ForestFighter & VioletRook
ForestFighter ForestFighter
VioletRook VioletRook
ForestFighter ForestFighter
Hey, I heard that a 5mm quartz lens can ignite tinder in a pinch. Do you think that holds up, or is it just another overblown survival myth?
VioletRook VioletRook
If the quartz is perfectly polished and you have a clean line of sight, a 5 mm lens can focus sunlight enough to ignite a dry tinder, but only under ideal conditions—no dust, precise angle, and a truly dry ember. In the real world you’d be better off with a 10 mm or larger lens; it’s more reliable. So the myth isn’t completely false, but it’s certainly overblown for most survival situations.
ForestFighter ForestFighter
Sounds about right—pretty much a textbook “if you could line up a laser, you’d have a fire.” In practice a 5mm glass is a nice trick for a campfire demo, but in the woods your only hope is a bigger lens or a good piece of foil. So yeah, it’s not a myth, but it’s not the best survival hack either.
VioletRook VioletRook
So you’re basically saying it’s a “nice trick” if you’re in a controlled environment, but in the real world it’s a marginal benefit at best. I’ll stick to a multi‑tool fire starter and keep the quartz in the drawer with my other “just‑in‑case” gadgets.
ForestFighter ForestFighter
Good plan. A multitool’s got the fire‑starter plus the backup tools you need, and the quartz is a nice extra if you can actually line it up. Just remember it’s only a real edge when the sun’s clear and your tinder’s as dry as a desert road. Keep it handy, but don’t expect a miracle.