rawsondsr Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 I assume it's ok to burn paper/cardboard waste in the stove, but not plastic packaging due to smell/smoke/noxious chemicals being released? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Some people burn used toilet paper, I wonder what that smells like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawsondsr Posted October 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Delightful I should imagine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Its OK as long as you have a squirrel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 10 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said: Some people burn used toilet paper, I wonder what that smells like Some people burn their poop. I wonder what that smells like ? (Who's got an incinerator toilet ?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt&Jo Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Not to mention the molten plastic causing problems blocking grates and stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 (edited) Dr Bob has specialist information, maybe he will helicopter in here. Personally I think I'd stick to mainstream fuels. Edited October 23, 2018 by LadyG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momac Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Certainly do not burn plastic and beware also of burning packaging or anything with printing on it. Toxins may be produced which are potentially carcinogenic. Commercial incinerators are designed to burn at much higher temperatures and have filters on the exhaust which no domestic stove can replicate. I dare easy the next person along will say they have been breathing toxic fumes their whole life and not experienced an ill affects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Just now, MartynG said: I dare easy the next person along will say they have been breathing toxic fumes their whole life and not experienced an ill affects. Just ask any smoker 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 35 minutes ago, MartynG said: Certainly do not burn plastic and beware also of burning packaging or anything with printing on it. Toxins may be produced which are potentially carcinogenic. Commercial incinerators are designed to burn at much higher temperatures and have filters on the exhaust which no domestic stove can replicate. I dare easy the next person along will say they have been breathing toxic fumes their whole life and not experienced an ill affects. We used to throw Christmas wrapping paper on the open fire as the various inks, metalised finishes etc. would give lots of different colours in the flames. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horace42 Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 I have heard 'white' smoke is OK, but 'black smoke is not. They all have an unpleasant smell - except for me, tree wood on bonfires - that takes me back many years to happy boy scout camping days when the troop sat round the bonfire at night - signing camp fire songs - where supper was a mug of cocoa (no milk) made with hot water from a dixie hung over the fire - a chunk of dry bread - and a chunk of cheese. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueb Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Old trainers burn well 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 2 hours ago, Horace42 said: I have heard 'white' smoke is OK, but 'black smoke is not. Especially if you are electing a new pope. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily Rose Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 3 hours ago, MartynG said: I dare easy the next person along will say they have been breathing toxic fumes their whole life and not experienced an ill affects. I have been breathing toxic fumes my whole life and not experienced any I'll effects. They were my own toxic fumes tbough, I'm rather less keen on other people's toxic fumes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Bob Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 4 hours ago, LadyG said: Dr Bob has specialist information, maybe he will helicopter in here. Personally I think I'd stick to mainstream fuels. There is nowt wrong burning polyethylene or polyprop. Both burn very clean with no nasties.....well maybe the odd little bit but nothing as bad as Supertherm. However.....burning PVC or PET ( don't burn your pets unless they are ducks) is not recommended. PVC burns to coke and HCL which is not nice. In fact it is quite bad. I would say incredibly bad but someone would comment. Not a clue what PET goes to but likely bad. Polystyrene or HIPS have benzene rings in them so again it will give off toxic stuff. 70% of waste plastic is PE/PE which is ok. If you are burning PE or PP, keep the temp up and it won't flow down and clog the grate up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 21 minutes ago, Dr Bob said: There is nowt wrong burning polyethylene or polyprop. When we 'overcooked' the PoM we had to evacuate the factory. Nasty, nasty stuff. I think it is Formaldehyde ?????? (certainly catches your eyes and throat) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Bob Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 5 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said: When we 'overcooked' the PoM we had to evacuate the factory. Nasty, nasty stuff. I think it is Formaldehyde ?????? (certainly catches your eyes and throat) What on earth is PoM? Did you mean poly methyl methacrylate? If so yes. Lots of formaldehyde. Horrible stuff. Is anything made out of PMM these days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Dr Bob said: What on earth is PoM? Did you mean poly methyl methacrylate? If so yes. Lots of formaldehyde. Horrible stuff. Is anything made out of PMM these days? Acetal, Delrin various names but "chemically" Polyoxymethylene (or PoM) Very tough material -non-hydroscopic. We used to make plastic hose clips for various companies, - Ford used then to hold the fuel hose inside (submerged in petrol) inside the Fiesta fuel tank. Despite being 'warned' they initially wanted PA66 we supplied and when it failed suggested they listen to what we recommended. Edited October 23, 2018 by Alan de Enfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceinSanity Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 8 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said: When we 'overcooked' the PoM we had to evacuate the factory. Nasty, nasty stuff. I think it is Formaldehyde ?????? (certainly catches your eyes and throat) No wonder the Aussies are so down on British migrants getting sunburnt . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 13 hours ago, MartynG said: Certainly do not burn plastic and beware also of burning packaging or anything with printing on it. This is startling. Most people use old newspaper (with print on it) to light their fires. Should we no longer do this? If not, is a firelighter any less toxic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily Rose Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 7 minutes ago, Athy said: This is startling. Most people use old newspaper (with print on it) to light their fires. Should we no longer do this? If not, is a firelighter any less toxic? Or, in my case, 2 dried out teabags soaked (but not dripping) in a jar with a little white spirit. Gets the fire going a treat but now wondering how toxic that might be. Tried newspaper, thought it was useless. Why is Dr Bob so down on Supertherm? I've been using it happily for 3 years, tried Homefire Ovals once but didn't get on with them. I'm now near the end of my first bag of Excel, which I think I prefer to Supertherm but not by a huge margin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 5 minutes ago, Lily Rose said: Or, in my case, 2 dried out teabags soaked (but not dripping) in a jar with a little white spirit. Gets the fire going a treat but now wondering how toxic that might be. Tried newspaper, thought it was useless. How inventive, I've never heard of that method before! I am surprised that you have found newspaper useless, as generations of kindlers have used it successfully. Perhaps you were using the glossy magazine-style paper? This does not catch light well. You need the matt daily paper-type paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momac Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 6 minutes ago, Athy said: This is startling. Most people use old newspaper (with print on it) to light their fires. Should we no longer do this? I realise many people do but you should not really burn printed paper. Coloured inks probably worse than black ink in terms of toxins produced. Bear in mind also your boat chimney is at low level so the fumes are likely to be be breathed in by passers by and neighbouring boat owners as well as yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Bob Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 6 minutes ago, Lily Rose said: Or, in my case, 2 dried out teabags soaked (but not dripping) in a jar with a little white spirit. Gets the fire going a treat but now wondering how toxic that might be. Tried newspaper, thought it was useless. Why is Dr Bob so down on Supertherm? I've been using it happily for 3 years, tried Homefire Ovals once but didn't get on with them. I'm now near the end of my first bag of Excel, which I think I prefer to Supertherm but not by a huge margin. I used it for the first half of last winter and hated it cause of the noxious smoke and lots of ash. Switched to excel and it was great. This winter, the excel is leaving far more ash......and had to get a few bags of supertherm and guess what? Far less ash. Still the noxious smoke. I guess the specs on these products mean diddly squat and they vary year on year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 2 minutes ago, MartynG said: I realise many people do but you should not really burn printed paper. Coloured inks probably worse than black ink in terms of toxins produced. Bear in mind also your boat chimney is at low level so the fumes are likely to be be breathed in by passers by and neighbouring boat owners as well as yourself. Interesting observations, thank you. Luckily newsprint is generally black (unless you read the "red tops", which we don't), though of course modern papers often have some colour photos. I'm not sure that fumes from newspaper pose much of a threat, though, because the paper burns for only about two to three minutes, long enough to set the wood alight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now