quick fire starters

paleo25 · Feb 23, 2003

I was wondering if any of you have good ideas for fire starting using simple things from around the house. I was told rubber cement when dry does great, and it is easy to carry.....anyone got anymore ideas

JD Mandrell · Feb 23, 2003

Homemade fire stickes.

drinking straw melted shut on one end.
cut to whatever lenght you want.
stuff it with cotton ball saturated with vaseline.
melt other end shut.

Totally waterproof, then when needed just cut off end and light.

burns like a sum' bitch!

3nails · Feb 23, 2003

dryer lint
rubber bands
old windshield wippers
cut up pieces of bicycle inner tube
trick birthday candles

I like the homemade fire stick idea...

Dean

plattj1 · Feb 24, 2003

When you use the straws cut them lengthwise and pull out the tinder. They will light better and catch a spark much easier. A 3" straw should burn for 2 minutes and light small sticks easily.

JP

bladefixation · Feb 24, 2003

petrol + matches....works a treat

Benjamin · Feb 24, 2003

section of a cardboard egg carton filled with wax

paleo25 · Feb 24, 2003

I like the straw idea, keep them coming

ajrand · Feb 24, 2003

Did you ever notice how people will use so called firesteels which are a space age material, and carry all sorts of homemade tinder concoctions with petroleum jelly and wax and whatnot, but then look down their noses with disgust when you say how about a little leak tight bottle of kerosene or Gulflite. Like they go out in their backyards and pick vaseline off of a tree or something.

haneyk · Feb 24, 2003

Try touching a 9-volt transistor battery to some steel wool (then stand back).

Kevin Haney, Coordinator
Mid-Atlantic Primitive Skills Group
"Where 'primitive' is not a pejorative!"
www.mapsgroup.org