Home made fire-starter
#380777
12/08/09 04:39 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 514
michelangelo
OP
Scrapper
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OP
Scrapper
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 514 |
Well, I like fire, especially on winter, but isn't always easy to start it. Also, I like simplicity and eco-compatibility where/when possible, so I use simple and easy-to-find materials for my firestarters: - internal part of cardboard, - pieces of candel, - any wire, - a knife or multitool: I prepare carboard strips (6 cm lenght, 2 cm large), than I roll them in a cilinder and fix them with wire: well, now it's time to foundry the candel: now, put the carboard cilinders on the wax: and at the end we have that: I envelop each firestarter in aluminium sheath, to store them in my EDC kit: These firestarters are really light, 6 of them wheight 30/40 grams, it means 5-7 grams each one: Now, let's try the firestart on wet woods: [img]http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4283/20091014firestarte13ott.jpg[/img] it's raining...:-) [img]http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/6219/20091014firestarte13ottd.jpg[/img] [img]http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/4283/20091014firestarte13ott.jpg[/img] [img]http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/4623/20091014firestarte13otte.jpg[/img] but the firestarter continue to burn... [img]http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5478/20091014firestarte13ottc.jpg[/img] [IMG]http://img207.imageshack.us/im...7/4283/20091014firestarte13ott.jpg[/img] not so bad... [img]http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/913/20091014firestarte13otts.jpg[/img] well it's time to start my stove with this little fire... [img]http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/4283/20091014firestarte13ott.jpg[/img] Finally: each firestarter burn also under rain for 7 minutes more or less [img]http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/4283/20091014firestarte13ott.jpg[/img] PROS: - light and small - easy to prepare - eco-friendly - cheap - waterproof, windproof and long duration (6-7 mins) CONS: - need for a source of power (Zippo, or similar) to start (just 1-2 seconds), not possible start it with firesteel (at least, I was unable to do it) Hope you enjoi! Ciao from Italy, Alfredo
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: michelangelo]
#380778
12/08/09 04:52 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,918
kuanomar
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,918 |
Thank you for sharing. I Like to make firestraws. But, their not as eco-friendly as you do have to use plastic straws. But they are waterproof, light and can be started with a firesteel.
JYD#116
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: kuanomar]
#380779
12/08/09 05:03 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,654
MustardMan
Permanently banned
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Permanently banned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,654 |
Nice firestarters. I do the same thing with cotton balls. If you cut the cotton ball down the center and get to the cotton in the middle that doesn't have wax on it, you can start them with a fire steel, and they burn a long time, just like the cardboard.
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: MustardMan]
#380780
12/08/09 06:14 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 13,668
sumoj275
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 13,668 |
Men you can't trust, women you can't trust, beasts you can't trust, but Bussekin steel you can trust
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: sumoj275]
#380781
12/08/09 08:09 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,918
kuanomar
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,918 |
If you use the large straws from Mcdonalds uses for their milkshakes you can cut them in half and make two firestraws with several vaseline covered cotton balls. You melt wax into the open ends to seal them from water. When you need them, you just cut them in half and light with a spark maker. I usually put one straw and a sparker in the ammo holder on the buttstock of my gun. That way, I've always got one if I grab my gun and go. I've also used the vaseline from one when I had really chapped lips while on a hunt.
JYD#116
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: kuanomar]
#380782
12/08/09 09:12 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 92
Silverback
Pooch
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Pooch
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 92 |
Alfredo - Thank you for the step x step. The pictures are very helpful. Great idea.
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: kuanomar]
#380783
12/08/09 09:48 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,208
Andy Wayne
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,208 |
If you use the large straws from Mcdonalds uses for their milkshakes you can cut them in half and make two firestraws with several vaseline covered cotton balls. You melt wax into the open ends to seal them from water. When you need them, you just cut them in half and light with a spark maker. I used forceps and pinched the ends together and melted them shut with a lighter. The one on the right also has fatwood dust in it. I thought about adding some magnesium shavings, but haven't yet. With the rest of the kit. In here. Eh, while I'm at it...I also have this one, which is the 1st aid kit. Contents.
