paulvallandigham said:
If you have some empty shotgun hulls, you can make candles in them, and then cut off the tops. The brass base will hold the candle upright with a minimum of flat surface. YOu can leave the casing full length and just fold in the crimp a bit, and carry it in your pocket until you want to use it. Cut off the excess plastic, and use the plastic to get wet wood burning.
Too bad paper shot shells are no longer available.
We used to slit fired paper shells and light 'em for a quick hand warmer, or for a fire starter.
I even filled some with sawdust and poured melted wax into the top. Those things would burn for a looonng time.
Ahh, the old days.
Candles about 5 or 6 inches long by about a 1/2" diameter, or a little more, work great for use in most candle lanterns, or for trekking. IF you plan to use 'em for a quick warm up, make 'em a larger diameter. Larger diameter candles last longer, so 5/8 or 3/4 diameter candles should last through several warm ups.
I use candles for warm ups by sitting on the edge of a wool blanket, to keep my behind off of the cold, wet ground, cross my legs, and using a stick of about the proper diameter, poke a hole in the soil, after removing any leaf litter. The candle is lit and placed in the hole between my legs, and the blanket pulled up around my shoulders, and wrapped around leggs and all, and sometimes over my head. Comfy on a cold day. Sometimes downright hot.
IF you cover your head, keep your face exposed enough that you don't breathe the wax vapors or CO released by the burnng candle.
Oh, and make sure you don't allow the blanket to sag into your lap. Ever see a cold woodsrunner move real fast? Let that blanket cocoon catch fire and you will move faster than you have ever thought possible. And no, I have never caught my blanket on fire. Scorched it once, but never caught it on fire.
Good luck
J.D.