DIY parabolic?!? Anybody made one...

[huffhuff]

Hiya,

I just wanted to know if anybody has found a DIY parabolic mirror/reflector that actually works. I am truely amazed at the pure power that a few inches of mirror can harness from the sun (everybody has seen them melt rock and steel right?)

Ideally i'd like something along the solar spark lighter (or bigger), but made from something readily available (ie. not £15 from uncle Ray - they are only $5 in the States)! I have tried lamp reflectors etc. but with not a great deal of joy.

Cheers

 

[resnikov]

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_7196122_build-parabolic-mirror.html Seems quite stright forward, but dont know how effective it would be. Might try this one next weekend as its dark when i get home from work

If it does work it wouldnt be to hard to put that little folding bit on to hold the tinder.

 

[huffhuff]

I've tried the coke can method (well, Boddingtons) but it really isn't very effective. I don't think it's a big enough surface area. D'oh

 

[IanM]

Would the reflector from an old torch be what you want. I have used one to ignite a twig pushed through where the bulb went.

 

[huffhuff]

I did try that in the bright sun yesterday (with tweezers through the hole) but it didn't work. Although, it was quite a small torch reflector oojamaflip though. I need one of those big old fashion ones maybe.

 

[FerlasDave]

Search up '101 ways to make fire' on youtube. The guy is kinda bonkers but he is very knowlageable.

 

[bilmo-p5]

Try googling someting like this; 'diy parabolic reflector solar oven'

 

[ged]

...just wanted to know if anybody has found a DIY parabolic mirror/reflector that actually works. I am truely amazed at the pure power that a few inches of mirror can harness from the sun...

Yes, something that can supply 1kW per square metre from 93 million miles away is pretty amazing.

I haven't used reflectors to make fire but I've used Fresnel lenses. They're easier to pack.

Here are a couple of links:

http://www.magnifyingglasses.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Page___Sheet_Magnifiers_8.html
http://www.fresneloptic.com/html_en/fresnellens.htm

Scroll down to the 'Sheet Magnifier', size 10¾" x 8¼" for one a little bit bigger (and a lot less yellow with age) than mine. My personal best to make fire with mine is about 5 seconds. It took almost 15 seconds this afternoon, not bad sunshine for October in Britain.

 

[Golb]

I made once fire with the dish of a scale (balance). Worked fine, but it doesn't fit into my possible's pouch :-D

http://www.golb.be/vuur-op-vrijdag-reflector/

 

[Shewie]

I've been D.I.Y paraletic a few times, does that count ?

 

[superc0ntra]

Tried the soda can method and actually got it to work.

 

[DaveBromley]

Apparently the reflector from a car head light works really well, get down the scrappies and have a go

Dave

 

[Ray Britton]

Used the bottom of coke cans (polished up, on the bottom of my coke can stove) quite often, and it works very well. You can even make them out in the field if necessary, by using toothpaste or chocolate and silver foil (i.e. the foil that the choc was wrapped in)).

Rounded ice or water in a poly bag will also focus the sun's rays, but I have found the coke can method the easiest to use. The ice was the hardest, because although I could shape it into a sphere, the fact it was melting in my hand always seems to transfer to my tinder just at the worst moment lol.