A Spontaneous Parabolic Firemaking Moment

[storm]

i was out identifying and photographing plants, collecting medicinal herbs and friction fire woods, and foraging for miscellaneous Useful Nature during the past couple days. in particular, i was collecting yucca seeds and was using a large, shiny metal bowl. after i had set the bowl down for a few seconds i noticed the smell of something burning. looking around, i discovered what you see below:

having one photo left in my camera, i couldn't click a pic of the flame that resulted from my shoving some Goldenbush bark into the bowl after discovering that this stainless steel container acts as a parabolic fire starter.

i never would have thought...

 

[Charles]

Storm,

From the looks of it, a good portion of the material is in the shade of the bowl's lip due to the angle of the sun. It also looks like much of the smoke is coming from the edge of the bowl that's most exposed to the sun. Is that the position that the bowl was in when you noticed it?

Charles

 

[anthonyyy]

i was out identifying and photographing plants, collecting medicinal herbs and friction fire woods, and foraging for miscellaneous Useful Nature during the past couple days. in particular, i was collecting yucca seeds and was using a large, shiny metal bowl. after i had set the bowl down for a few seconds i noticed the smell of something burning. looking around, i discovered what you see below:


having one photo left in my camera, i couldn't click a pic of the flame that resulted from my shoving some Goldenbush bark into the bowl after discovering that this stainless steel container acts as a parabolic fire starter.

i never would have thought...

An everyday occurrence all year round here in Ireland.

 

[twelveboar]

An everyday occurrence all year round here in Ireland.

Isn't that a Parabolock firestarting, you mean.

 

[OldJimbo]

I think that climate change will really have to speed up in order for me to see that happening here, in my lifetime! Excellent!

 

[tomtom]

yeh, great thread but i think the Cali sunshine (california being much closer to the equaitor) is what makes this seem so effortless.. fire lighting using a concave polished metal seuface is possible here though

 

[greensurfingbear]

When I was in chile we made solar cookers out of shiny metal. got hot enought to cook a sausage if memory serves correctley

much like yor seed pods catching alight.

 

[storm]

it was about 55 degrees F when that event occurred...

 

[Jeff Wagner]

yeh, great thread but i think the Cali sunshine (california being much closer to the equaitor) is what makes this seem so effortless.. fire lighting using a concave polished metal seuface is possible here though

A equitorial sun is not necessary. I was able to get a coal with a soft drink can yesterday. Note the low angle of the late afternoon sun.

 

[storm]

very nice, jeff...

 

[Indi]

The nature just give you something to learn. Isn't it great?