JYD #4
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: Andy Wayne]
#380784
12/08/09 10:08 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,918
kuanomar
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,918 |
That's a great kit Andy!
You just gave me some good ideas.
JYD#116
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: kuanomar]
#380785
12/08/09 10:22 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,208
Andy Wayne
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,208 |
That's a great kit Andy!
You just gave me some good ideas. Thanks. If you have any questions about any of it, let me know.
JYD #4
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: Andy Wayne]
#380786
12/08/09 10:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,141
imaginefj
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,141 |
Join the NRA
JYD #69 If a 6 turned out to be 9
Join the NRA
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: imaginefj]
#380787
12/09/09 12:56 AM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,725
banana-clip
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,725 |
Great idea on firstarters. I seen some almost exactly like that, but instead of cardboard they used newspaper.
Awesome kit Andy
JYD #85
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: banana-clip]
#380788
12/10/09 06:07 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 105
leighman
Mutt
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Mutt
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 105 |
Andy, off topic but an EXCELLENT use for a zip-tie to keep your Bic lighter button from accidentally being depressed in a kit....I think I'll "borrow" that idea from you! Thanks!
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: leighman]
#380789
12/10/09 08:03 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 897
Momaw
Scrapper
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Scrapper
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 897 |
Cool idea! Reminds me of a honey comb.
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: leighman]
#380790
12/10/09 09:21 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,688
MRpink
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,688 |
Andy, off topic but an EXCELLENT use for a zip-tie to keep your Bic lighter button from accidentally being depressed in a kit....I think I'll "borrow" that idea from you! Thanks! what's even better then a zip-tie is small o-ring, reusable. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
JYD #56
Scrap Yard Sword Club #00
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: MRpink]
#380791
12/10/09 09:22 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,688
MRpink
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,688 |
the wax and cardboard method seems good and looks like it's proven to work, but that's too much work for me. i'm a big fan of the cottom ball and vaseline method, also it's more compact.
JYD #56
Scrap Yard Sword Club #00
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: MRpink]
#380792
12/10/09 09:46 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,051
Wiggitty
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,051 |
When I was a boy I took an archery hunter safety course. The instructor had a firestarter that was a felt pad that used to be used when reloaded shotgun shelss. it was only 1/4 inch thick or so, and he had soaked it in lighter fluid, or turpentine, or something like that. When he lit it, it burned for 5 minutes.
Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms should be a convenience store, not a Government Agency.
JYD.45
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: Wiggitty]
#380793
12/10/09 09:48 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,654
MustardMan
Permanently banned
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Permanently banned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,654 |
I've had cotton balls soaked in candle wax burn for more than ten minutes. They are basically a candle with lots of wicks. Candle wax is one of the best tools you can use for fire starting. I like them WAY better than petroleum jelly.
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: leighman]
#380794
12/10/09 11:51 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,051
Wiggitty
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,051 |
Andy, off topic but an EXCELLENT use for a zip-tie to keep your Bic lighter button from accidentally being depressed in a kit....I think I'll "borrow" that idea from you! Thanks! I stole that idea as well.
Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms should be a convenience store, not a Government Agency.
JYD.45
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: MustardMan]
#380795
12/10/09 11:51 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,918
kuanomar
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,918 |
MM,
The fire straws I use have the petroleum jelly soaked cotton balls and a good portion of wax melted into the ends of the straws. I think it get's the best of both worlds. The PJ can be used for more than just firestarting.
I've also used those trick party candles that you blow out and they re-ignite. They're compact and burn for quite a while too.
JYD#116
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: MRpink]
#380796
12/12/09 09:30 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 684
Implume
Scrapper
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Scrapper
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 684 |
Andy, off topic but an EXCELLENT use for a zip-tie to keep your Bic lighter button from accidentally being depressed in a kit....I think I'll "borrow" that idea from you! Thanks! what's even better then a zip-tie is small o-ring, reusable. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> I wrap a spiral of stainless steel wire around the Bic. There’s always a use for a length of good wire.
