DGI Fire Starting

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	Sterno Canned Heat SternoŽ gel is a formulation of denatured alcohol, water and gel. Pry open the lid and light the gel for 2 hours of burn time. It puts out a visible flame and a good amount of heat. Since this is an alcohol based product, the combustibility decreases as temperature drops. Make sure you seal it well since the gel will dry out over time rendering it useless. This product is often used by restaurant caterers to keep food warm. Sterno is good for heating food, or light-duty cooking like scrambling eggs for example, but if you want a long-term cooking solution, you'd best look elsewhere. Its not that the emissions are dangerous, but it took us 45 minutes just to simmer half a liter of uncovered water so its just not practical for cooking meat or boiling any liquids. We were able to cook an egg over Sterno in about 10 minutes. Sterno also comes in a 73.7g can that only costs $1 per can, but it fits under the canteen stand and doesn't leave enough room for oxygen to circulate. The 198g canister be pressure fitted to the wide opening on a canteen stand, leaving enough space for oxygen to circulate. One pack contains two 198g canisters.	Diameter: 8.5cm Height: 6.2cm Weight: 198g Heat: Temp: Burn Time: 2 hrs Rating:
	Hexamine ("Hexi Block") This is a waxy solid fuel, similar to soap, containing hexamethylenetetramine (also known as hexamine). It has been in use since the 1950s. While the US Army used Trioxane the British Army used Hexamine. It was a great fire starter from the days before MREs and MRE heaters. Hexamine can be used with a canteen cup stand, a Tommy cooker, an Esbit stand, or any similar device. It works at high altitudes and in all weather conditions. The non-toxic formula is completely harmless to the environment, although it is toxic if swallowed and can be deadly with prolonged exposure in an unventilated area. Hexamine tablets are significantly less toxic and significantly more effective than Trioxane (see below), although they are harder to light. Despite the manufacturers claim that the tablets are odorless, they in fact have a pronounced "fishy" odor, which, while not offensive, makes it necessary to treat them as food and keep them in bear-proof containers if camping. Hexamine does not liquefy when burning. The packaging says that it leaves no ash residue, but our testing found that it does leave a waxy residue. One cube will bring half a liter of water to a rolling boil in 8 minutes. One box contains 12 individually sealed tablets.	Length: 3.5cm Width: 2.5cm Height: 1.4cm Weight: 14g Heat: 440KJ Temp: 700şC Burn Time: 10-12min Rating:
	Trioxane ("Tri-Fuel") Trioxane tablets are a chalk-like fuel used by the U.S. military. It was a great fire starter back in the day before MREs and MRE heaters. They can be used with a canteen cup stand, a Tommy cooker, an Esbit stand, or any similar device. Each tablet is sealed in waterproof foil package. Unlike Sterno, you do not need to worry about spilling the material. Trioxane is harmful if swallowed and the packaging suggests taking precautions to avoid loose powder contaminating food. The fuel does not liquefy when burning but leaves a blue wax-like residue. The only advantages of Trioxane over Hexamine is that it is less expensive and easier to light. They come three tablets per box.	Length: 5.7cm Width: 3.2cm Height: 0.95cm Weight: 15g Heat: 14,770KJ Temp: Burn Time: 8-11min Rating:
	Windmill Delta This is essentialy a standard Windmill lighter with an elastomer armor. The Delta has the same wind resistant qualities of their standard lighters. They boast that the rubber on the outside makes it more impact resistant but frankly, none of us have ever dropped our lighter with a force that would necessitate a rubber coating. The lighter has a rubber o-ring seal and a stainless steal closure that provide water resistance when the cap is closed. The Delta features a fuel window easily determine the fuel level. Features a Piezo-electric ignition system means that no flints are required. Flameless burner glows upon ignition, which indicates the lighter is burning. Flame adjustment ring adjusts for altitude & temperature. After product testing we determined why Windmill suggests not touching the burner to the surface being lit. Doing so actually caused the burner to fall off rendering the lighter completely useless thereafter. Windmill also suggests not using the lighter continuously for more than 10 seconds. Again, we had to push