How do waxed cotton balls work?

W

Waldamir

Joined
Jun 30, 2012
Messages
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I've been messing around with making waxed cotton balls for a while now and I just can't seem to figure these buggers out. I see people get up to 20 min burn times on them and even use them as solid fuel tabs for cooking and boiling water. So how are some people able to get 20 min burn times while others only get 5-6? how does wax type and cotton ball size affect them? what about amount of wax?

Thanks guys
 
Make sure that the cotton is 100% cotton.
The wax you are using may not be a good grade (some wax is not as refined as others).
Hope this helps, please let us know how you fare!
 
thanks. I got some beeswax I'm going to try next. I made two already. one out of a old recycled candle the other out of a Wal-Mart brand tea candle. the tea candle seem to catch slower. I want to try beeswax next.
 
5 or 6 minutes with bees wax is pretty normal. Makes great tinder for wet weather.

Those guys are using paraffin wax more than likely. Like cooking over a candle basically, noxious fumes included.
 
Don't use candles, use paraffin wax. Candle wax is often mixed with additives and other waxes like carnuba that make them burn slower, look nicer, smell better, or burn in a particular way. You should be able to find paraffin at an art/craft store or canning section at a grocery store. Beeswax also works, but is probably more expensive.
 
Beeswax will be the healthier choice. Paraffin wax is made from petroleum, coal or oil shale. I wouldn't want it in my home let alone near my food.
 
Thanks guys. My whole intention behind waxed cotton balls was to be able to have an effective fire starter but also have it burn hot and long enough that if for whatever reason I can't get a fire going I can still boil water. Recently I've been also looking into waxed sawdust but as of right now cotton balls are a more available resource.
 
I tried using waxed cotton balls as tinder. I gave up because they took more space in the storage container & I couldn't carry as many.
How are you guys carrying them?
 
mtangent said:
I tried using waxed cotton balls as tinder. I gave up because they took more space in the storage container & I couldn't carry as many.
How are you guys carrying them?
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took more space than what? I just throw a bunch (10-12) in a tin on long outings and only use them if conditions are particularly difficult. rarely use them all. If you're gonna carry tinder it may as well be something like a wax cotton ball that can make getting a fire started in soaked conditions much easier. Otherwise I collect my tinder from the surroundings or use a tinder tube.
 
longer burn time is more wax less wick.
as for additives and stuff, pure paraffin wax is about the best/safest you could get health wise whether you could get pure parafin is another story. beeswax is going to be filled with whatever environmental pollution the bees are living with. but thats not that big a deal to me.
 
gadgetgeek said:
longer burn time is more wax less wick.
as for additives and stuff, pure paraffin wax is about the best/safest you could get health wise whether you could get pure parafin is another story. beeswax is going to be filled with whatever environmental pollution the bees are living with. but thats not that big a deal to me.
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can you elaborate on this? I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how to do this
 
DanDanthedirtyoldman said:
took more space than what? I just throw a bunch (10-12) in a tin on long outings and only use them if conditions are particularly difficult. rarely use them all. If you're gonna carry tinder it may as well be something like a wax cotton ball that can make getting a fire started in soaked conditions much easier. Otherwise I collect my tinder from the surroundings or use a tinder tube.
Click to expand...

More space than cotton balls/ petroleum jelly. I keep them in a little waterproof tube, & the wax doesn't pack well.
 
Just a quick update. I got a ball made of 1 tea candle to burn for 11 minutes but I couldnt get it to boil 8oz of water
 
If they burn for that long why not use them to start a fire? Esbit or other fuel tabs might work better.
 
I think it's silly guys are trying to boil water over tinder these days. What's the point?
 
Fanglekai said:
If they burn for that long why not use them to start a fire? Esbit or other fuel tabs might work better.
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B34NS said:
I think it's silly guys are trying to boil water over tinder these days. What's the point?
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^agreed, what scenario are you imagining, Waldamir, where the wax ball is all you have? even a wax ball that burns for just 4-5 minutes is plenty to start a fire in soaked conditions.
 
They're intended to be used as a fire starter in an emergency but if for whatever reason I can't get a fire going I could still use them to boil water.
 
Waldamir said:
They're intended to be used as a fire starter in an emergency but if for whatever reason I can't get a fire going I could still use them to boil water.
Click to expand...

You might look into one of those little portable wood stoves. The brand I remember reading about is Emberlit. That would work if you have a separate pot for boiling the water, otherwise a Kelly Kettle or similar design would probably be better. One of those cotton balls plus some tinder and kindling and you should be able to boil water.

If water purification is your main concern you can always strain the water then use water purification tablets or any other accepted method for water disinfection. There are also portable water filters with tubes you can use to drink directly from the water source.

I don't mean to sound contrary, I just think that there are multiple options for what it sounds like you're trying to accomplish.
 
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