Calcium carbide can be produced by cooking Quick lime  and charcoal together at a very high temperature – approximately 2000 °C

CaO + 3 C → CaC₂ + CO

It was invented in 1888, when wet with water it produces acetylene, that can be used for many purposes – even to run a  car, an engine or a generator, and provides a portable source of uncompressed gas for lighting and cooking.

it is hot enough to be used for welding with the hot flame it produces when mixing the gas with pure oxygen.

the process of producing Calcium carbide is of great interest to those prepping simply because it is sustainable, using very basic ingredients, and quite low technology.

 

you can get a hot enough flame to make this by using an arc welder with a carbon rod .