Mysteries of Esbit & Heximine Fuel | Backpacking fuel | Emergency Fuel

[@CMC230]

I have watched about 30 videos on Hexamine, but this is the only one that answered all my questions. Thank you :)

[@anthonymarino4260]

me too

[@Bulletstop75]

This should be the go to vid on hexamine stoves. The only one giving solid facts. Thank you sir!

[@bartwalker474]

I've used hexamine for years. Thanks for showing new ways to improve the combustion of the hexamine. I have learned that if you put a small square of aluminium foil under the haxamine tab it makes for a really easy clean up of your stove. For REALLY easy clean ups of whatever pot you are using try rubbing on the outside of the pot some hand dish soap or detergent and let it dry. The flames and soot from the hexamine will make it go black but it rubs off with a paper towel or your finger. Makes for a clean pot or cup with minimal fuss in cleaning it. Great Vdeo Don, Thanks Man!!!

[@stephenhayes2996]

So much info in one place! Thank you Sir.

[@charleslamica5123]

This is the best tutorial on using hexamine fuel tablets i've ever seen. Thank you!

[@davidkermes393]

Best tutorial on solid chemical fuels I've seen!

[@Wintertrekker]

Very good explanation Don! I did not know much about hexamine fuel and stoves, and you cleared up alot of mystery, thanks!

[@130June]

This is an excellent video, however I found the music very off-putting. The music would be better played only at the start and finish of videos, so when there is talking there is no accompanying music. Otherwise, wonderful stuff. Thanks.

[@bq688]

Wow. Information dense video. Thank you.

[@nazaninnaderi3783]

This was a very good video, displaying more stove types than I knew existed and good information about them. My only complaint is the music making it hard to hear your narration. Thanks for the information.

[@skeetersaurus6249]

I've used hexamine (and trioxane) stoves for years...and the best configuration I've found for general purpose use is the Esbit Titanium micro-stove, combined with a G.I. type (stainless) canteen cup (with lid) and the G.I. type aluminum stove...then put the Esbit stove (with fuel on it) under the canteen stove, which lifts the fuel off the deck and better-protects the flame. Then, I've got a folding windscreen I place all around the burning stove...I can get an EASY 80% burn that doesn't make a mess, while the Esbit stove, canteen stove, canteen cup, canteen lid and a Coughlan 3-piece cutlery set all fit inside of a G.I. Canteen cover with the 1-quart canteen! VERY compact, (without water) weighs about 1-lb (with extra tabs in a small 1-pint zip lock bag, in the canteen cover). It turns the U.S.G.I. Canteen set into a FULL mess-kit with water and emergency fuel...that if I have wood around, I only need the canteen stove to cook with! Very flexible, very useful.

[@savageoutdoors474]

Thank you for the video. Good info Don. You should do a video of everything that comes with one of your stoves. It's such a great deal for the money.

[@camping_guru_uk]

Piss warm lol, I wasn't expecting that lol😂. Thanks for the vid, I was about to buy some fuel and now I know what's best to buy. Cheers

[@AlwaysAnAdventureLuna]

Thank you for sharing your wealth in knowledge in this topic. Well done video.

[@threat_dynamics3272]

Good video. What is the stove with a fan grate at 7:19? Looks like something I would buy for my Snow Peak 600.

[@Markam248]

explains that it is one of the stove designs that he ether makes or sell on his site. fourdog.com/

[@mharrigfeld]

Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. Great video!

[@jetpowered1]

Very thorough. Thanks!

[@nosejose1]

Great video, thanks for the information.

[@sloanbooks]

This is very informative, thank you.

[@NoahSaintJames]

Excellent. Very informative.

[@canesser1]

Great video Don, never knew that much about Hexamine. How toxic are the fumes?

[@DaibheadSeamas]

In the seven years since you commented, I’m sure you got your answer...so this reply is for the newcomers: Esbit is non-toxic, and while it’s not great to breathe the fumes of anything that’s burning, the more efficiently you burn it (or any fuel), the less fumes there are to breathe. Pretty sure there is nothing to worry about if you are using it outdoors or in a space with some ventilation.

[@canesser1]

@@DaibheadSeamas Thanks David, better late than never lol!

