Used my kit

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Knifemaker
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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OK, I've always been into survival. I'm an Eagle Scout, and we used to do a good bit of camping and woodcraft. Been following this area for a while and made a PSK and a BOB. This past weekend we went camping at Lake Lanier, and I decided to test out my kit a little. Firestarting, particularly, I wanted to practice. A couple of months back I mashed up some cotton balls with PJ, and stuffed them into McDonald straws, and sealed them. I used this and my firesteel, and presto, didn't use a lighter all weekend. Woo hoo. Now, it was dry out, so it wasn't an Everest of an accomplishment I know, but it really worked a lot better than I had expected. Thanks guys.:thumbup:
 
aproy1101 said:
A couple of months back I mashed up some cotton balls with PJ, and stuffed them into McDonald straws, and sealed them. :
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I like the idea of the straws. I use water proof match containers, one for matches and one for cotton balls or char cloth. They are a litte big for a PSK. Thanks for the idea:thumbup:
 
One thing I like to do is to camp with a duplicate of the stuff I carry in my PSK and practice using that. That way I don't have to tear up my mini-kit or bother with repacking it.

Make sure you check the contents of your mini-kit for deterioration. Over the years I've found that PJ treated cotton is the most stable tinder you can make. Wetfire tinder will last a long time as long as the wrapper has no holes in it, but it needs to be checked. Mac
 
OK first. I take no credit for this idea. I read it here, don't know who posted it first.

I sealed the straws with a bic lighter. Just flatten as best you can, heat up till melting starts then press closed with your fingers. I didn't get any serious painful burns this way, just like a hot wax on my finger kinda feeling. These buggers are a messy project, but they're waterproof and can be cut to any length you want. McDonalds straws work best because they are the largest I've found.

Hope this helps.
 
i find the easiest way to seal the straws is to hold them shut with pliers, trim the straw to about 3mm from the pliers then melt it with a lighter, it looks nice and neat too
 
aproy1101 said:
OK first. I take no credit for this idea. I read it here, don't know who posted it first.
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I think it was Last Confederate who introduced the firestraws idea to us here on BFC. However, as quoted below, the firestraw idea didn't originate with him. The quote is from this thread here that contains a bunch of good info on firestarting. As well, see this thread on emergency tinder that is another treasure chest of tips 'n tricks for making fire.

The Last Confederate said:
You can either pull the cotton all the way out and fluff it up for a bigger flame, or I have done it by just pulling out a little bit, fluffy it apart and lighting it. It will then burn the straw like a candle real slowly as the straw melts.

I love these, cause they are practically free to make, you can make them any length that you need to fit inside a kit of hollow handle, and even the smallest spark will set them off and it's water proof virtually completely.

I can't take credit for the idea though, I saw these about 3 years ago in American Survival Guide before it went under.

p.s. these also have no shelf life, I have cut open some that were 3 years old recently, and they lit just like new ones.

also the best way I have found to melt the ends shut is to pinch the straw in a pair of needle nose pliers, then just melt it flush with the pliers good. No burning the fingers this way!!!!!!
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Thanks RokJok. Just wanted to be clear it wasn't mine. That thread is awesome.
 
Just a thought on larger straws, if you folks are interested...

Bubble tea, if you've heard of it, requires some large diameter straws... They're usually brightly colored as well, which may very well be beneficial in a survival situation... Take it or leave it... Just came into my head right now.

Travis
 
Ralphus, the petroleum jelly makes the cotton burn longer. Beeswax makes it burn even longer. (think of how much longer a candle burns than just a piece of cotton wick without any wax.) The extra burn time is helpful if the tinder that you are trying to ignite is damp or otherwise uninclined to take fire.

Since you are new to firestarting, here are a couple of links with good info and links to other sources:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=394103
http://www.swampratknifeworks.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=000069

Enjoy.
 
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