire?  Sprinkle a little shaved magnesium on it (or on other flamable material), and it can be ignited very easily by focusing sun light on it with a magnifying lense.

I have asked for and received permission to demonstrate the 5 new TLUD turn-down methods at Aprovecho stove camp this summer.  It will be an aside from the main program, at a not to busy time.  I will also introduce an idea I am working on, with some success, that converts the tall slinder flame of many TLUD's, and packs it into a small combustor.  The compacted flame burns very hot and complete.  The design might also be able to assist rocket stoves, something we will definately try.

Kirk Harris
Santa Rosa, CA. USA
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Crispin Pemberton-Pigott 
  To: stoves at lists.bioenergylists.org 
  Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2014 5:03 PM
  Subject: Re: [Stoves] scoping out a practical solid fuel stove igniter- fire piston

  Dear James 
  This device pops up from time to time and is a survivalists delight. There are lots of YouTube videos on making them. 
  Is the question before us creating the replacement for the match or determining how it should be applied to the starting of the fire, meaning getting the wood going? Both are valuable. 
  Having looked at matches and BIC lighters I came to the conclusion a BIC was a pretty good deal on a cost per ignition basis. Virtually all of it can be recycled too. But maybe the forest dwelling hermit needs something else. 
  A bamboo pressure igniter is really cool!Regards Crispin 
  Thanks a lot for that James, 

  With the fire starter , and its plunger/ piston dimensions (<-5' length x ~½" O of cylinder with a ¼" ID for piston) and the sheer fact of its precedent in history of use both in the UK and   the developing nations, it  would seem perfect as a stove starter….Poor mans bomb calorimeter  eh ?

  This has hte potential of greater convenience and in that they have been made ut of wood babboo etc etc over the eons, sugegsts somethign to upgrade slightly and we are theoretically there.. 
  viz;  
  You drop in pea sized char tinder, or it rolls in thru a side port in cylinder , punge down the  down pressure closes a bottom one way flap or poppet valve, makign the chamber air tight ..The tinder ignites then as you withdrawy the piston the negative pressure int eh cylinder liftts open the valve in the cylinder bottom and the ignited tinder drops directly down onto the fuel bed ….Its got to be that convenient to  compete with a match or a bic lighter…

  Richard

  =======

  On Jul 10, 2014, at 11:34 AM, James F. Hensel wrote:

  Here is a low-tech lighter. http://www.onagocag.com/piston.html It requires char cloth, but should be inexpensive and durable.

  You could incorporate this into the stove design so the plunger was easy to hold.  

  Jim Hensel
  Portland, Oregon
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