Impromptu Jute Experiment

[SpookyPistolero]

I was messing around out side, trying to practice fire starting using some cold/wet materials during high wind. It's been nasty out lately so I thought it was a good opportunity! I was right about that, tough work getting a steady burn out of anything.

I also found a piece of jute laying on my wood pile from an earlier goof-off. The jute was frozen into a stiff position, and was soaking wet (not to mention cold). I fluffed the heck out of it with my knife and tried to dry out what I could with dry fingers.

Firesteel would not light the weathered jute! It would barely burn when exposed to open flame.

I didn't expect much out of this stuff in such a state, but it's good to really see the limitations. What I need to do now is coat some in PJ or wax or something, leave it out in the weather again, then repeat the experiment. :thumbup:

 

[siguy]

one of my favorite fire starting aids is a length of cotton string dipped into liquid wax, allowed to harden. then you can roll it up and stick it in your pocket. clip a bit and use it to get a fire going. the only issue with this is that it requires open flame to ignite, because the string is saturated.

i have seen it done with jute alot, and i imagine it works just as well or better. good luck!

by the way, i agree that it is certainly good to discover the limitations before you depend on them.