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: Implume]
#380797
12/12/09 10:12 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,208
Andy Wayne
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,208 |
I wrap a spiral of stainless steel wire around the Bic. There’s always a use for a length of good wire. Good idea. I hadn't heard that one. The down side with the ziptie is it's not reusable, and if you fell in a lake in winter or something and had a loss of dexterity it could be difficult to remove.
JYD #4
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: Implume]
#380798
12/13/09 06:48 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 47
Heath2
Lap Dog
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Lap Dog
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 47 |
wow, i cant wait to get some time to try that, i just tried the cottonballs with p. jelly this morning, it worked pretty good. I learned how to make alot of wax firestarters in scouts as a kid but it has been so long ago i forgot how, so thanks for the refresher.
srkw waki moss w/ green & blk G10
dumpster mutt DC
scrapper 6 desert tan
Yard keeper le
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: Heath2]
#380799
12/26/09 03:54 AM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,060
DotD
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,060 |
I like the idea of the cardboard firestarter. Thanks. Also like the idea of the cotton balls dipped in wax. Right now, I only use the pj balls, but I'm going to try the cardboard and cotton wax firestarters.
Great ideas.
Dawgs travel in packs; Don't mess with the pack
JYD#62
Dave
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: Andy Wayne]
#380800
12/26/09 07:38 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 13,668
sumoj275
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 13,668 |
I wrap a spiral of stainless steel wire around the Bic. There’s always a use for a length of good wire. Good idea. I hadn't heard that one. The down side with the ziptie is it's not reusable, and if you fell in a lake in winter or something and had a loss of dexterity it could be difficult to remove. What about running the tie through the opposite direction where it doesn't lock itself together. If that would work it allows the lighter to be accessed easily even with cold hands, and it can be reused, not to mention you have a zip tie for other uses.
Men you can't trust, women you can't trust, beasts you can't trust, but Bussekin steel you can trust
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: sumoj275]
#380801
12/29/09 12:44 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,060
DotD
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,060 |
The one thing that I've been really concerned about is if the Bic lighter buttons got accidentally depressed while in the kit. The stainless steel wrap for the Bic lighter is an excellent idea. I'm going to do that with mine today.
Lots of good advice and ideas in this thread.
Cheers
Dawgs travel in packs; Don't mess with the pack
JYD#62
Dave
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: MustardMan]
#380802
12/29/09 01:27 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 897
Momaw
Scrapper
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Scrapper
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 897 |
I've had cotton balls soaked in candle wax burn for more than ten minutes. They are basically a candle with lots of wicks. Candle wax is one of the best tools you can use for fire starting. I like them WAY better than petroleum jelly. I've used whole candles before. The little tea-light candles you can buy for 20 cents each in bulk. Forget ten minutes, they burn for a couple of hours if left alone. You can get a nice big fire going quickly by taking the candle out of its metal cup and leaving the whole thing in the base of your pile. It melts and then you end up with a puddle of wax which burns like crazy. Not all that light, compared to some other options, and not really wind resistant. But expedient. I'm a big fan of dried fungus for fire starting. The micro-porous structure of fungus makes it catch easily, and there's very little short of drowning it in a puddle that will put it out (be careful, it floats, so you can end up with a little pyro boat). Fungus doesn't really burn with a nice flame though it only smolders steadily, so the rest of your tinder needs to be up to par. For true survival use, it's probably hard to beat the vaseline and cotton in terms of sheer flammability, compactness and reliability.
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: Momaw]
#380803
01/02/10 04:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 289
87Burban
Mongrel
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Mongrel
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 289 |
Nice kits. I really like those NBC decon containers.
Strong and cheap.
I use one for 22 ammo, but looks like I need a couple more if I can find some.
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Re: Home made fire-starter
[Re: 87Burban]
#380804
01/08/10 03:44 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,208
Andy Wayne
Junk Yard Dog
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Junk Yard Dog
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,208 |
Nice kits. I really like those NBC decon containers.
Strong and cheap. They can get brittle and crack in the cold though.
JYD #4
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