[@TheGbortnick]

Boy, was this informative. I usually use the usgi canteen stove and use coglens and wood. How efficient are these and how would this com pair to the 3 piece esbit cook set. What can I use to make the usgi setup more efficient and clean?

[@DaibheadSeamas]

Great video! Also loved the music. Some will, some won’t. It takes all kinds. ;)

[@altair458]

This is a great video. Glad I subscribed.

[@robthompson7100]

Now that I know the stove I want, small stove with the fan grate bottom at the 7:30 mark, if I could just find one for sale!

[@thomasnugent7602]

Very good ideas, Thank you very much

[@oldigger7060]

Good video. However, I have noticed that some of the el cheapo tablets sourced from a populous Asian country seem to burn more fiercely and for less time than the traditional (Esbit etc.) stuff. I even managed to set fire to a wooden table whilst burning one such cube (in a folding metal stove with the usual clearance from the table of course). I am very familiar with such fuel/stoves having used them in my (Australian)Army days. I did hear one bush crafter suggest that some of the cheap fuel from this country may actually be a mix of hexamine and paraffin wax and this could explain the napalm like combustion! I now make a point of using either Esbit cubes or genuine military grade hexamine made by ADI (Australian Defence Industries). Unfortunately, both of these quality fuels can be difficult to obtain, as many outdoor stores in the land of Oz prefer to just stock the cheap stuff.

[@yogibro6442]

Using trioxane in one of those folding stoves, I noticed drips of black goo coming through the air holes on the bottom, does hexamine goo up and drip while burning too? I have some trioxane left, but will get hexamine for faster burning after watching this, thanks!

[@fourdogstoveco]

Hexmine burns hotter then trioxide.

[@manofthecloth777]

Anyone know where to get plans or a place to purchase the rocket style stove with the fan at the bottom?

[@kennethcarter5720]

Am I right thinking you need to allow the flames to lick up the sides of your pot and that makes it more efficient. Has anyone use solid fuel with a firebox nano? Been experimenting with a focus ring in the Nano but still not working as well as I would like. Any ideas anyone? Thanks

[@muumoo111]

thank you ! very informative

[@marcclarke01]

Music track is extremely distracting. Please just talk if you are talking and play your musical instrument if you are giving a concert. Other than the completely unnecessary music track, superb highly-informative video.

[@edwardgilmour9013]

The Coughlin stove is similar to the one used by the Australian and the NZ military too.

[@thomasbiel7741]

Great video

[@jo-jobighiker5552]

Made my stove from a small can. I take only the amount of tabs I need for 1.5 cups of water per meal. The whole thing fits in my cup, including stove, tabs, wind screen and 2 BIC lighters.

[@nationalginagraphic5462]

Great video thank you! Many options, but what I'm getting is that using a secondary burner stove with the tabs increases efficiency, correct? In researching stoves for my upcoming trek in Tibet, I decided on esbit fuel tabs (which came with the standard folding stove) and a titanium wood stove by toaks. It seems I intuitively solves the low efficiency problem and I can use other fuel sources as well. Any advice on adding wood or other material on top of the tablet? I'm trying to pack light for a long trek, perhaps using the tabs as a firestarter or supplement if natural fuel sources are few. Thanks! I love the fiddle by the way, though it's a bit loud and competes with your voice. Looking forward to more videos! Cheers from China!

[@fourdogstoveco]

By having the secondary combustion on the esbit it speeds up cook time and decreases fuel use. Also you can use the Esbit as a fire starter and supplement with any biofuel source. Goat pellets on the higher elevations would make a great supplement fuel. Never worry about the fire you have burning always be thinking about the next fire.

[@Mountainwalker64]

Don, it is good to some new videos , very informative. Are you going to make a Esbit stove?

[@aar5pj]

Something tells me that this guy is an Engineer.

[@abdullaex4119]

Have you tried Weber Lighter Cubes? #7417 - 24 size box for $4.00. Lowes, Home depot, etc. Thank you.

