Pasta Torch

[QC]

This probably belongs in non-Boating Tech, but like, whatever . . . this one struck me as odd. So I was going to make a fire last night in our outdoor fire-pit deal thing. I couldn't find my long lighter, so I am poking around the kitchen looking for a lighter, or matches. Since neither of us smoke, this can be a chore. So, Mrs QC says "why don't you use some Spaghetti?" I said something like "Honey, you said you wanted a fire, I am making one, you could actually help you know . . ." She repeats, "no, seriously, Dear, try lighting some spaghetti on the stove, and use it to light your fire" . . . She was serious So to humor her I grabbed about five pieces of uncooked (just to clarify) Spaghetti and sure as ship, they burn. I walked 'em out to the patio and they stayed lit no problem, plus they can reach anything . . . blew my mind. She still hasn't explained how she knew that; I didn't, and would never have thought of it . . . She says "everybody knows, hon" . . . :redface: If you weren't aware of this pyrotechnic marvel, you should try it. I happened to be using whole wheat, but she assures me it doesn't matter.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Pasta Torch

Oh, I thought everyone knew that.
And no, it don't matter what kind it is, it will all burn.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Pasta Torch

She says "everybody knows, hon" . . .

Ayuh,..........

I just Can't Believe that You of All people Didn't Know That QC.................

 

[JB]

Re: Pasta Torch

Once again JB is not part of everybody.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Pasta Torch

what he said^^^^

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Pasta Torch

Oh yeah, flour burns quite well...

But not so much when compacted... but I'll tell you how to make a flour "bomb". Take a funnel and attach a tube to it, fill the funnel about half full with flour, now attach a flame source above the funnel (such as a candle). Then attach the other end of the tube to an air compressor, when you blow air down the tube, it will create a cloud of flour around the flame which will ignite it and cause it to explode. It will actually explode with quite some force, so don't try this at home, inside or be anywhere near it when you push air through the tube. The reason it's difficult to light when lumped together vs in a cloud of dust has to do with surface area (same reason steel wool will burn while a steel I-beam doesn't).

Of course, spaghetti burns well also because of some of the other ingredients like oil, etc.

 

[guy74]

Re: Pasta Torch

That's alright QC, I guess I never got bored enough to light up spagetti either. Never gave it a thought, til now.

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Pasta Torch

Oh, Crap ! Now I won't be able to have any carry-on spaghetti when I come back from Italy...

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Pasta Torch

Yep, she's right. That's an old school trick QC. Now if you want to see something really cool, take a peanut, stick it with a finish nail or wire or something to hold it with, hold it over a plate or something and light it. You'll be surprised how it will burn and how long it will burn. You can start fires with peanuts in emergencies!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Pasta Torch

Hey Kevin..... tell your wife that where they grow and farm the spaghetti they keep the rejected and broken pieces and burn them in the winter for fuel

 

[QC]

Re: Pasta Torch

Oh yeah, flour burns quite well...

Ya know, they specualte now that the explosion that sunk The Maine in Havana Harbor and started the Spanish American War (Remember the Maine) was actuallly flour in the hold . . . I did not make the connection to lighting fires with Spaghetti . . . Should've, just didn't register.

 

[QC]

Re: Pasta Torch

Bio-fuel?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Pasta Torch

sugar dust burns also. look at the sugar plant explosion in Savannah.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Pasta Torch

I knew that, must be a blonde thing.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Pasta Torch

Peanuts have oil.....
Almost any kind of organic matter will burn,,,,,
Almost any kind of organic dust can explode......

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Pasta Torch

I've been shoving spaghetti in my intake for years. Great gas mileage that way.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Pasta Torch

We did something like this in Chemistry class, burn sunflower seed. The oil keeps the flame going. In fact most edible nuts that contains a lot of oil will burn but to get the fire start you would need an external source like a match or lighter....

 

[magster65]

Re: Pasta Torch

A handful of spaghetti would make some nice kindling... who'd a' thunk?!

 

[pduquette]

Re: Pasta Torch

But aer you going to take the mrs.out for italian to thank her for the edification?????

 

[QC]

Re: Pasta Torch

I did just that last night . . . actually my boss paid and he doesn't even know that you could set an Italian joint on fire with one match. Did I tell you that fettucine is even brighter if you need to light your way? Linguine is the hottest. Nah, I made that up. Come to think of it Pam Andersen is the hottest.