I like to carry a ferro/mag block and a bic. However, I found that a mini altoids tin (very small) is great for keeping little cotton balls with a little bit of vaseline and magnesium shavings. I've never had troubles lighting a cotton ball with vaseline AND magnesium, wet or dry. The vaseline also keeps the mag from going anywhere, and concentrates it where I want it. I'm sure I'm not the first to do it, but it sure is a cool trick. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

plutoviola - nice idea on the vaseline and magnesium ! Tom

To waterproof my cottonballs, I either put them in a pill fob, or in straws. Here's an excerpt from my PSK thead of how I make them:

Straw cottonballs – These are straws which I cut into 3.5” lengths. Then I used my forceps and clamped one end and melted it shut with a lighter. Then I used a small screwdriver and jammed as much into them as I could. Each one holds 2-3 cotton balls. If you do this, be sure not to jam them too hard. The first few of these I made I packed too much into them and they almost split. When you’re done, seal the other end the same way, and it’s a waterproof container. But if they are split, they could leak, that’s why it’s important not to jam too much into them. The brown bits in the second straw are fatwood dust and shavings.



Magnesium shavings could also be added to the straws in addition to the fatwood shavings.


It's non-existant where I live. I bought mine at Walmart in the fireplace section. I waited until the end of the season and bought a ton of it for 75% off. I have enough to last me for years.

Andy, I use a similar system, the main difference being that I fill about half the straw tube with cottonballs treated with petroleum jelly. The rest is dry cotton. When split and sparked with my MagFire, the dry cotton catches a little easier than treated cotton does, and it goes from there. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Oh, by the way, there is plenty of fat wood on the east coast down here in Georgia. Sometimes you just gotta know where to look, though... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, I usually don't use PJ because it's messy. Plus I don't want to make it too easy. Usually I use the opportunity to practice my firestarting skills, so I want to make it challenging. I've tried things like using only natural tinder found in the wild, using only dry cotton, seeing how little cotton or fatwood I can use to start a fire, etc. I always keep a tin of Burt's Bee's lipbalm with me, so I can always add that to the mix too if I need it. Plus I usually have a mag bar and rubberbands too.

Andy, it's nice to know that you have waterproof balls ! I am sure that they work well.

Sorry Andy - you left yourself wide open and I couldn't resist!

Thats hilarious.

If I'm taking stuff with me...you cant beat a strip of newspaper rolled up with candle shavings in it. Burns long, produces big flames. Possibly more suited for camping out of your truck than camping out of your altoids tin tho. I make it sorta 3" length X 0.5" diameter.

I always have an old copy of Shotgun News in my truck for the same reason. Between the paper and other goodies I keep in my truck bag, I should always be able to quickly make a fire.

That's ok. Actually, it's not the first time someone has said that to me. I've heard it a time or two on Rat Chat as well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Andy. By the way, welcome to Mutt-dom. Tom

[quote]To waterproof my cottonballs, I either put them in a pill fob, or in straws. Here's an excerpt from my PSK thead of how I make them:

Straw cottonballs – These are straws which I cut into 3.5” lengths. Then I used my forceps and clamped one end and melted it shut with a lighter. Then I used a small screwdriver and jammed as much into them as I could. Each one holds 2-3 cotton balls. If you do this, be sure not to jam them too hard. The first few of these I made I packed too much into them and they almost split. When you’re done, seal the other end the same way, and it’s a waterproof container. But if they are split, they could leak, that’s why it’s important not to jam too much into them. The brown bits in the second straw are fatwood dust and shavings.








I just found one of these in a sheath that came with a recent Rat purchase..I had no clue WTH it was until now.