Esbit tablets in the uk?

Flamister

Flamister

Backpacker
Er, yesterday I discovered that hexamine tablets have been banned, in effect. I rushed onto this site, which Ive not lurked at for a while, to see what all your expert opinions were on this stunning law. Um, couldnt find any. Maybe I just havent searched enough, but this conversation youre all having indicates otherwise.
Are we to just ignore this nonsense & hope we don't get caught?
Apparently, since October last, in order to sell or POSSESS any hexamine tablets requires one to have a valid Home Office EPP licence. These can be obtained from the H.O. website for a competitive £39.99. (Thank goodness theyre not £40 ) The licence is valid for 3 years.
Failing to have a licence is punishable under the Poisons Act of 1972. Imprisonment is mentioned.
While in prison, no doubt, we will learn how to make RDX explosive from hexy tabs using peroxide & become ISIS martyrs ,or even set ourselves on the path to a fortune producing crystal meth, so its not all bad.
The model steam fraternity , polar opposites to those who wander wet hills, have common cause. They are petitioning parliament ( https://petition.parliament.uk/petition/657782 ) who will consider their request to ease restrictions on the sale & possession of waxed hexamine tablets, to a "3 box maximum". Once they get 10,000 signatures. They have 523 , so not quite a head of steam yet.
The music critic of the Spectator magazine , a keen steamie, has done a good article about all this.
I wonder,is this all a plot by 'Fire Dragon' ?
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
Flamister said:
Er, yesterday I discovered that hexamine tablets have been banned, in effect. I rushed onto this site, which Ive not lurked at for a while, to see what all your expert opinions were on this stunning law. Um, couldnt find any. Maybe I just havent searched enough, but this conversation youre all having indicates otherwise.
Are we to just ignore this nonsense & hope we don't get caught?
Apparently, since October last, in order to sell or POSSESS any hexamine tablets requires one to have a valid Home Office EPP licence. These can be obtained from the H.O. website for a competitive £39.99. (Thank goodness theyre not £40 ) The licence is valid for 3 years.
Failing to have a licence is punishable under the Poisons Act of 1972. Imprisonment is mentioned.
While in prison, no doubt, we will learn how to make RDX explosive from hexy tabs using peroxide & become ISIS martyrs ,or even set ourselves on the path to a fortune producing crystal meth, so its not all bad.
The model steam fraternity , polar opposites to those who wander wet hills, have common cause. They are petitioning parliament ( https://petition.parliament.uk/petition/657782 ) who will consider their request to ease restrictions on the sale & possession of waxed hexamine tablets, to a "3 box maximum". Once they get 10,000 signatures. They have 523 , so not quite a head of steam yet.
The music critic of the Spectator magazine , a keen steamie, has done a good article about all this.
I wonder,is this all a plot by 'Fire Dragon' ?
Click to expand...
Interesting. I never heard of this. Thanks for the head up. Do you have any links regarding this?

Your petition link doesn't work for me.

"Are we to just ignore this nonsense & hope we don't get caught?"

Yep. 😁
Works ok in other areas of life for millions of people.
(e.g. The irrational laws around recreational drugs when access to alcohol is virtually unrestricted)
 
Flamister

Flamister

Backpacker
Mole said:
Interesting. I never heard of this. Thanks for the head up. Do you have any links regarding this?

Your petition link doesn't work for me.

"Are we to just ignore this nonsense & hope we don't get caught?"

Yep. 😁
Works ok in other areas of life for millions of people.
(e.g. The irrational laws around recreational drugs when access to alcohol is virtually unrestricted)
Click to expand...
Link not working for me either, just google "ease restrictions on hexamine" & fight your way in.
 
Run_Hike_Meat_Repeat

Run_Hike_Meat_Repeat

Section Hiker
I'll be applying for a licence if that's what it takes. The only time I use anything other than esbit, is if I'm abroad (ridiculously expensive in Sweden) or can use my cone in woodgas mode.
All year round, esbit is my preference of fuel.
 
OwenM

OwenM

Thru Hiker
Is esbit the same as hexamine? I'm not sure what they're made of. Certainly hexamine should be band, as I said up thread stinky noxious stuff.
 
