NON-liquid list of firestarting for BOB bag - suggestions needed

I have been looking for the "permanent matches." Anybody have a source?
 
I second the blast match. All the people I know who know gear don't leave home without one. The dryer lint and vaseline/wax also resides in the pack. I keep a pack or two of trioxane hadny too. When I have the time and patience, I practice a more primitive way of firing up.
 
randjack said:
I have been looking for the "permanent matches." Anybody have a source?
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Go buy a "COGHLAN'S EMERGENCY TINDER KIT" (About $5 or less a piece) the striker they include is actually a permanent match, but they don't tell you that in the instructions. Plus you get 10 pieces of cotten dipped in wax you can use as tinders. There are also metal ones too, but I have been using the black plastic style ones for years with no problems.
 
For tinder, cotton balls saturated with vaseline in a film canister. For matches, strike anywhere matches backed up by a mini bic.
 
use a butane lighter untill it is all gone
1.cut off just the bottom of the lighter
2.there should be 2 compartments in it, fill them with cotten balls soaked in vasaline
3. pry the "flame gaurd" off, it the metal thing around were the flame is
4. use the sparker wheel and light a huge fire
5. opional wrap the lighter in duct tape 4 either kindeling or a quick fix

ps i lik this better than a str8 bic cuz it can be used more times


i always carry a bruton firelight (butane torch lighter) and a zippo(works better in cold weather)
 
get a film case for the film and take out the film use it on your knives post pics then fill the case up with dryer lint its free and if you dont have a dryer then go to were u do laundry and take it out i have never been yelled at for helping clean those out....i also was a scout that was most effective with flint n' steel..and thats like 3$ at a scout store and can even fit into another film case filled with lint.......is so simple yet so good...
 
I use a cardboard egg carton, then take the lint from my dryer at home, then place the lint into the little egg slots, then melt wax onto the lint, then after wax has dried pull then apart so you have single pockets of lint and wax in each slot individualy. TRY IT!!! One of those will stay lit for almost ten minutes.

Jeff
 
The air force SERE guys use an US knife and a metal match. The metal match is the big brother of the sparky side of those Magnesium/spark firestarters. The one I have is about 1/2" in diameter and 3 or 4 inches long.

Tinder wise, I like the cotton balls w/ vasaline, and have even used chapstick and a bit of the fuzz i found in my boot as tinder. I like those fire tabs that will start even when wet. Fire paste is nice, but it stinks.
 
In order of preference:

Bic lighter
Nato matches
Magnesium striker block
Strike force with vaseline cotton balls
Spark light with tinder

A bow and fire board when going native

Anything else is too much a pain in the arse and I live in this century.

Skam
 
The striker surface is a little smooth for my tastes, but that's easily fixed :D

I find the striker on the side of the diamond match boxes to be much better
 
shpshooter said:
Go buy a "COGHLAN'S EMERGENCY TINDER KIT" (About $5 or less a piece) the striker they include is actually a permanent match, but they don't tell you that in the instructions. Plus you get 10 pieces of cotten dipped in wax you can use as tinders. There are also metal ones too, but I have been using the black plastic style ones for years with no problems.
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I can really relate to the lack of instructions... I had one of those for years, and always wondered at why it was built strangely :confused: One of you guys showed me the light by telling me to fill the container with Nafta :D Now it really works great ;)

Guy
 
The air force SERE guys use an US knife and a metal match. The metal match is the big brother of the sparky side of those Magnesium/spark firestarters. The one I have is about 1/2" in diameter and 3 or 4 inches long.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's what I've got, a metal match. It's thoroughly awesome for throwing sparks. Here is the closest thing I've been able to find on the 'net: http://countycomm.com/FIRESTARTER.htm My own is larger, but it's the same product. My brother has one of the above-linked metal matches and it works fine.

For tinder, I've recently discovered cotton "pads" - similar to a cotton ball, but flat and dense. They're about the size of a silver dollar. I have used lip balm on paper as tinder for my metal match; the cotton pads will flame up simply with a metal-match spark. So, smear vaseline onto one of the cotton swabs, fluff it up a bit, throw a spark and watch it rip!

I am liking the idea of a tampon - waterproof, light weight, and will burn really well. Add a small tube or bottle of vaseline, which is handy for chapped lips anyways, and you've got an excellent tinder set-up.

Of course, pitchwood (aka fatwood) is also wonderful. Just shave some off with your ever-present knife :cool: and you're good to go. Of course, this assumes you have some sort of fatwood around... hence the back-up tinder :D
 
Sproles,
When you got your eagle scout award, what method of starting a fire without matches did you have to use?
Thanks
Luke
 
Wax covered matches work for some people, not for others. Some people have reported that they used to do it all the time for years, but today's matches and today's wax are not working the same.

Test your wax and matches before you are out in the wild and down to just your coated matches. Hopefully it works for you after lengthy storage, but I have my doubts. Doesn't matter if mine are fine if yours are going to let you down. Make sure for yourself.

Several people have reported much greater reliability even after lengthy full immersion in water if the matches are fully coated in clear nail polish with no gaps. Someone else reported that there are 2 types of nail polish base and one does not work. Test yours before you have to depend on it. Know what works for you.
 
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