Tinder supply overkill?

G

gadgetgeek

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May 19, 2007
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So because of what I do for work, and my own boredom when it comes to fire lighting I've made up some tinders that my students can hopefully use. So I vaseline soaked an entire bag of cotton balls (vaseline takes a long time to melt, and holds a lot of heat, probably a bad idea to melt and pour, but it worked). Wax dipped a 75 yard roll of jute twine, took two stages since the full roll wouldn't fit into the can, but next time I'll just get a bigger can. Then cooked out about half a bedsheet of charcloth. And lastly I made a coal carrier/extender that is just some cotton 6mm sash cord and an old bit of aluminum arrow shaft as a snuffer. So how long before I use all that up? Its generally easy to get fires going here, but natural tinders are harder to come by when the humidity is high. Plus, even when available, the prep-time is a little long. Fluffing up coconut husk is a bit of a mission, provided you find a dry one.
Anyone else a tinder hoarder?
 
Nope.. And you are 1 ambitious dude!!!:D Kudos on all of your effort!!! :thumbsup:John
 
Yes but I've been getting help from doctors and kind friends. :D Thing is that once you have wax melted, heck why waste it? I have a whole lot of waxed jute as a result.
 
Pomsbz said:
Yes but I've been getting help from doctors and kind friends. :D Thing is that once you have wax melted, heck why waste it? I have a whole lot of waxed jute as a result.
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This might be your dream come true.

regenerating-candle.jpg
 
I tend to carry a small fire kit with a sanitary pad or tampon (because they're great at catching a firesteel spark) and put a 'fire starter' cube on top. This combination is roughly the same thing as cotton balls with vaseline, but you can buy them by the packet. If I need more tinder I just take extra packets of firestarters (there are always a few in the car utility box and about a dozen+ at home). I'm sure there'd be more satisfaction in making your own though :)
 
Its funny here, its easy enough to get more than enough eucalypt twigs that a one-match fire would be easy. But the humidity is so high that its hard to keep a box of matches going for long. I'm guessing down where you are its a bit dryer? Either way I laugh that a good big ferro is more reliable than matches with just a little help.
 
Matches aren't great in sub-freezing temps so I tend to use lighters mostly, or butane torches, but I like ferros. Matches for me are for lighting methane and gas stoves, or my fire at home.

Its definitely dry enough here to light fires easily; a lot of dry schlerophyl forest and open woodland. Unless its raining there's always an abundance of dry wood of every size you can just pick up.
 
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