Burn Pile advice

[MossRoad]

You can see the same effect with birthday candles...

Blow out a birthday candle, then hold a lit match in the smoke. Move the match down towards the candle. Well before you get to the wick, the smoke will ignite and relight the candle. Interesting experiment and illustrates just how much flammable gas is left in the smoke.

 

[mkane09]

Another excellent "wet fire" starter is a hunk of old carpet, soaked in diesel or waste motor oil at the bottom of the fire. The carpet will burn for some time before it goes out, giving the fire time to dry the fuel (leaves, sticks, etc.) above it. Oil burns very hot, but will not explode. Gas, however,.....nah, I don't even need to say it.

mkane09

 

[RobertN]

I have found that starting a small fire with dry stuff at the edge of the pile helps. Then, I get out the gas-powered leaf blower, and use it to force feed air in to the starter pile, and the rest of the pile. A little diesel helps too.

Diesel has a very high flash point and vapor pressure. It does not just flash like gas does, at least not at moderate temperatures. Diesel will flash if it is heated, like a spill on asphalt on a hot sunny day.

Just say no to gasoline! Yes, we use it on the fire engines in the drip torches. It is mixed with diesel, so it does not flash, but does "drip" flame better than straight diesel.

using gasoline to start a fire ==== trip to hospital

 

[LBrown59]

Did I mention that you should not use gas to start a fire? :thumbsup:

Seems to me like ya did a time or 2.

 

[rjmack]

not sure of the size of your pile, or exactly what it is comprised of, but if you have a set of brush forks or maybe just use the bucket and fluff the pile up. that seems to help them dry out faster.:thumbsup:

i haven't used anything other than a propane torch for quite some time now. if a tiger torch won't get it burning then you have other issues.