@phendrick New ones are around 8 bucks a pound I think, and used ones in good shape are a little cheaper but not as much as you’d think. That one looks like it’s in the 300 pound range.
@algae1221@phendrick Imported crap cast iron ones are much cheaper, but unless you have the skill and shop to forge-weld a steel facing on the top, they aren’t really useful for much.
@lisagd Yeah, decide between (1) pulverizing a block of wood and pounding on a steel rod against an anvil or (2) go to the convenience store a 5-minute walk away and buy some matches.
@lisagd@phendrick If it came to life or death, you could also use the one thing that’s ubiquitously in just about everyone’s possession today, even the poor and homeless.
@kuoh@lisagd I think a lot of people would rather die than give up their phone!
(Not me, though. I don’t even usually carry mine, unless I’m away from home.)
@lisagd@phendrick Well, if they prefer to be found as a frozen meat popsicle by the search and rescue team in the morning, who are we to argue? At least their dependents will have a shiny phone to remember them by.
@phendrick I used to work for Outward Bound so got very good at starting fires in all sorts of conditions 40 below, driving wind, heavy rain… Have not particularly found that skill useful outside of that job. When I camp now I use a stove as backpackers have basically cleared the ground cover to burn it and that isn’t good for the ecology of the area. Where we were in Canada didn’t have that issue of many people. The other Outdoor Adventure programs including other Outward Bound schools I worked for we used stoves except when I worked taking adjudicated youth canoeing across the state of FL.
Somehow just using a kitchen match seems more sensible to me.
But my main takeaways: I sure like that anvil. I wonder what it costs? I wonder what it weighs?
@phendrick New ones are around 8 bucks a pound I think, and used ones in good shape are a little cheaper but not as much as you’d think. That one looks like it’s in the 300 pound range.
@algae1221 @phendrick Imported crap cast iron ones are much cheaper, but unless you have the skill and shop to forge-weld a steel facing on the top, they aren’t really useful for much.
@phendrick But the next time you find yourself without a match, you’ll know what to do.
@lisagd Yeah, decide between (1) pulverizing a block of wood and pounding on a steel rod against an anvil or (2) go to the convenience store a 5-minute walk away and buy some matches.
@lisagd @phendrick If it came to life or death, you could also use the one thing that’s ubiquitously in just about everyone’s possession today, even the poor and homeless.
KuoH
@kuoh @lisagd I think a lot of people would rather die than give up their phone!
(Not me, though. I don’t even usually carry mine, unless I’m away from home.)
@lisagd @phendrick Well, if they prefer to be found as a frozen meat popsicle by the search and rescue team in the morning, who are we to argue? At least their dependents will have a shiny phone to remember them by.
KuoH
@kuoh @phendrick That was a phone?!?
Egads!
@phendrick It was a joke, dude.
@kuoh @lisagd @phendrick
Yeah, that’s terrifying!
@lisagd
Wow! Impressive!
That’s amazing! Great demonstration of how friction from impact generates heat.
I like that very much, but I’m more of a fatwood, flint & steel guy. But, um… I’m going to be keeping an eye on estate auctions for an anvil.
I can start a fire with matches outside in the pouring rain. Usually only takes 2 or 3. In the backwoods of NW Ontario. Does that count?
@Kidsandliz It should – if I needed that, I’d be happy to have you along (dutch treat, of course).
@phendrick I used to work for Outward Bound so got very good at starting fires in all sorts of conditions 40 below, driving wind, heavy rain… Have not particularly found that skill useful outside of that job. When I camp now I use a stove as backpackers have basically cleared the ground cover to burn it and that isn’t good for the ecology of the area. Where we were in Canada didn’t have that issue of many people. The other Outdoor Adventure programs including other Outward Bound schools I worked for we used stoves except when I worked taking adjudicated youth canoeing across the state of FL.
very interesting!
I’m impressed with the full-on hammer swings that close to his fingers!