Fire straw info?

R

racer944

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Oct 12, 2007
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Ok, I know, I'm new and keep asking silly questions that too many people have already answered. I have a Christmas party coming up Friday where they always have problems lighting a fire in this cabin that we always go to. I started thinking that I could use the cotton ball/paraffin idea (not that difficult to figure out), and a couple firestraws to help get things started.

Then I started thinking (it's dangerous, I know...) about all the cool little things you could add in, or what little tips other people might have. For example, what if instead of cotton balls, you used dryer lint, would it work better? How do you actually seal the ends? Has anyone ever tried putting a section of magnesium shavings in there? Does it help if the PJ is warmed first?

So basically, could people post up pictures, stories, sarcastic remarks, on how you do fire straws best? I did see one guy that used a wound irrigator to fill up the sections of PJ. Things like that are exactly what I'm looking for!

Thanks!
 
Its actually pretty simple - the PJ cotton balls are the same as firestraws. Just that firestraws are packed smaller.
I remember reading that mag can be unstable when in small shavings.

You seal the ends by holding the end of the straw with a little bit sticking out and then you hold the flame to it till it melts together.

I find it easier to melt the PJ but it is also just as simple to put the cotton balls in a bag add in some PJ then mash it all up. This is what I do but before I scoop the pj in i hold the spoon over a flame till its watery then pour it in. It will eventually harden up back to its original state and not leak over everything. I dont like overdoing the pj because it gets harder to light because its no longer got any fuzzy fibers to light with.

Im sure dryer lint works but its better if its cotton.

I fill up the straws by rolling a bit of PJ cotton balls nice and thin then stuffing it in with a toothpick, but make sure you seal one end first.
 
Dryer lint could be mostly synthetic. I'd stick to 100% cotton balls.

Take a small squeeze tube of petroleum jelly with you, too.

Boy Scout Juice is a wonderful fire starter. It's cigarette lighter fluid.

Don't set fire to your cabin, though. :D
 
Drier lint always works for me. Most of my clothes are cotten though.
At the jail I work at the inmates light their smokes with empty lighters and drier lint, works like a charm. Also it packs super tight and is easier to fluff up then cotten balls, though it burns up faster.
 
For fires around the house I just use 3 or 4 Kingsford MatchLight BBQ briquettes.

Easy starting and they flame for quite a while. I know - boring, huh?
 
Most of my clothes are made with anti-fire properties so drier lint doesn't work for me.
 
to make my PJ CBs I just put the CB in the tub of Vaseline and smear it around real good. This gets the outside nice and saturated, but leaves the inside dry so when it comes to lighting it I can tear it open and light the inside and the PJ on the outside helps it burn for a long time.

For the straws you could put some toothpick size splinters of fatwood(pitchwood) in there as well. I'm not sure if that would make any difference in burn time though.

You guys have a hard time lighting a fire at your cabin? Doesn't anyone bring newspaper and a lighter? If you can't get a fire going with those materials, you're never going to get a fire going with a firesteel. Properly preparing your fire is the most important step to the process. An improperly prepared fire won't stay lit even with a torch. For easy fire starting, I suggest you bring an old newspaper and a light, but for COOL fire lighting, give the firestraw and firesteel a shot. Just remember to prepare everything properly before you even attempt to light it.
 
stingray4540 said:
You guys have a hard time lighting a fire at your cabin? Doesn't anyone bring newspaper and a lighter?
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Click to expand...

Try putting a little cooking oil, any kind will work, on your newspaper before you wad it up, it will burn a lot better and a lot longer, sort of a giant vaseline cotton ball. Chris
 
I wonder how a cotton ball with cooking oil works (if it catches a spark good, burn time, etc.). It would be a lot easier than trying to incorporate PJ and a cotton ball. Has anyone tried this???

PS: What happens when you put PJ in the microwave... NOTHING! I thought this would thin out the PJ and make it easier, but apparently you have to heat it with a double boiler or over the oven or other heat source.
 
I have successfully sealed lots of different things into straws apart from pj cotton balls, including zippo lighter fluid.

Also handy for salt, pepper, chilli flakes, tabasco sauce etc. ;)
 
Yeah, I'm completely going for cool factor. Normally they have trouble setting it up, not with introducing flammable materials. They happen to love OFF and zippo fluid and all that stuff, but it smells kinda nasty, and thus this is a cool, not so horrible smelling alternative.

Also, the link for firestraw making is great, was looking for something exactly like that.

And it makes sense that PJ doesn't warm in the microwave, as I believe microwaves are designed to warm water...
 
Fatwood is great for starting fires. If you scrape some off like fuzz you can light it with a ferro rod. Plus, it smells good.
 
No need to add anything like mag shavings or dryer lint to the straws. PJ soaked cotton balls are about the easiest things out there to light with a firesteel. It never takes me more than 3 scrapes.
 
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