alternative to hexi blocks

[spiritwalker]

i like using hexi blocks in my volcano stove due to the fact they are generally smoke free and do the job but i was wondering if anyone has tried these as they work out miles cheaper...

http://www.clasohlson.co.uk/Product/Product.aspx?id=156008407

do they light easy? and how smokey are they if anyone has tried them because at £2.99 for 72 with a burn time of 10 mins they could be the mutts nuts?

the other option was the wooden cat litter pellets with a touch of hand gel to get them started

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

ingredients from the advert:

Made of compressed pine particles and vegetable oil.

so...chipboard then?
Globetrotter has tried a fair few things like this.
I'd imagine they will give off some sticky"Tar" black smoke (due to the pine resin) but that's only a guess.

I'd try some against an equal amount of pine twigs I wonder if there would be any difference?

 

[spiritwalker]

i just got 2 packs and lit one in my wood burner at home i was surprised that there seemed to be no smoke and they burn for near 10 mins when i get chance i am going to try them in my volcano stove so far they look very promising and light easy too.

 

[Teepee]

I'd imagine soot would be a problem with these, but I look forward to finding out how you get on with them. I have tried wood pellets soaked in various oils with not a lot of success.

 

[spiritwalker]

if i get chance ill vid them in my stove er as for soot my pot on the volcano stove is very black anyways so i wont notice it lol. I have been using hexamine lately as i found with wood and pine cones it was very smokey and tainted the water to a bbq flavour tea (lap song su shong), but hexamine is not cheap really for regular use...

 

[Shingsowa]

They look very similar to some BBQ firelighting 'matches' that i have knocking around somewhere. Basically pine/softwood chips bonded and soaked in paraffin, with a big 'match head' on one end. You strike them like normal matches but they burn for 5 mins or so. Perfect for use with a honey stove or ghillie kettle...

 

[spiritwalker]

yeah i have seen the matches cant get hold of them atm, but these blocks are just a block of pine they light well just need to film some burn tests now at, i reckon 2 blocks should suffice for a brew they are an inch square 72 to the pack for less than £3 so it looks promising...

 

[Shingsowa]

How easy are the blocks on their own to light? I presume you need a flame i.e. match, lighter or kindling, rather than a steel?

 

[spiritwalker]

only tried them with a lighter so far and they light easy dont think they will light with a spark rod though not without a bit of alco gel

 

[Globetrotter.uk]

As Rapp said I use these alot, I find them good and cheap to use when I dont have dry stuff about.

 

[Shewie]

Zip Natural fire lighters are pretty good, I slice them up into 1/4" slabs and use them in my tinder kit for starting the KK etc.