L

Lyrrad

Trail Blazer
Mole said:
Blimey.

Does seem serious


But it's still possible to freely buy Hexamine fuel still without any issues.🤷
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I think the whole thing is a bit ridiculous. A £40 license fee is hardly going to dissuade someone from using any of those substances in a dubious manner and I find it quite hard to believe that many people applying for said license will be refused and I cannot imagine that anyone with a license will have to do anything more than just flash the card to the retailer. As you have stated, many of the items are readily available to buy quite freely.
 
TinTin

TinTin

Thru Hiker
Surely this is about supply of large quantities of these things. The regulations say "A person must not supply a regulated explosives precursor to a business customer unless ..." A person is by definition of the regs a business. So A business can't supply another business without these things unless they are licenced. It is about regulation and record keeping, not banning as far as I can see.
 
L

Lyrrad

Trail Blazer
TinTin said:
Surely this is about supply of large quantities of these things. The regulations say "A person must not supply a regulated explosives precursor to a business customer unless ..." A person is by definition of the regs a business. So A business can't supply another business without these things unless they are licenced. It is about regulation and record keeping, not banning as far as I can see.
Click to expand...
Funny that because I can't see much more than a £40 licence fee.

Certain chemicals can be used in the illicit manufacture of explosives or to cause harm. Members of the public who want to import, acquire, possess or use these chemicals must have a valid explosives precursors and poisons (EPP) licence issued by the Home Office and an associated photographic identity document.

What will require a licence next. The purchase of a hammer?
 
Seòrsa

Seòrsa

Section Hiker
OwenM said:
Is esbit the same as hexamine? I'm not sure what they're made of. Certainly hexamine should be band, as I said up thread stinky noxious stuff.
Click to expand...
Owen, its no longer used in the same way as we knew it in the wax coated boxes with about 8 pieces in, as you say horrible stuff, they now favour fire dragon individually packed smaller tablets, but fire-dragon burns more fierce than the hexamine we used to use.

I got gifted 8 packets of fire dragon last year at work & after testing one tablet got rid, I asked around on here & ended up giving it away to a local bush-craft guy I know.
 
TinTin

TinTin

Thru Hiker
Lyrrad said:
Funny that because I can't see much more than a £40 licence fee.

Certain chemicals can be used in the illicit manufacture of explosives or to cause harm. Members of the public who want to import, acquire, possess or use these chemicals must have a valid explosives precursors and poisons (EPP) licence issued by the Home Office and an associated photographic identity document.

What will require a licence next. The purchase of a hammer?
Click to expand...
Is this for the chemicals or also for products made from those chemicals? It must be bulk chemicals. Esbit have hexamine as the main component but it is not the only component. Phosphoric acid is in rust removers at high concentration. etc etc
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
Seòrsa said:
Owen, its no longer used in the same way as we knew it in the wax coated boxes with about 8 pieces in, as you say horrible stuff, they now favour fire dragon individually packed smaller tablets, but fire-dragon burns more fierce than the hexamine we used to use.

I got gifted 8 packets of fire dragon last year at work & after testing one tablet got rid, I asked around on here & ended up giving it away to a local bush-craft guy I know.
Click to expand...
It really doesn't burn fiercer. Not if same quantities are compared.

How can it? Fire Dragon is alcohol based so has less energy/weight than Hexamine .

I still have plenty of waxed box British Army hexi. And have compared the fuels.

Fire Dragon fuel is actually twice as heavy as Hexamine for similar heat performance.

A 28g block of Fire Dragon is about as effective as a 14g block of Esbit(half a block of UK Army hexi)
It's advantage is that it's non-toxic and "clean" , and can be used in an enclosed space.

Not bashing Fire Dragon, but it's not performatively better than Hexamine as an outright fuel. Just better in other ways.

One reason that British army hexi stove is not great is that the actual stoves and pots were rubbish for what they needed to do, and very susceptible to wind. Used in a cone or other enclosed system, hexi is a very effective fuel and performs faster and more weight efficient than any alcohol burner. It is somewhat noxious though and not to everyone's taste for sure!
 
