Cotton Ball With Ashes Fire Starter - No Match Needed

[DaveR]

Ditto on the comments re cotton balls & Vaseline- discovered that right near the end of my tenure as Scoutmaster.

A cotton ball dipped so half has Vaseline and half doesn't, ignites really well with flint and steel - flip sparks into the non-Vaselined half, which then fires the Vaseline.

 

[PhilMW]

If I'm ever in a position that things are that drastic that I need to make a fire using this method, just shoot me and end the misery. A good hack I'm sure, but they always have perfect weather while proving that it works, I guarantee that the weather won't be cooperating when you need it

...survival instinct at its best ~ as you prepare for a bear hunt you assume you'll be mauled and shoot yourself before leaving camp.

 

[Muddyboots]

I still carry small 5 minute flares that double for signaling plus can light anything under any condition at 2,000°!

 

[3chester]

I still carry small 5 minute flares that double for signaling plus can light anything under any condition at 2,000°!

Remember when those road flares were in every trunk. See a good pileup, jump out open the trunk, and light em a couple flares!! No charge fellas. Rigs had drum brakes on every corner, you'd see some serious tin bending most every Friday and Saturday nite.

 

[2buffalo]

I tries it several times and have been unsuccessful to get it to ignite

I think Muddy was

 

[Justice1327]

What about replacing cotton balls with lint from the dryer.

This is what I use with vasaline.

 

[Old Rooster]

If you take Cottonballs and work petroleum jelly into them they make amazingly good tinder. Just one will burn long enough to get damp material burnin. But a lighter or other method to get it burning. Carry the cotton balls in a zip lock.

The wife and I take drier lent and mix petroleum jelly and stuff it into used plastic coffee containers and we save them for emergencies.
Can start a fire so quick it will scare you and lasts for a long time.

 

[Far North Hunter]

Another weather proof emergency fire starter is using fine graded steel wool and a 9 volt battery. Just touching the battery terminals to the steel wool..you've got a fire. The wool will burn. you can google to see the process.

 

[mdmiller]

Have you guys ever tried fine steel wool and a 9 volt battery?
Touch the steel wool to the 2 post and watch it start on fire!!

 

[2buffalo]

Far North Hunter has...

 

[Ol' Red]

You do realize you have to touch the "ashes"? I am not sure I would want to wander down that paranormal path? Payback might be waiting to regenerate? Scary stuff my friend!

You are right, the heat could regenerate life in a witch. I'll stay with pinecones dipped in melted wax and rolled in old gun powder for my fire starters.

 

[Mike6158]

Pretty cool but the Apaches saw his smoke, closed in on his location, and staked him out on an anthill

I may have read too many Louis L'Amour novels or
watched the Outlaw Josey Wales too many times <--- completely impossible...

 

[Ol' Red]

When I was very young, my little brother and I tried several different fire starter procedures from a survival book we read. We were trying them in the bathroom and set it on fire. We got it put out long before anyone noticed and long before it reached the house.

 

[2buffalo]

When I was very young, my little brother and I tried several different fire starter procedures from a survival book we read. We were trying them in the bathroom and set it on fire. We got it put out long before anyone noticed and long before it reached the house.

Success!