Talk:Do-It-Yourself/Campfire

Campfire authors and history
= From Wikipedia:Talk:Campfire =
 * 2005-11-11 23:09:59 User:Smack (→Finding a site, and other safety measures - more about bursting rocks)
 * 2005-11-04 11:00:18 User:Alan Parmenter (→Finding a site, and other safety measures)
 * 2005-09-26 18:12:49 User:WikidSmaht
 * 2005-09-25 06:51:49 User:Fir0002 (→Campfire activities - added photo)
 * 2005-09-11 20:46:33 User:Smack (moving wikibooks template to top, as it applies to several sections)
 * 2005-09-10 22:24:22 User:Beland (→Building the fire - )
 * 2005-09-02 16:15:37 User:Smack (moving new image down the page)
 * 2005-09-02 08:56:51 User:Dirk Beyer (+ pict, captions)
 * 2005-07-26 10:17:02 User:Pappa m (Category:Primitive technology)
 * 2005-07-09 04:57:14 User:Smack (→External links - making the link more specific)
 * 2005-07-08 05:49:17 User:24.87.241.96
 * 2005-07-03 00:40:50 User:Smack m (→Types of fuel - might as well be consistent)
 * 2005-07-02 18:55:53 User:217.121.144.89
 * 2005-06-14 03:23:14 User:Smack (misc changes)
 * 2005-06-14 01:21:55 User:24.60.154.151 (→Extinguishing the fire)
 * 2005-06-02 05:35:01 User:Smack (moving tinder information to new page)
 * 2005-05-31 22:25:44 User:Polyparadigm (→Without matches - notes on spark method)
 * 2005-05-01 03:59:30 User:Smack m (making - →Without matches -  a subsection)
 * 2004-12-17 14:30:44 User:12.111.23.5 (→Without matches - Removed reference to &quot;tampons&quot;)
 * 2004-12-08 16:58:41 User:Selphie m
 * 2004-11-17 06:33:16 User:Smack m (reinstating 'and')
 * 2004-11-17 00:03:56 User:62.255.64.4 (→Types of fuel)
 * 2004-10-19 03:51:52 User:Korath m (→Related topics - rm circular redirect)
 * 2004-10-18 15:10:37 User:Wayland (Categories)
 * 2004-10-17 17:27:29 User:Wayland (Category:Procedural knowledge)
 * 2004-10-01 21:21:22 User:Robbot m (Andre Engels - robot  Adding:de)
 * 2004-09-15 18:19:19 User:Finn-Zoltan m (→Campfire activities)
 * 2004-09-10 08:11:17 User:Selphie m (changed &quot;girl scouts&quot; to &quot;guirl guides&quot; (two different things))
 * 2004-09-10 07:57:36 User:Evil saltine
 * 2004-07-22 09:39:02 User:Foobar (no one sells beryllium as a firestarter)
 * 2004-06-14 09:45:29 User:Heron m (→Building the fire - atop each other -&gt; one atop the other)
 * 2004-05-28 12:47:48 User:The MoUsY spell-checker m
 * 2004-05-06 21:33:01 User:Justanyone m (wikify log cabin)
 * 2004-04-18 06:32:59 User:Telso m (=Building the fire=)
 * 2004-04-18 06:03:00 User:Carbuncle m (+ja:)
 * 2004-04-03 23:35:02 User:Smack (merging info from flint and steel fire)
 * 2004-03-14 21:20:17 User:Benji Franklyn m
 * 2004-03-14 21:15:36 User:Benji Franklyn m
 * 2004-03-14 21:11:25 User:Benji Franklyn (Amend text)
 * 2004-02-21 13:15:23 User:Wayland (added link to flint and steel fire)
 * 2004-02-12 22:50:41 User:68.88.64.121
 * 2003-11-16 03:05:57 User:Naddy m (typo)
 * 2003-10-11 19:00:25 User:Robbot m (Robot-assisted disambiguation Grass)
 * 2003-09-29 01:50:32 User:Guppy m
 * 2003-09-29 01:49:33 User:Guppy m (wikify S'more)
 * 2003-09-17 20:02:19 User:Heron m (typo)
 * 2003-09-17 19:58:21 User:Heron m (sp)
 * 2003-08-24 07:19:10 User:64.170.110.218
 * 2003-07-17 03:16:34 User:Smack m (changing headings)
 * 2003-07-17 03:15:44 User:Smack m
 * 2003-07-17 03:11:36 User:Smack m (rm how to light a fire)
 * 2003-07-17 03:11:04 User:Smack (merging how to light a campfire)
 * 2003-07-05 03:36:07 User:Smack (moving information to cooking on a campfire; adding new info)
 * 2003-06-30 11:48:41 User:Patrick m
 * 2003-06-30 07:13:07 User:Smack (moving information to how to light a fire)
 * 2003-05-16 16:26:16 User:Frecklefoot m (fixed link, added links)
 * 2003-02-23 17:05:53 User:Ortolan88 (the voice of long experience )