the envelope sadly to discover after four minutes the lighter became too hot to hold. Dawning an asbestos glove, we went the next step further and found that shortly after the eight minute mark, the plastic, rubber, and metal began melting, creating a fuel to leak resulting in an impressive ball of flame! OK, maybe you wont ever need to keep your lighter going for over 4 minutes, but just in case Delta Gear feels that Windmill should have mentioned the danger of explosion, at least. Overall, it's a good lighter but lacks the fuel capacity for a one month jaunt into the woods. Size: 66mm x 52mm x 23.5mm Weight: 55.5 gm (empty) 300 x 3-5 second ignitions	Fuel Capacity: 1g Rating:
	Windmill Shock-Pro An external cap lock makes the Shock-Pro extremely shock proof. The high capacity fuel tank is praise-worthy and would definitely live up to extended backcountry use. Refillable butane gas level is visible through fuel window. Designed with a Piezo-electric ignition and sports quick release buckle and web strap for easy attachment to a belt or strap. The lighter is also flame adjustable for different altitudes, and wind/water resistant. This would be a five star lighter if it weren't so awkwardly shaped. We found the clamshell shape helped screen the flame from wind, but, unfortunately, made it difficult to light in certain situations. Size: 76 x 62 x 25mm 1,400 ignitions at 3-5 seconds duration (1-2 hour burn time) Weight (empty) 2.8 ounces (80 grams)	Fuel Capacity: 4.8g Rating:
	Windmill Trekker A latching cap makes the Trekker water resistant and shock proof. Refillable butane gas level is visible through fuel window. Designed with a Piezo-electric ignition, and a window on the side allows for easy fuel level readings. The lighter is also flame adjustable for different altitudes, and wind/water resistant. It fits perfectly in your pocket, and sports a lanyard with a cord lock to help keep it secure. The shape of this lighter combines the perfect balance of size, fuel capacity, and space efficiency. Size: 92 x 28mm Weight (empty) 2 ounces (56.7 grams) 1,000 ignitions at 3-5 seconds duration (1-1.5 hour burn time)	Fuel Capacity: 4g Rating:
	Magnesium Shaving Block Firestarter It's good for hundreds of strikes. Scrape the tool with any knife to create a small pile of shavings, then ignite them with a built-in sparking tool. The magnesium ignites to 5400°F. It fits in your pocket and measures 3" x 1" x 1/4". It includes a chain which can be used as a lanyard. The downside is that you must have a knife and the process can be time consuming.	Rating:
	Sparklite Firestarter Kit The smallest, most effective self-contained sparker and tinder wet/dry fire starting method available. Special ODYN flint will start 2,000 survival fires. Best of all, you can strike it with one hand - critically important in emergencies with an arm or hand injury! Sparklite will fit in hollow handle survival knives (uses the space of four matches). Use it as an emergency flash illuminator or signal. Tinder-Quik fire tabs start fires fast and will burn two minutes. Plastic Kit box measuring 2.5" x 1.625" x .75" includes Striker & Flint, 8 pieces Tinder-Quik, and instructions. It is available in OD Green or International Orange. This kit gets thumbs up all around from us.	Rating:
	Blast Match We were pretty impressed with this all-weather fire starter which you can also strike with one hand. Lift the thumb button slightly to release the spring-loaded flint bar. Swing the nose cap to the back to extend the handle for a comfortable grip. Place the tip of the flint bar next to any dry tinder on a firm fire platform. Press the thumb button and plunge toward the tinder to generate a spark twice as hot as a standard match and ignite the tinder. We found it required at least 10 strikes to get a fire going using found plant matter as tinder. The price was the real damper compared to others on the market.	Rating:
	Strike ForceŽ Fire Starter System Easy-to-use, the ˝ flint rod will last a lifetime. Stainless steel striker lets you pour a shower of hot sparks when you need to start a fire. Self-contained in a 5 plastic capsule with lanyard. Special Strike Force Tinder cube (included) ignites wet or dry and is extinguishable for reuse. Alloy flint bar and hardened steel striker type fire starter. Sends a shower of sparks to tinder material to start any fire. Works even when wet. Rugged black plastic housing. Lanyard included. About the size of a candy bar. A good product but not as convenient to use as the Sparklite.	Rating: