PJ-Cottonballs, how much is enough or too much? Testing and answers!

Great to see this information set up methodically.

I store my cotton wool and pj balls in a Berocca tube. Lightweight, water proof (more or lest), floats, brightly coloured so you can find it in dim light, can be opened one handed and you can pack a surprising number of balls in there. It's also much stronger than a zip lock plastic bag and can be used for all sorts of things in a tight spot.
 
While I haven't done the extensive testing as was originally reported, in the past I have completely saturated cotton balls by using low heat to melt PJ and then immersing the cotton balls in the liquified goo. After cooling on the side, I just package a few in a snack sized ziplock bag and store them in various locations. Each time I've tried to light these, it has taken only one flash with a lighter or one to two strikes on a firesteel.

It works for me, YMMV.

Jay
 
I find that as long as the ball is properly fluffed up it doesnt matter how much pj is on the cotton ball.

I normally get a tealight candle, cut it in half, melt it, and add a similar amount of PJ, stir it then drop the cotton balls in, and let them absorb the goop.

then pick them out, wait till they cool, and crush them down as small as they go, and fluff them back up with a hacksaw blade, leatherman/SAK saw blade (these work great for fluffing up cotton balls, and striking a firesteel) or in a pinch, a serrated blade will do it too
 
Echo63 said:
I find that as long as the ball is properly fluffed up it doesnt matter how much pj is on the cotton ball.

I normally get a tealight candle, cut it in half, melt it, and add a similar amount of PJ, stir it then drop the cotton balls in, and let them absorb the goop.

then pick them out, wait till they cool, and crush them down as small as they go, and fluff them back up with a hacksaw blade, leatherman/SAK saw blade (these work great for fluffing up cotton balls, and striking a firesteel) or in a pinch, a serrated blade will do it too
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does the wax prevent it from being really 'greasy' like what a normal vasoline cotton ball would be like? If it was less mess compared to normal vasoline cotton balls that would be pretty handy.
 
I read this post when it was originally put up and thought back to how I completely saturated the cotton balls with Vaseline when I placed them in my kit. Today I was out at my property and it has been raining steady now for a week so everything is very saturated. I took the cotton balls out of the pack and basically broke them in to two and fluffed the center. First strike they went up into a ball of flame.

I don't think it matters as long as you fluff the center before striking.
 
I found if I heated the PJ until liquid and then dipped the entire cottonball in then squeezed as much out as possible it lit like crazy.
 
JCK said:
does the wax prevent it from being really 'greasy' like what a normal vasoline cotton ball would be like? If it was less mess compared to normal vasoline cotton balls that would be pretty handy.
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they are still greasy, but its a thicker waxy type of greasy, and is a little easier to wipe off your fingers.
the wax also seems to lengthen the burn time on them.
 
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