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PJ Cotton Balls, Your Preference?

Odaon

Odaon

Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
3,114
Hello everyone,

I recently got an order in from goinggear.com and I wanted to test out the firesteels. I also wanted to test some methods of making PJCB's. Here we go...

I used two different methods. The first was to just put a glob of petroleum jelly on the cotton ball and smear it around until the whole outside was coated. The second was to melt the PJ in a tin and drop the CB in, soaking up the PJ and becoming saturated. I let them both sit for 10 or so minutes and then commenced the testing.

I tore both cotton balls to expose the inside. The smeared one had dry cotton on the inside, the saturated one had very little if any dry cotton on the inside. I used my Gossman striker (fricken awesome!) and an Otter sized GG firesteel. Using the firesteel pull method I lit both of the CB's. The smeared one lit very easily, 1-2 strikes, it just took on spark to hit the dry spot. The saturated one took a bit longer to start, 5-8 strikes probably.

I wanted to test burn time as well so I watched.... Obviously the saturated one burned way longer. I blew them both out to test how much wind it would take to get them out and re-lit them as well. The saturated one retook the spark, and lit on the first strike. The smeared one was already to small and burned to start easily.

I think I'm going to try both out some more, but I'm leaning towards the saturated ones. They're very easy to make, and burn a heck of a lot longer. Maybe they start faster too, I'm still new with these GG FS (which I really like by the way).

Which method do you prefer and why? Any other ideas, or uses? :thumbup:

There's a video on youtube, by John of desertsurvivalist, where he uses a saturated CB and some tinfoil and makes a make shift candle, pretty cool stuff. Link...
 
Sounds like it works well!

Last time I did it i just teased the cotton into small tufts, then threw it in a small plastic sandwich bag which I had already had PJ in (turned the bag inside out to scoop some PJ in, then righted it), then mashed it about and left it to use later. No PJ fingers until fire time. :D
 
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Super saturated.

I put the CBs and PJ in a ziplock to lessen the mess. I also use empty giant size pixie stix to make jumbo firestraws.

One trick for the saturated ones-stretch and pull them open until you can get some long strands of cotton sticking out to one side. These will take a spark much easier than trying to light the whole thing.
 
I find it hard for the PJCB's to take a spark, so I usually bring a fistfull of jute. I dethread the jute to make small balls of tiny fibers,they take the spark and hold it long enough for the PJCBs to light.
 
I use the smeared ones as first stage and have had much success. I also buy the $1 circular pads I find at Target. The plastic container they come in is great. Take them out, smear up, replace and into kit they go. Then fluff up, spark them, and voila! Fire!
 
I just put the CB's in a baggie with PJ in it and smear them around. I actually leave them in there in my shoulder bag till I need them and just pull out one and spread it apart a bit. I have had lots of success with this method and most of the time it takes between 1-3 strikes from my ferro rod to get it going.
 
+1 0on the round pads, I put a lil dab on them, put them in the zip lock and then give it a rub anf into the pack. On site pull out a piece, fluff a bit and they take the 1st spark every time. Soaking or saturating isn't necessary, the pj is there to control the burn, not accelerate it. The cotton ball used with no pj will take a spark and burn very fast. I also have jute in my kit and a few other things.
 
Just wanted to add....I think I will try the saturated style to check it out.
 
I use a heat gun to melt the PJ. If I melt enough for a couple of CB I'll put them in a tin then mash down 2 or more while the PJ is still fluid the ones I added absorb the PJ and distribute it evenly to the freshly added cotton. They still seem fairly saturated just arn't so gunky when you prepare to use them.
 
I saturate mine, then when i use them I fluff them out quite a bit. Makes a nice big flame that burns a fair while
 
I suppose you could just keep your cotton balls or pads dry and be able to use them for other things, cleaning wounds etc. If you needed them for fire tinder, just fluff them out and pull out a small tube of that liquid lip balm and quirt a dab in the middle of the cotton and spark a lite. The liquiid lip balm works as a fuel and keeps things burning longer and you can use it on your lips. No mess. Could coat a carbon knife with it also I suppose to keep it from rusting. Just a thought.
 
I use the ziplock bag method also. You can also use waterless hand sanitizer and/or triple antibiotic ointment in a pinch, if you're out of PJ.
 
One trick I tried was to carry a small zip-bag of cotton swabs , and a vial of petro-jelly . I take a swab , smear the end in the jelly , hold it along my ferro-rod so the wet end is an inch or two past the end , and throw a spark .

I like the ointment idea !
 
I like them stuffed in straws with sealed ends, less mess and easy to sprinkle them throughout the PSK where they fit best. Pull some cotton out of an end and spread open a bit to expose dry cotton that takes the spark easily.
 
I've tried PJCB and I find that they do work but with my fire steel it would take a few more strikes before I would get them going.

Here is my version. Basically it is wax impregnated cotton balls which I find will light on the first strike just about every time after you rip one open. My method is a little more involved but the final result is worth it because you end up with an easy to store cotton ball with no mess and they are waterproof (and float).

Here is the link:

http://www.walkincountry.com/fire/how-to-make-a-tinder-quik-quick-substitute

Let me know if the link doesn't work.

I hope you like it.
 
I don't really have a scientific method. I just put some rubber gloves on, mash some PJ into the cotton, and then stuff them into 2 inch long straws. I can see that you guys would have problems with the firesteel if you saturate them. The sparks like the bare cotton in my experience.
 
I'll be doing some more testing today. I'm thinking that the saturated ones will light in one strike if you make some wispy strands of cotton. The thing I like about the saturated one is that they burn for sooooo long. I'll be timing that burn today. Look for the results in a few.
 
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