DIY firestarters

[shagreobe]

Dryer lint in a small case with the flint and steel

[Sandcut]

I do a variation on the vaseline/cotton ball lighter.

I go to the makeup aisle and get the 2"x2" cotton makeup removers. I bought a quart of gel wax (for candles) at Michael's craft store. I melt the wax in an old, small pot. I roll up the 2x2s and dunk them into the melted wax, leaving about 1/2" unsoaked. Lay out to cool on aluminum foil. If you roll them tightly, you can get 20 of these in an Altoids tin.

Fluff up the unwaxed end and it'll catch a spark from flint and steel, a ferro rod, a match or a lighter. They burn for about 8 minutes a piece. And I've had them light lying directly on the ice of frozen lakes in 20+ knot winds.

Mix these with a stick or two of fatwood and you'll start a fire in damn-near any condition.

[DukeConnor]

I guess I'm the only one who uses smokeless powder

[1911]

I had heard of the cotton balls but had never tried them so..I made up some cotton balls smeared in vaseline. They like to stick to your fingers when you're making them but damn they light fast. One strike with a firestick and there's fire! They are definately handy

[McSull]

9v battery plus steel wool
Char cloth
Fatwood

[STBear]

I use cotton balls with Vaseline in old film containers. Dryer lint also works well but doesn't burn as long as the cotton balls.

[Walleye Hunter]

Honestly, when available, I use a propane torch and a battery powered air mattress inflation blower.

[icp4life162005]

On Those egg carton firestarters, get some fat wood and shave it with a pocket knife to add to your shavings. Cedar shaving work good too if I remember correctly.


Char cloth is great. And easy to make.

[wis bang]

Birchbark. started fires in a downpour with birchbark

[Emptymag]

I bought some UCO storm proof matches and tried a few.
They're sort of a bitch to light and they tend to snap in two when using the pressure required to get a spark using the strike strip on the box.

Better get some fire starters!