Talk moved from How to light a fire upon merging
As well as the three methods of building a fire which the author describes, I would add a fourth, which I would call the funeral pyre method. This is because this is the method used for building funeral pyres.

The method is to lay layers of equal sized kindling laid horizontally. Each subsequent layer is laid horizontally but at 90 degrees to the previous layer. Most importantly, the space between the kindling pieces must be at least as much as the width of the kindling in that layer. As the layers build larger kindling is used. This type of fire build collapses in a controlled manner without restricting the air flow.

Contributed by Andrew Ballantine andrewballantine@btconnect.com

I propose merging back into campfire. This article is:
 * 1) not specifically about lighting campfires, but also building them, finding places to build them, etc
 * 2) not generally about fires, but specifically about campfires

I also think that the advice should be attributed to specific organisations - it will sound more authoritative that way. Martin 17:39 5 Jul 2003 (UTC)


 * Hm. I actually started writing this article before I ever looked at campfire - I don't exactly remember why.  I guess it's a good idea.  The second paragraph of campfire would be merged into the section on safety, and the final paragraph would become a new section titled Campfire activities or something to that effect.  I want to get someone else's input before I go through with the merge, though.
 * What advice are you talking about exactly? -Smack 17:45 5 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Things like "Do not leave a fire burning unattended!". Now, I'm sure this is good advice, but it sounds like my encyclopedia is telling me what to do! I'd rather have something like:


 * Unattended campfires cause 15,365 casualties a year, worldwide. The Association of Campers and Caravaners gives this advice:


 * "Do not leave a fire burning unattended! Any number of accidents might occur in your absence, blah blah blah, leading to property damage, personal injury or possibly a wildfire. Blah blah blah. Pour water on all the embers, and continue pouring until the hissing noises stop. Blah blah blah.". [link]

It's not bad as is... I just think it would be better like that. Up to you, though. Martin 21:19 5 Jul 2003 (UTC)


 * This goes back to the unresolved dispute of Wikipedia talk:How-to articles, but I think you're right. I won't bother looking up an authoritative quotation, but a partial de-mandatification is in order. -Smack 04:08 6 Jul 2003 (UTC)

I've begun a full conversion to the declarative mood in preparation for merging this back into campfire. -Smack 19:42 15 Jul 2003 (UTC)

We learned how to make a campfire in Girl Scouts. First, your tiny candy kindling goes in a pile. Very flammable candy like spicy Jolly Ranchers or Hot Tamales are best, because you want to use something that will burn for a long time. A few mini marshmallow firelighters won't hurt either.

Next, you make a little pile of all your pretzel sticks around the kindling. The perfectionistic eight-year-old will balance them together the way she imagines a teepee to look. That's the tinder.

Before you're allowed to eat it, you have to take a tiny pretzel stick, strike it on the table, and carefully reach inside to light it. If you have a really gung-ho troop leader, they may make you light it by rubbing two little pretzels together. Presumably the rock salt is flammable.

The nice thing about the teepee or cone style of pyro-architecture is that as the kindling inside burns, the pretzels will fall inward toward the jolly ranchers and catch on fire, or burn more, depending.

Some anonymous individual has removed the reference to toilet paper and tampons as excellent tinder. I'm not responsible for its insertion into the article, but I would like to know exactly what is wrong with it.