[@abdullaex4119]

Glad to help brother. They will soot. They have the Heximine smell. If you can get by with that your golden. I've used them in Esbit stoves, Firebox stove, modified Sterno stoves, and on a piece of aluminum foil on the ground wrapped with a cut/modified stainless cup stand. For me (usually), 1 tab for 1 cup boiling water. Cheap enough to use 2 tabs if you need. I take them out of the original foil pack and put the cubes in a zip lock, double freezer bag. Some say the cubes dry out? Has not happen to me yet. Cover your water when you heat it up. Protect from the wind. Simple solutions for faster boil times. Experiment and build your own stove. I WIL NOT pay Esbit prices. Heximine is Heximine whoever sells it. Also try Trioxane, home made gel alcohol fuel, Yellow bottle HEET, Denatured alcohol, etc. Lots of picks for your personnel hiking needs. Whatever stove you take. My favorite alcohol is Methanol Racing fuel. Cheaper and hotter but in my area we can only buy 5 gallons (or 55 gallons for the pyro). EnjoyThis is an excellent training video...

[@cindyneely6087]

Good job

[@jasperedwards3341]

the british hexamine tabs were 8 big tablets a lot bigger thant todays ones and were a lot better sealed in paper wax coated 1 pound a packet in the 90s to the beguinning 2000s

[@magnuskjellsson3524]

Thank you

[@africantwin173]

Esbit is very expensive in NLD. Same goes for Coleman Fuel. We use liquid Aspen fuel. cost 20 euro per 5 liter. Coleman cost 7 euro per liter.

[@jilljill6542]

Good video, but the repetitive and overly loud music got annoying quickly.

[@Markam248]

great information. thank you for your explanation.

[@techguy9023]

Caldera cone with Esbit

[@jonathanmacias6364]

Is it toxic

[@fourdogstoveco]

No

[@clivedunning4317]

Jonathan. Only saw your post today. Hexamine can be dangerous in confined places and cause asphyxiation by CO2 poisoning/ oxygen deprivation. It's distictive "smell" was added by British Army scientists during the end of the Korean War, as soldiers were using it in dug-outs and being overcome by the fumes without realising it !

[@eqlzr2]

Big thumbs up on the info. Big thumbs down on the music. Thx!

[@Titanickaram]

Still mysteries to me. "it gasified the hexamine gets a secondary combustion"

[@yogibro6442]

That stove is double walled, air gets between the walls at the bottom from outside, gets heated between the walls, gets directed inside the burn chamber at the top, and finishes burning the tablet gas that didn't get burnt because it ran out of oxygen inside. Like an afterburner on a plane.

[@jarikinnunen1718]

For fuel economy is good cleaning soot of. All fuels are smelly. Hexamine smell like fish. Is not bother of me. Price more than that.

[@granitejeepc3651]

great ideas still in 2024 bad thing about it is that it gives off cyanide gas---so watch out in confined environment coghlan are easier to regulate as smaller and more controlled flame as circular i use the godora tablets---easier to light with lighter in opposotion everclear alcohol does burn less 70 percent less but multi use for cleaning and drinking yikes i use a dual burning system so i carry everclear, godora, and flex fuel stove

[@Milk-coffee-303]

お元気ですか？

[@Ftybr57]

Crappy music

[@jamesaritchie1]

There's nothing efficient, or safe, for that matter, with any of those small "stoves". They are not stoves, and they're more likely to create an emergency than to solve one. Those tiny "stoves" are really cool, and some idiots love saving weight so much they take something like this into the wilderness, and it's as stupid as it's humanly possible to get. It's dumber than a screen door on a submarine. "It works very well" is not true for most of these tiny stoves, but it doesn't matter. Ecven if they worked better than anything on earth, they're still exceedingly dangerous, and you have to be stupid to risk using them in the wilderness.

[@fourdogstoveco]

I think maybe you should not be allowed to play or use fire ? There as dangerous as using a pocket knife. As any tool there as safe or unsafe as the user. Million's of people have used these stoves x millions of times with safe good results every year for over 80 years.

[@tiredofbs6835]

Sounds to me like you are an extremely clumsy individual who needs a full time nanny to keep you from hurting yourself.

[@ORflycaster]

Well then cupcake, with an outlook like that, it’s probably best that you continue to review gear from the safety of your couch.