Alternative firewood
Submitted: Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 13:00
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cuffs
Have been looking for an alternative to firewood to take on a trip where there is no wood laying around. I have come across Hotrox in SA made in WA, Envior logs & Rediflame fire logs in Vic & Fire-up fire logs that don't seem to be made anymore. Most of these types of logs are more for heat than fire & last longer than natural wood & are easier to store in the trailer. Any suggestions for alternatives to wood would be appreciated.
cuffs
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 19:51
Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 19:51
cuffs,
Surely the products you have listed ARE the alternative.
They are readily available in hardware stores such as Bunnings and
places like Rays Outdoors. My corner
IGA Supermarket even sells them.
"Most of these logs are more for heat than fire....."
Mate, surely that is what a
camp fire is for, to generate heat for cooking, or warmth.
I used this "log" product recently for several
camp fires and found them to be excellent. The cost of just under $10 per bag is not an outrageous outlay and they are certainly more transportable than wood.
Great product IMO.
AnswerID:
179302
Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 19:55
Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 19:55
Just one additional comment.
The logs create coals just like wood does and in this way are superior to heatbeads for a
camp fire.
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435539
Reply By: Old Bushie - Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 23:34
Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 23:34
I use charcoal if going to areas where firewood may be scarce. It is bulky but very light. 1x20kg or 2x10kg bags are fine on the roofrack and pretty cheap. Expensive at Bunnings but most capital city Yellow Pages will lead you to a commercial supplier.
Charcoal takes a bit longer to get going with kindling or firelighters but lasts
well, gives great coals for cooking and we chuck a bit of precious wood on top if we want to do a bit of firegazing. Later at night a bed of red coals with a few twigs on it now and then doesn't kill your night vision for enjoying "the serenity"
AnswerID:
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Reply By: ExplorOz Team - Michelle - Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 12:12
Tuesday, Jun 20, 2006 at 12:12
Interesting post. As most of you will know, David and I love our campfire, however we, like everyone else, invariably find that there are
places and times when a campfire just isn't practical or allowed. Without the firewood to make the campfire, you'll also have to use a different method of cooking, so why not consider a Cobb - I tried one for the first time when on our Tassie trip and backed it up with the trusty
camp oven, and I amaze myself to say that it is actually more versatile than the
camp oven and a damn excellent device. The heat beads usage is very minimal - 3 beads will do it, and you can
cook a 2 course meal, boil water for dishes and coffees and sit around it like a campfire for warmth. Obviously there is initially a slight kero smell when you use a firelighter to ignite the heat beads but this soon disipates and in fact you can buy heat beads with "aromas" for a more
smokey effect, but the regular heat bead is fine. Overall when you compare the options the Cobb is both a heat and cooking alternative that is ideal for the situation you are preparing for. Obviously, you wont get a burning campfire flame if that's what you're after though but making compromises is what all this travel caper is all about isn't it?! Enjoy! Where are you going?
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: BBB - Wednesday, Jun 21, 2006 at 19:46
Wednesday, Jun 21, 2006 at 19:46
Ebay has a heep of the Cobb bbq's onsale at the moment I picked one up for $113.00 they are great.
BBB
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Follow Up By: Steve - Wednesday, Jun 21, 2006 at 20:42
Wednesday, Jun 21, 2006 at 20:42
Michelle,
Enough room to feed two grown ups and two hungry boys on those things?
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz Team - Michelle - Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 12:26
Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 12:26
Hi Steve,
Yes, on our Tassie trip when I tried it out, we often fed 4 adults and one of them is David so that counts for 2 adults! ha ha have you seen him?! Big guy :-) Plenty of room for steaks/chops etc on the grill plate, or do a 2kg roast, or a couple of those cyovaced marinated split chickens you can get from the
supermarket, or I carry a 6L round glass pyrex bowl with lid that I used to make a casserole in it. YOu can even make Pizzas. The heat beads last for hours, so you can
cook one whole dish and then do another if necessary, eg.
cook 2 pizzas.
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Follow Up By: Pajman Pete (SA) - Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 13:16
Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 13:16
We take our Cobb everywhere when camping. To get it going really quick just put the basket with the heat beads on the gas ring (we use our Coleman dual fuel). The beads are ready to
cook in under 10 minutes, you don't need firelighters and there is no kero smell. Just be careful moving the basked to the Cobb.
They do make a great heater.
Cheers
Pete
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Follow Up By: Steve - Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 14:22
Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 14:22
cheers Michelle. Maybe Santa will bring me one. I've spent up on car accessories for this trip but they do sound good. Like the idea of pizzas too.
btw, wasn't sure whether David was a big guy or the rest of you were midgets looking at your photo ;-))
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz Team - Michelle - Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 14:35
Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 14:35
Ha ha, both is true actually. I'm only 5" 2 and 3/4 inches!! whilst David towers over a foot taller.
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Follow Up By: Steve - Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 14:51
Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 14:51
Like the way you shortys always get that vital 3/4" in. lol. Every bit counts eh?
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz Team - Michelle - Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 14:57
Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 14:57
Absolutely!and i've very proud of my 3/4! :-)
But I am wondering why I've shrunk half a shoe size lately?? Went from a size 7 to a size 6 and a half!
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