Fire Straws

[Katdaddy]

So, which fast food restaurant has the best straws for making fire straws? And, what is your preferred length for a fire straw?

 

[valcas1]

Seven 11 around here has some jumbo Slurpy straws. I usually grab a few when I am in there. It makes stuffing a lot easier for me.

Paul

 

[Ramm9]

I always ask for an extra one when I'm out and sort through what I have when it comes time to stuff some more so I never know what came from where. Off the top my guess is McD's...ever have the family ask why your sizing up a straw and not paying them attention?

Size? Usually in the 1"- 2" range with thinner straws usually longer.

 

[paleojoe]

Fire straws made of plastic sounds strange. When fire-burning, or using to control flames, over time, the end will get hot and scorch or char. Imagine respiring melting plastic fumes!

I use plant based straws I find in the wild. Bamboo is a good starter that you can buy. Elderberry and Cow Parsnip are the two that I use most. Hollowed shafts of reeds, etc. I use them alot and the ends of all of them have either singed or charred slightly.

This is part of the game. Use it till its done, toss back out in the woods or into the fire or recycle and make a pipe!

I find it better than using plastic that you'll just have to dump when no longer useful. And healthier for you too!




Unless I'm confused on what you're using them for!

 

[cmdionne]

Fire straws made of plastic sounds strange. When fire-burning, or using to control flames, over time, the end will get hot and scorch or char. Imagine respiring melting plastic fumes!

I use plant based straws I find in the wild. Bamboo is a good starter that you can buy. Elderberry and Cow Parsnip are the two that I use most. Hollowed shafts of reeds, etc. I use them alot and the ends of all of them have either singed or charred slightly.

This is part of the game. Use it till its done, toss back out in the woods or into the fire or recycle and make a pipe!

I find it better than using plastic that you'll just have to dump when no longer useful. And healthier for you too!


Unless I'm confused on what you're using them for!

Yeah, you are a bit confused. We're talking about stuffing plastic straws full of PJCBs and maybe some fatwood dust/splinters to use as firestarting tinder. Push everything into a section of the straw and then heat seal the ends closed. Then when it's time to use them, cut them down the middle, pull a little bit of the stuffing out and add flame or sparks. The sealed nature keeps them from gunking up your gear and helps them stay dry.

 

[paleojoe]

Aaaahhhh.

Gotcha. Never heard of it. A little pocket tinder dust pill. Take one and call me in the morning sort of thing... Do you reuse the plastic when out in the field?

I usually carry my tinder, fatwood dust, coal extender, sap/pine fire starters, etc. in leather pouches or plant/wood/animal based straw materials with toppers or cork....

Altoid tins as well. But those are keepers!

Thanks!

 

[TheGame]

I use the jumbo ones that you get like at the movies. I always get a couple extra when I go. They work great for getting it in and out easily :thumbup:

 

[cmdionne]

Aaaahhhh.

Gotcha. Never heard of it. A little pocket tinder dust pill. Take one and call me in the morning sort of thing... Do you reuse the plastic when out in the field?

I usually carry my tinder, fatwood dust, coal extender, sap/pine fire starters, etc. in leather pouches or plant/wood/animal based straw materials with toppers or cork....

Altoid tins as well. But those are keepers!

Thanks!

Usually the plastic burns along with the tinder. I don't so much pull all of the tinder out, but pull enough out for it to take flame. Leaving all of it compressed together makes it burn longer, and stops it from blowing around if it's windy. I suppose you could re-use them, but they're only straws from fast food restaurants, they're basically free.

 

[Shotgun]

I usually go for the "standard" size like you find at McD's or Starbucks. I usually have them at about 1.5 inches. Whatever length will fit in the container you want to put them in really. I don't burn mine in the middle though, I burn mine from the end and use it like a candle. They burn longer doing it that way than if you slit them in the middle in my experience.

 

[kgd]

I just look for one in our driveway. Whenever one of the kids pull into the drive way and open up the door of their vehicle various junk food paraphernalia is bound to fall out.

 

[Stormstaff]

McD's are what I've used. They seem to be a little thicker material to me.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

1) McDonalds
2) ~3"