Altoids Tin Fire Kit

Shorttime

Shorttime

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Oct 16, 2011
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I found an Altoids tin at work, and have been thinking a little about making up an Altoids tin survival kit.

I've looked at others' take on this idea, and the thing that seems most practical to me is a fire-starting kit. So I thought I would get some information from the Gadgets & Gear crowd on what should go into an "Altoids Fire Kit".

I would also say that any items should withstand long storage and changes in temperature without melting/freezing, or losing their fire-starting qualities over time.

Any ideas?
 
What's the tube of vaseline for?! I've seen this mentioned before, and it cannot be for any of the typical uses of this product.

Unless the idea is sort of like napalm: stays where you put it, and burns no matter what else is going on?

Also, are all firesteels created equal, and how do I tell the difference?
 
You can squeeze a Vic Farmer in a standard sized Altoid tin. You will have a blade, saw, openers/drivers....and the awl. Combined with a firesteel, the awl will create a shower of hot sparks. The Farmer will have to be on the diagonal to fit the tin.

You can add some cotton balls soaked in vaseline or some dryer lint in a little baggie and stuff it in the section above the knife. Both react well to the firesteel/awl combo. You can get firesteels of varying sizes or just get a BSA hotspark and fit it in the section below the knife.

You can then add lifeboat matches taped to the lid, charcloth, mini Bic.....whatever floats your boat. The mini Bics fit in there quite nicely.

Should the need arise to utilize the kit, the Bics are going to be all you need but a firesteel and lifeboat matches are great backups. And the Vic Farmer is a great tool to add to the kit.

http://firesteel.com/FireSteel-Blank-Rods/

http://www.scoutstuff.org/bsa/camping/cooking/accessories/hot-spark-fire-starter.html
 
Take Vaseline and soak a cotton ball with it. It makes it very flammable and a couple of sparks from a firesteel set it ablaze. Burns for quite a while.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qq5ptJA2sY

Try it with dry dryer lint. Durn near explosive.

And from what I read, no, all firesteels are not equal. The one's I linked have a good rep.

Similar to this kit. If you eliminate the sharpie and Squirt, you gain more than enough space for a mini Bic and a tube of Vaseline.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHaq2Uc_oCA&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL7151B8C67AB2481C
 
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Take the cotton balls mixed with vaseline and stuff them into drinking straws cut to fit the tin. Seal both ends using a pair of pliers and a lighter melting the straw to itself. Makes a waterproof tinder that burns for quite a long time. Other things you can put in there is a small roll of natural twine like jute or hemp. It can be used as twine or pulled apart and shredded to be used as tinder. You can also put char cloth in their if you wish. Works great in wind. Check google for how to make them. I get best results from squares of old jeans. Other then that I would add a mini bic and firesteel. Forget matches unless you want to be nostalgic. They're not worth the space they take up. Use the space for tinder.
 
lwt210 said:
You can squeeze a Vic Farmer in a standard sized Altoid tin. You will have a blade, saw, openers/drivers....and the awl. Combined with a firesteel, the awl will create a shower of hot sparks. The Farmer will have to be on the diagonal to fit the tin.
Click to expand...

Try the back of the Farmer's saw on your firesteel. I've found it works much better, less awkward, then the awl. Of course I've switched to the Soldier model which doesn't have a saw so I'm back to the awl. LOL. :D
 
Shotgun said:
Take the cotton balls mixed with vaseline and stuff them into drinking straws cut to fit the tin. Seal both ends using a pair of pliers and a lighter melting the straw to itself. Makes a waterproof tinder that burns for quite a long time. Other things you can put in there is a small roll of natural twine like jute or hemp. It can be used as twine or pulled apart and shredded to be used as tinder. You can also put char cloth in their if you wish. Works great in wind. Check google for how to make them. I get best results from squares of old jeans. Other then that I would add a mini bic and firesteel. Forget matches unless you want to be nostalgic. They're not worth the space they take up. Use the space for tinder.
Click to expand...

Like the straw idea, will try that out.
 
in mine i have small fatwood, cotton balls soaked in vasoline stuffed in a sandwich bag, ferro rod with striker, and a few storm proof matches with a piece of sandpaper to strike them on. a small bic would be nice to add too
 
Firesteels are definately not all the same. I bought one "bargain" on eBay that just did not work. Returned a couple to Going Gear for the same reason. Use a genuine Mini Bic, not one of the 'no-name' knockoffs; the few pennies differance is worth it. I also carry a piece of Ocote wood. Bought a small bundle in a market in Guatemala years ago and still have a fiew pieces. It is used for firestarting there. They sell the stuff here as Fat Wood or somethng similar. It is heart wood from a very resinous tree. Few sparks and it burns even when wet. A few of the sealed "strike anywhere" matches and a piece of sandpaper should do it for you.
 
maury said:
Firesteels are definately not all the same. I bought one "bargain" on eBay that just did not work. Returned a couple to Going Gear for the same reason. Use a genuine Mini Bic, not one of the 'no-name' knockoffs; the few pennies differance is worth it. I also carry a piece of Ocote wood. Bought a small bundle in a market in Guatemala years ago and still have a fiew pieces. It is used for firestarting there. They sell the stuff here as Fat Wood or somethng similar. It is heart wood from a very resinous tree. Few sparks and it burns even when wet. A few of the sealed "strike anywhere" matches and a piece of sandpaper should do it for you.
Click to expand...

cant remember where i got my mini firesteels/ferro (whatever) but they work and work well. they had to pass my own tests before they were added to the tin. no point in throwing stuff in there that wont work worth a damn you know?
 
maury said:
I bought one "bargain" on eBay that just did not work. Returned a couple to Going Gear for the same reason.
Click to expand...

What do you mean they didn't work ? did you scrape the black coating off ?

The GG rods are of the misch metal variety and require some practice to get the striking technique right.
 
KuRUpTD said:
What do you mean they didn't work ? did you scrape the black coating off ?

The GG rods are of the misch metal variety and require some practice to get the striking technique right.
Click to expand...

yep and when you figure it out they work like damn charm!
 
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i do have a survival tin that came with unlubed condoms for water :D and whole bunch of other mess. i was hocked to see how much crap they put in it.

i showed my wife the kit had rubbers in it and she said "why do they want you to have.... damn honey thats not a cheating survival kit is it??"...:D.. i got a good kick out of it. i said "no, if it was it would have came with a lawyer's business card and a divorce form"
 
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