"Can't fix stupid"...
- Thread starter MikeRocor
- Start date
I recall mistakenly putting in a bowl that had a gold ring around the top. I don't know if it was really gold but it threw sparks, the ring itself broke, and it left char marks on the bowl.
It's kind of neat how that happens. It has to do with the size and how it is cut, but it makes sparks and plasma. Plasma is some pretty neat stuff.
Or you can just root around in your truck for old chip bags. Roll them into a fairly tight ball and put something over them, like paper that's frayed on one end and twisted tightly on the other end. Dryer lint would work well, but you probably won't have that.
That'll throw sparks that set the paper on fire. The tightly twisted paper at the other end will slow down the burning, allowing you to move it from the microwave to where you've set up your tinder. Really, anything that makes sparks well enough will do.
However, there are a bunch of ways to make fire if you have a truck - especially if you have a few tools with you.
OP
MikeRocor
Well-Known Member
There are no end of really nice coffee Mugs that I don't have because I have no use for mug that I can't microwave to reheat the coffee... though, lately, I've been using one of those vacuum insulated travel mugs that actually keep the coffee hot long enough that I don't have to reheat it.
Also, if you're ever lost in the dessert and need water, just pull a lawn tractor out of your back of your truck.. there will always be a puddle of water laying on the seat of it.
Once you have your fire started, one of the handiest things to grow it to a more useful size is hand sanitizer, which is mostly alcohol. That way you can save your truck's gasoline for more "trucky" purposes.
Also, if you smash your cell phone just the right way, those LiPo batteries make nice fire, though they smell pretty bad when on fire.
I'm not a huge fan of reheating coffee. It changes the taste. I'm not a coffee snob, so I'll still drink it.
It's an option. If there's not enough tinder to get it going, for example.
You probably won't have this in your truck, but petroleum jelly covered cotton balls are amazing.
Condobloke
Well-Known Member
I can vouch for that. Vaseline (petroleum jelly) does the trick every time....and it's cheap.
Rocketing-warp9
Well-Known Member
I might have a very.. VERY unsafe way of doing it..
Spark plugs, anyone?
Technically, it would be possible (but I don't know if it would shock you to bits.)
(Please, just don't even consider it.. To dangerous)
Spark plugs, anyone?
Technically, it would be possible (but I don't know if it would shock you to bits.)
(Please, just don't even consider it.. To dangerous)
OP
MikeRocor
Well-Known Member
While we're on the subject of fires... I ran across this on FB earlier today, and I'd heard the advice before: They say one of the best ways to overcome resentment and unforgiveness is to "write heartfelt letters to the people who have wronged you and then just throw them in the fire."
Someone responded, "Ok, but then what do you do with the letters?"
Someone responded, "Ok, but then what do you do with the letters?"
Last edited:
Back many moons ago, when I was going to "A" school at great lakes, we were not allowed to cook in our rooms. No hot plates, or other cooking devices were allowed. One enterprising young lad got around this. He "comshawed" (yes that is a military term
) 2 forks from the dining hall, drilled holes in the handles, and soldered wires to them. Those wires were then connected to a 110 volt plug. Sticking one of the forks into each end of a frozen hot dog, placing it on a non conducting plate, and plugging it into a wall receptacle produced the prototype of what was much late sold commercially as the "hot dogger". I might add that the prototype was not as safe as the later commercial model. The idea spread, and when it was discovered by management during a room inspection, because someone actually told the inspector "those are my electric forks, chief", over 200 such devices were confiscated. As Boris would say to Natasha, "Ve make big trouble for moose and squirrel". Believe it or not, no electrocutions resulted. Ah yes, those were the days, my friend!
Happy Trails,
Paul
) 2 forks from the dining hall, drilled holes in the handles, and soldered wires to them. Those wires were then connected to a 110 volt plug. Sticking one of the forks into each end of a frozen hot dog, placing it on a non conducting plate, and plugging it into a wall receptacle produced the prototype of what was much late sold commercially as the "hot dogger". I might add that the prototype was not as safe as the later commercial model. The idea spread, and when it was discovered by management during a room inspection, because someone actually told the inspector "those are my electric forks, chief", over 200 such devices were confiscated. As Boris would say to Natasha, "Ve make big trouble for moose and squirrel". Believe it or not, no electrocutions resulted. Ah yes, those were the days, my friend!Happy Trails,
Paul
Last edited:
Condobloke
Well-Known Member
While a lot of folks would regard the 'electric forks' as misadventure/rank stupidity, or some other equally nastyish insight, I might remind them that necessity is the mother of invention.
Without characters, such as your mates with a pair of forks, the world would have no fun, no spontaneity, nothing would emerge from the fertile minds of youth.
Without characters, such as your mates with a pair of forks, the world would have no fun, no spontaneity, nothing would emerge from the fertile minds of youth.
Those (often called a 'stinger') are fairly common in prisons where inmates have power outlets. They're very effective. They'll make them out of all sorts of materials, as inmates are prone to do.
I wouldn't bother. That's a small spark. Just arc across the battery terminals with a metallic object. Be sure not to hold it in place for long. Done quickly and properly, it won't harm the battery. Doing it often and holding the object in place will ruin the battery.
The lint from a clothes dryer works well.
A 9-volt battery and steel wool are also good for getting a fire started. You could use a smaller battery, but the 9-volt battery makes it more convenient.
Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Burn baby, burn !!
Dangerous, certainly, but when you consider that all involved were electronic students, we were all VERY aware of the danger involved in touching it when power was applied. Hence the non conductive plate.
I would hope that I could come up with a somewhat less expensive fire starter, like flint and steel, perhaps?
Perpetual Padawan
Active Member
a 9-volt battery and some steel wool
BenjaminFoster
New Member
My insulated mug was one of those purchases I thought I'd never care about, and now I use it every day. Reheated coffee just doesn't taste the same.
OP
MikeRocor
Well-Known Member
Exactly that - it's nice to be able to nuke your cold coffee but even nicer not to have to. I think reheating does something to the milk in the coffee - I use 2% milk instead of half and half but, even so, reheated coffee gets a film (probably milk fat) that floats to the top.
Also, Welcome to the forums - Sometimes we talk about Linux, too.
