Emergency fire starting

[Cypher]

Dryer lint and/or cotton balls smeared with Vasoline, carried in a small prescription pill bottle. Works great even when starting a fire in the rain.

I have tried this also. Works great! The really key to this one is the amount of vasoline. Too much and it won't take a spark that quickly. I did some experimenting at home with this to see what the best ratio of vasoline to cotton ball was. Tough to explain, but for me it seemed to work best with about as much as vasoline as I could scoop out with the tip of my pinky finger and then work it into the cotton ball.

[bucketosudz]

Another way to carry the Vaseline and cotton balls is to use a straw. Fire straws are pretty handy and easy to store. You can cut the straw and take out a single ball and reseal. I have made them in a variety of different ways. The tapioca drink straws are ideal for this application.

[Borrego60]

What is the deal with vasoline,What does it do with the cotton ball. I carry dryer lint and a flint.

[Scott B.]

[SLIGHT HIJACK]

I made a very simple firestarter (slightly different from the ideas mentioned.)

Take an egg container (cardboard, not Styrofoam, and use the egg-holder section) and fill each hole with dryer lint. Pour melted wax on/into each hole, and let it cool/harden. Once cool, cut up so you have 12 "eggs".

They probably won't start from sparks, but one or two will light wood for a good size fire.

[/SLIGHT HIJACK]

[biglos454]

What is the deal with vasoline,What does it do with the cotton ball. I carry dryer lint and a flint.

Vaseline makes the cotton burn much slower. and helps it take a better spark. Vaseline cotton balls is what i usually carry when i camp. its very effective and will take a spark very easily. i can usually start 4 or 5 fires with 1 cotton ball torn into pieces.

[Borrego60]

Good idea I did not know that.

[matt s]

I knew an old guy who always claimed he was a good boy scout and could start a fire with one match any time.

He also always carries a jug of "boy scout juice" (charcoal lighter fluid)

Seems like cheating, but actually it works, is easy to store, and the flash point is low enough to fairly safe.

[off.track]

birch bark (wet or dry)
sassafrass (dead or green)
dry cattail heads (a few hours in a car out in the sun (put it in an open bag))

[robert]

Ever tried lighting a fire while you're half frozen from dumping your canoe? I carry a small flare/fusee in my lifejacket pocket and one in my backpack for extreme emergencies. Gather whatever wood you can find and shove the flare in and it will ignite even wet wood. Orion used to sell small flares labeled for this purpose but I haven't seen them lately. They were like half the length of a regular road or marine flare. I keep regular road flares in my vehicles.

It's easy to make charcloth using an Altoids tin. Cut the cotton fabric to size and layer it in the can. Close the lid and punch a small hole in the top. Place the tin on your grill next time you're grilling. You want to see a plume of smoke coming out of it, but don't let that plume catch on fire (it's basically woodgas). When it quits smoking, remove from the heat and let it cool. When you open the tin it should be charred but not ashen. It will tear easily so handle gently. It works great for flint and steel and also in firepistons.

You can also use steel wool and batteries or really any very thin wire. I've actually busted a bulb on a MagLight flashlight to demonstrate this (won $10 too). Obviously this doesn't work with the new LED lights.

I also like the Esbit stove fuel tablets. You can find military surplus ones for dirt cheap for a box of them and they come individually wrapped.

If you like a little work, you can make fuzz sticks by shaving small sticks (see the Boy Scout Handbook).

Strips of rubber work well and will burn for a while. Cut an old innertube into strips and you can use them to secure stuff or as emergency fire starters. On a side note, burning your tires produces a nice oily black smoke that works well for signaling in an emergency. Don't roast marshmellows over it, but in an emergency it's a signaling option.

[1leglance]

Ahh 1 more reason I am glad to be a cigar smoker..
I always have mulitple lighters on me, in my rig and in my packs..plus I know they work as I use them daily.
I also carry zippo fluid, spare flints and wicks. These all help with the fire making.

Great point on the flares, I have used them in snow....also great point on the stove tablets as those are in my emerg paick (but be aware they crush easily in a backpack)

Fire starting is such a huge part of survival...just as much for your spirit as anything else.
But having a cup is just as important. I would advise anyone making a fire kit to store it in a sierra cup so they have something to boil water, make soup or more.