L

Lyrrad

Trail Blazer
TinTin said:
Is this for the chemicals or also for products made from those chemicals? It must be bulk chemicals. Esbit have hexamine as the main component but it is not the only component. Phosphoric acid is in rust removers at high concentration. etc etc
Click to expand...
That's a good point, but is 12% w/w hydrogen peroxide anything other than a given concentration of hydrogen peroxide. That is readily available online and it looks as if it ought not to be according to government website
 
Seòrsa

Seòrsa

Section Hiker
Mole said:
It really doesn't burn fiercer. Not if same quantities are compared.

How can it? Fire Dragon is alcohol based so has less energy/weight than Hexamine .

I still have plenty of waxed box British Army hexi. And have compared the fuels.

Fire Dragon fuel is actually twice as heavy as Hexamine for similar heat performance.

A 28g block of Fire Dragon is about as effective as a 14g block of Esbit(half a block of UK Army hexi)
It's advantage is that it's non-toxic and "clean" , and can be used in an enclosed space.

Not bashing Fire Dragon, but it's not performatively better than Hexamine as an outright fuel. Just better in other ways.

One reason that British army hexi stove is not great is that the actual stoves and pots were rubbish for what they needed to do, and very susceptible to wind. Used in a cone or other enclosed system, hexi is a very effective fuel and performs faster and more weight efficient than any alcohol burner. It is somewhat noxious though and not to everyone's taste for sure!
Click to expand...
Im not into comparisons & all that malarkey its simply a way of cooking food & winding up other drunk squaddies & lots of other good stuff I wont dare mention & your imagination wouldn't even get half the stuff we did with it 🤣 🤣 squaddie humour at its best!

Reason I said it burnt more fierce was because it left a lovely scorch mark on my patio flags from testing when I got gifted them, thats why I said it burns more fierce as hexi did not leave a scorch when I tested at same time side by side nothing more scientific than that. 😉
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
Seòrsa said:
Im not into comparisons & all that malarkey its simply a way of cooking food & winding up other drunk squaddies & lots of other good stuff I wont dare mention & your imagination wouldn't even get half the stuff we did with it 🤣 🤣 squaddie humour at its best!

Reason I said it burnt more fierce was because it left a lovely scorch mark on my patio flags from testing when I got gifted them, thats why I said it burns more fierce as hexi did not leave a scorch when I tested at same time side by side nothing more scientific than that. 😉
Click to expand...
That's definitely a different sort of test😁
 
Seòrsa

Seòrsa

Section Hiker
Mole said:
That's definitely a different sort of test😁
Click to expand...
Oh Thats for sure, 🤣 I got an a.s.s whopping off the Mrs as the patio flags had only just been laid 2 months prior & were Indian sandstone ones 😬
It was so much easier on an 8 month tour with other bored squaddies & I wont go into what we did with Shamoolies ;)
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
Back to sources of Hexi for us reprobates who insist on using it.
@edh @Run_Hike_Meat_Repeat

I just bought a load of this military hexamine fuel which is a new type to me.. Ordered yesterday and arrived today.

12 Solid Fuel Hexamine Tablets

British Army cooker stove with heximine fuel tablets and weatherproof matches
evaq8.co.uk evaq8.co.uk


The fuel is packaged in foil backed bubblepacks similar to the 14g Esbit tabs. 6 tabs to a sealed ziplock. You get 2 bags for 96p.

The tabs are 11g on our digital scales.

I tested one, and it easily boiled 500ml water (570 pot in sidewinder cone)in a reasonable time. There was a significant amount of fuel left when rolling boil commenced.

An 11g tab is actually more useful quantity to me for how I use it, than a 14g tab. So I'm happy with this.

Tabs are similar shape as a 14g Esbit tabs, just not quite as deep, so will fit in a Ti Wing burner or Gram Cracker.

Great value at this price - equates to paying £1.63 for 8 x 28g tabs (box of old British Army Hexi). Plus delivery of course.

I bought 16 packs, so 192 tabs. For me, with pubs/cafes on trips too, that is about 40 days worth of fuel for when I'm solo. Was £20 delivered next day.
 
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