Paper challenge
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I would need at least Oxigen and an ignitor.... 
Asuming we have Oxigen, and I am allowed to choose the paper, I would use part highly reflective paper and shape that in some sort of sun collector and focus the ray on a dark coloured patch of paper. Magnifier and paper in one. So I would say I need Oxigen, the sun, a piece of reflective and a piece of black paper and lot's of practice.......
Lennart
I assume stating that I need a match and paper is too easy.....
Asuming we have Oxigen, and I am allowed to choose the paper, I would use part highly reflective paper and shape that in some sort of sun collector and focus the ray on a dark coloured patch of paper. Magnifier and paper in one. So I would say I need Oxigen, the sun, a piece of reflective and a piece of black paper and lot's of practice.......
Lennart
I assume stating that I need a match and paper is too easy.....
rich59 said:
is water allowed and some means of compressing the paper back into a wood like state?
If we're really going minimalist here, I'd cut a minute hole in the paper and place a drop of water over it, hoping its not too absorbent paper - this should in theory act like a pinhole lens, and holding this an appropriate height above some tinder might just be enough to direct the sunlight to a spot and heat up the tinder.
(I did say in theory mind )
(I did say in theory mind
)
With my luck as the tinder smouldered the drop would fall through and land on it!match said:If we're really going minimalist here, I'd cut a minute hole in the paper and place a drop of water over it, hoping its not too absorbent paper - this should in theory act like a pinhole lens, and holding this an appropriate height above some tinder might just be enough to direct the sunlight to a spot and heat up the tinder.
(I did say in theory mind
Obviously matches is an addition, so does not qualify for the highest rank of achievement in this case. If one were to move to needing additions then I would suggest that the simpler and more elemental would perhaps score more highly.
I have little problem with the addition of oxygen since we do have to breathe ourselves.
Reflective surface? Hmmm...... I haven't come across any mirror like surface on paper I have come across. This would need justification. Perhaps this would have to count as an addition - application of a reflective paint to the surface of the paper.
The inclusion of sunlight or water would probably be accepable as they are generally available on a daily basis in most parts of the world.
Ideas are good and certainly we need to explore as many as is appropriate in uncharted territory like this. However, at some point we might like to put them to the test of reality.
I have little problem with the addition of oxygen since we do have to breathe ourselves.
Reflective surface? Hmmm...... I haven't come across any mirror like surface on paper I have come across. This would need justification. Perhaps this would have to count as an addition - application of a reflective paint to the surface of the paper.
The inclusion of sunlight or water would probably be accepable as they are generally available on a daily basis in most parts of the world.
Ideas are good and certainly we need to explore as many as is appropriate in uncharted territory like this. However, at some point we might like to put them to the test of reality.
How about adding some glue to the paper? Perhaps then I could create a roll hard enough to form a hand drill, and layer a stack that is hard enough to use as a hearth board. I could then drill in the traditional way to form a coal.
Commercial glue might not be available. What would be my best natural glue? Would simple sap from plants work?
Commercial glue might not be available. What would be my best natural glue? Would simple sap from plants work?
Could you (In theory ) simply rub two pieces of paper together so fast that the friction created would create spontaneous combustion?
Maybe
) simply rub two pieces of paper together so fast that the friction created would create spontaneous combustion?Maybe
Motorbike Man said:Could you (In theory
Maybe
Now.. That at least involves no extra materials. There are probably many different ways to do this, what would you recommend? I have a feeling that the paper might disintegrate into shreds and dust before getting hot enough.
If I had a ream of A4 paper I would take it to a small shop that sells photocopies for 5p and swap it for a small, disposable lighter.
2 more way out ideas:-
If I had a huge stack and some water and a long time it might begin to give off heat as it composts and eventually combust.
If I rubbed some of the paper to dust and collected the dust to resuspend in the air, and then rub some paper against another substance I might be able to develop a static electricity spark to ignite the suspended dust.
If I had a huge stack and some water and a long time it might begin to give off heat as it composts and eventually combust.
If I rubbed some of the paper to dust and collected the dust to resuspend in the air, and then rub some paper against another substance I might be able to develop a static electricity spark to ignite the suspended dust.
Potasium permanganate and some anti freeze from the car.Carry the p.p in your pocket and all you need is to add a tiny drop of anti freeze and the fire will start.Due to the pottasium permanganate being an oxidising agent,and anti freeze has lots of oxides.Magic occurs and poof .Up goes the paper.
Geoff.
Geoff.Bushmaster said:Potasium permanganate and some anti freeze from the car.Carry the p.p in your pocket and all you need is to add a tiny drop of anti freeze and the fire will start.Due to the pottasium permanganate being an oxidising agent,and anti freeze has lots of oxides.Magic occurs and poof .Up goes the paper.
That's mighty clever, even though the paper takes a rather peripheral role really.
It might be closer to the spirit of the challenge perhaps if you were in some way to have pre soaked one lot of paper in the oxidising agent and another lot in the antifreeze and then bring the dry paper together in some way to produce the fire. Can that be done?
That is quite a collection of ideas. By all means keep new ones coming.
For myself I want to begin to focus more on the options of rubbing 2 pieces of paper together. The question for me is whether there is an efficient way to focus the heat before the paper disintegrates. If I rub two flat pieces of paper together with my hands certainly I get heat. However, that is all I have got so far before my strength gives out, or the paper wears out.
Perhaps there is a way forward by using stronger, specialist papers. Bank notes for instance are made from hemp fibre I recall. They are certainly tougher than most papers. Expensive hobby that - rubbing £5 notes together to make fire!
Maybe one can re form the paper into something more solid - mash some up with water and then compress it into a block before drying - might give a material strong enough to simulate wood? That might form a hearth board. Just maybe one could compress a soaked roll of paper that would dry into a strong enough roll to drill with.
I might actually try this.
For myself I want to begin to focus more on the options of rubbing 2 pieces of paper together. The question for me is whether there is an efficient way to focus the heat before the paper disintegrates. If I rub two flat pieces of paper together with my hands certainly I get heat. However, that is all I have got so far before my strength gives out, or the paper wears out.
Perhaps there is a way forward by using stronger, specialist papers. Bank notes for instance are made from hemp fibre I recall. They are certainly tougher than most papers. Expensive hobby that - rubbing £5 notes together to make fire!
Maybe one can re form the paper into something more solid - mash some up with water and then compress it into a block before drying - might give a material strong enough to simulate wood? That might form a hearth board. Just maybe one could compress a soaked roll of paper that would dry into a strong enough roll to drill with.
I might actually try this.
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