Ethan, you could make a type of pitch from beeswax and pine sap. ( I know you have enough of that in Maine)
You could dip the cloth in that. It's very good for fires.
I think the reason Sterno did not work is that it's mostly alcohol, which has a low burning temp, plus can be put out with the slightest breeze

yep I think you've not quite grasped the sequence of events that's supposed to work ethan.
You heat the rock till it's red hot. Then you wrap it in colth and soak that in the flammable substance or wrap it with presoaked cloth - I'd get hold of those heatproof kevlar gloves for this - they sell them in most cookware shops now.
It's not supposed to ignite untill you sling it - sounds like you are lighting it first.
Also if you read some of the earlier posts the missile might not ignite even then it might need further insulating to bring the heat of the rock back up - like while embedded in a flat roof.
If you were to sling it into a straw bale - that might work as a suitable substitute for a thatch roof.

If I can work out a way to do it safely I'll maybe give it a go in june. I could heat the rock in the bbq :-)

Curious Aardvark wrote on Mar 26^th, 2008 at 1:02pm:

Bit of a problem with this - I didn't have a fire. I can see about setting this up early next week... With a real fire, some dry stones, and probably burlap would be good? Obviously, I'll wear gloves and such. Badger, what's the procedure on the pitch stuff?


slingbadger wrote on Mar 26^th, 2008 at 6:44pm:


Heard?! Done!!