Practicing Fire without smoke or flame.

Discussion in 'General Survival and Preparedness' started by M118LR, May 15, 2017.


  1. M118LR

    M118LR Caution: Does not play well with others.

    Ah, the smell of the campfire and comfort of the warm glow visible for miles at night.

    Perhaps there are some better references to Smokeless Fires & Fires without flames than those found in Chapter 6 of Richard Graves "AUSTRALIAN BUSHCRAFT"? How often do you revisit/practice either of these methods? I'm not a fan of constant "Cold Camps", but there are times when I don't want to invite folks in.
     
    Tully Mars likes this.
  2. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    The American Injun fighting version is to cook over there, camp over yonder, and lights out after dark. In my AO, I'm not sure ho often a smokeless fire would be possible...and smoke is going to be the main preservative around here, besides.
     
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  3. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    From what I've seen down here it is damn near impossible to have a smokeless fire with the type of fuel, maybe it's just me but it is different than in my native west. Man has always been comforted by fire, and I think that still holds true. Food can be headed without fire, light can be had without fire, same for heat and drying your socks, BUT these methods get old and don't work as well as a fire. Sooner or later man needs a campfire, and that will put him at risk. To me the trick is to pick when and where to minimize that risk whenever possible.
     
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  4. Bishop

    Bishop Monkey+++

    Use a Dakota fire hole it will hide a lot of the light but still able to cook and stay warm.
     
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  5. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    If the folks around you have Thermal Imaging, it will not matter, if your Fire is Smokeless, or you have Light Discipline, they will see you from a LONG Way Off, and using even the Cheap Drones, available today, have some IR Imaging capabilities..... Up at 400'AGL you can see for MILES, & Miles, and Miles...... I have a WebCam (with PTZ) on the South Tower that was less than $150US, that can see the smallest Vessel Running Lights @ 10 Miles, using it's IR Capabilities. ...
     
  6. M118LR

    M118LR Caution: Does not play well with others.

    "Smoke is the result of incomplete combustion." & "By feeding a fire continuously with small twigs it will be nearly all flame and smoke will be kept to a minimum." Excerpt pg 184 "AUSTRALIAN BUSHCRAFT"

    So for cooking over there during daylight, it still might be nice to attract less attention even if your camp is over yonder. I' m sure that the American Injun had much more practice, but history dictates improvements in their original tactics are required.

    Stealth requires allot more discipline when facing modern technology.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 15, 2017
    sec_monkey likes this.
  7. Bishop

    Bishop Monkey+++

    Camp under the road
     
  8. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    The bottom line seems to be, IF they have (insert The Technology), not much you can do but get lucky.

    As for "small twigs" being enough to cook crap, you better have a fancy stove of some sort. Ain't getting it done around here.
     
    M118LR likes this.
  9. M118LR

    M118LR Caution: Does not play well with others.

    As to that It ain't gonna happen around here, it ain't gonna happen in your camp. Others may make it happen in your location, but they shall have a different concept.

    About technology, there is a chink in any amour, press the attack when you find the weak spot. To the Victor goes the spoils!!!!!!!!
     
  10. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Seems like that is what your axe is for, making little ones. Something similar to a kelly kettle will make a lot of heat from small bits with little smoke. Uv cuss, you WILL be feeding it ---

    Thermal imaging will do you in with or without a fire. Body heat shows up from a long way off (especially) if you are in a relatively cold area. They want you, you are found.
     
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  11. 3M-TA3

    3M-TA3 Cold Wet Monkey

    @M118LR Have you managed a fire that's effective for cooking that doesn't have flame, smoke/smell, or a heat signature? Not just from the pages in a book but from experience?
     
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  12. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    Keely kettle is on my list of referenced "fancy stove" devices. Haha. I picked up a stove for a canteen kit for this exact reason...so new that I forgot about it. But I feel my point stands about building a on the ground fire, and cooking/boiling water using just twigs. The ax is for other reasons...usually do not need in if there is wood dry enough to burn.

    As for "chinks in armor" (I wanna make a few bad jokes, haha), I don't reckon you been around long enough to know I don't need a pep talk, though if you know how to beat all the fancy tech, I'm here waiting to listen.

    My fire issues are mostly around how wet it gets...I'll be burning whatever will take a spark, and probably not overwell (by my standards).
     
  13. M118LR

    M118LR Caution: Does not play well with others.

    If I said that I have, would you believe it? If I tried to play it off, would you believe that I was still haven't done it? Did you honestly believe that I would ask others about things that they have never experienced if I wasn't attempting to train them with thing's that I have experienced? All the things I have done to survive, others might need to due more to survive in the further, tomorrow is a harder day, Yesterday is the only easy day.But you ask hard questions 3m-TA3

    \
    I'm going to give you a second chance to explain how far out of the surf you thought that you where far enough away that you have earned the right to ask that question? But I shall answer it, if you are willing to accept the honest answer? But I think I have exceeded the questioning limits of most forums. But I have to an honestly answer yes to all your quires 3M-TA3. Irregardless of your skepticism.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 15, 2017
  14. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    @M118LR -- We'll give you a chance to rephrase that into something intelligible and include the answer instead of assuming intent to reject the answer. While you are at it, you might rephrase to take the edge off the challenging attitude. (We DID notice that you do not play well with others.)
     
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  15. M118LR

    M118LR Caution: Does not play well with others.

    Thank You ghrit, I do have a problem with those that choose to challenge me. Perhaps it's due to my time in service. But I've been known to give others a straight forward answer, even if it wasn't what they asked for. But I feel the truth is far more en lighting than a Yes Man's answer. So I have to admit that I have survived under those conditions in the past. But that isn't indicative of me surviving in those conditions in the future. JMHO.
     
    Last edited: May 15, 2017
  16. 3M-TA3

    3M-TA3 Cold Wet Monkey

    The intention was not to challenge. The intention was to understand if you were speaking from practical experience or from the theoretical. Survival Monkey is at the heart a collaborative where each shares his or her own knowledge and experience with others. That is the spirit in which the question was asked.

    Now that you have shared that you can do you mind telling us how?
     
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  17. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    I'm guessing by the references that you are Australian? If so, please understand that to an American ear, you sound like you are blowing smoke, and we are just trying to figure out where you actually stand on the real-deal scale. Lot of BS-ers come through.
     
  18. M118LR

    M118LR Caution: Does not play well with others.

    The little people that have spent their lives in the terrain have far more experience than those from the outside, so if you don't have size 6 government shoes in a pair of ho chi minh sandals, perhaps your footprints won't blend in? And if you leave a trail to your fire or campsite, you ain't local!! Need I explain further?
     
  19. Bishop

    Bishop Monkey+++

    White man make big fire sit far away

    Native American make small fire sit close
     
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  20. M118LR

    M118LR Caution: Does not play well with others.

    Born and breed in the USA. We can meet at at any Irish Pub within the limits of any Old St. Augustine FL. Pub, if you care to discuss my American Heritage. I'll pick up the tab. But that isn't a reason to cast a dispersion on our Australian Brothers! There could be allot to learn in thier simple wisdom. JMHO.
     
    Last edited: May 15, 2017
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