View Full Version : Clothes and fire
Here are some small films on how clothes burn, pretty interesting to see.
Cotton (http://webster.srv.se/skyddsnatet/asx/ovrigt/brandtest_bomull.asx)
Fleece (http://webster.srv.se/skyddsnatet/asx/ovrigt/brandtest_fleece.asx)
Syntetich fibres (http://webster.srv.se/skyddsnatet/asx/ovrigt/brandtest_polyester.asx)
Wool (http://webster.srv.se/skyddsnatet/asx/ovrigt/brandtest_ull.asx)
Good old wool - now you know why Swanndri dont make tinder! lol!
Good films mate, predictable but good!
yepp. another good reason to wear wool =)
Good old wool - now you know why Swanndri dont make tinder! lol!
Good films mate, predictable but good!
Bu itīs a bit scary when you see how the fleece just melts, not fun to get melting fleece on your body. I wonder how the swedish army shirt would work, they are made of cotton/polyester and a material called polychlal that are supposed to make them burn proof (like all the clothing in the army).
That is pretty scary stuff.
You do hear of how materials burn but seeing it really helps put it into perspective.
OhCanada
05-06-2005, 02:36
I'm a fleece guy myself for all the good reasons fleece is known for, however, if I had a homestead I would certainly stock it with my military wool (and civy jumpers) for everyday work clothes.
I still use wool socks so I can fire walk in safety with the natives :D
OldJimbo
05-06-2005, 05:48
For years I've worn polyester/cotton work wear. It's cheap, wears like iron,dries quickly and is very spark resistant. The beauty of it being cheap is that over here I need different sizes because in winter my wool underwear is the type that looks like a thick sweater. I wear fleece, but under a wool jacket, because I have open fires almost every time out.
That explains why you never see sheep on fire....clever buggers! ;)
arctic hobo
05-06-2005, 13:36
I think that the cotton would have been an even bigger fire if it had hung open like the others - having seen on a first aid course what people wearing cotton on fire look like and their burns, it's horrific stuff. After all, fluffed up cotton socks are one of the best tinders I know! :)
I'm a fleece guy myself for all the good reasons fleece is known for, however, if I had a homestead I would certainly stock it with my military wool (and civy jumpers) for everyday work clothes.
I still use wool socks so I can fire walk in safety with the natives :D
Trick is to wear a natural material outer over the fleece Jimbo, that said I did burn a big hole int he hood of a favourite ventile smock some time around - but better a smouldering smock than a melting one!
Johan have you ever tried making char from polycotton? I have the polyester turns to little balls and as such I'd say your polycotton would scorch and smoulder too - so its pretty safe.
Fire safe is one thing, current clothing for task and enviroment is another but neither replace common sense and a little respect for the power of ol' mother nature and Brother Fire!
OldJimbo
05-06-2005, 22:40
Yep, Gary, I'm pretty careful to wear one of my old wool jackets over top. Well I am now after finding holes melted in the fleece!
I had trouble watching the videos properly since I use Linux and mplayer plugin had some trouble. Luckily avifile-player plays them fine. Now that I've seen the videos clearly, one observation is that they use a butane torch just like one I have. It burns pretty hot! I guess though that practical experience and appearing holes show how fleece and synthetics are a bit of a hazard.
The major learning experience fo rme is that in this wet place I use a synthetic fill sleeping bag. I'm sure going to be more careful! Before I was just concerned about getting holes in it...