Let me ask you tow questions. First, were the pots the same size in diameter. The second, was the oil in the pots the same amount. I have found that the amount of oil and the size of the pot play a factor in the ignition process.

This is interesting in that in one of my test I used a aluminum pot like the person said they were using the fry catfish. I never got ignition in the aluminum pot but when I changed over to cast iron with everything else the same I got ignition. I wonder if the efficiency of the aluminum pot to transfer heat plays a roll. I understand that to get ignition it is necessary for the heat to be generated into the oil at a faster rate than the oil can dissipate the heat. What if the aluminum pot is not able to transfer the heat at the rate necessary. Another factor that must be considered when evaluating this hypothesis is the amount of oil in the pot. The greater the amount the lesser chance of ignition.

Just food for thought.

Jim Mazerat
Forensic Investigations Group