Chemical Fire lighting

[Alba Albion]

Anyone had any success with mixing chemicals to start fires.

I read somewhere that mixing Potassium Permanganate with sugar will react but I've tryed it a good few times without any luck.

Have you tryed this or ay other chemical mixture ?

[Edwin]

I have had PP and glycerine ignite but wouldn't use it for a camp fire. Don't know how toxic the residue is.

[Notredame11211]

You could try Thermite, but you must be very cautious because it will produce molten iron.

[Edwin]

Doesn't thermite require magnesium ribbon or something similar to light it? And you have to light the ribbon with a hot flame.

[resnikov]

Doesn't thermite require magnesium ribbon or something similar to light it? And you have to light the ribbon with a hot flame.

Yes thats right.

[Skywalker]

Oooh yeah! Try gran's remedy and anti-freeze. ONLY A LITTLE BIT THOUGH.
Make a 'birds nest' from a couple of sheets of newspaper, tip a small amount of the powder into the nest, then add an equal amount of the liquid, scrunch up the nest, put it in a SAFE PLACE, then stand back a bit.
You can amaze your friends with this "voodoo magic!"

PLEASE BE RESPONSIBE WHEN TRYING THIS OUT.

[Edwin]

Soak a cotton rag in linseed oil and crumple it up. Just wait for it ignite. Warning to cricketers for the new season to be careful.

[Freddy]

Potassium Permanganate with sugar is always fun.

I use a set up like a bow drill,
A hearth board with a depression but no notch
A nice fat drill
Put a bit of Potassium Permanganate in the bottom (maybe 1/2 teaspoon)
Top up to a heap with sugar
Then hold the hearth with one hand and with the drill in the other push down hard(ish) and twist side to side.
a couple of crackles and pops later...
and you have purple flames that smell like candy-floss, push the excess sugar back into the flame to prolong it a bit.

It's always fun and everyone want to have a go ;)

ALSO

Potassium Permanganate with anti freeze.

Some newspaper
A teaspoon ish of Potassium Permanganate
and add a few drops of anti freeeze
scrunch up the paper and throw it on the floor (ie. don't hang on to it)
in about 30 seconds (ish)
exothermic reaction and fire.

Have fun, let me know how it goes.

[Alba Albion]

Thanks to all for your help.
Cheers Freddy, will give it a go.

[Edwin]

Remember that anti-freeze is poisonous. Used to be made with glycerine but the active ingredient is now ethylene glycol which is toxic.