Various firestarting methods

I picked up a tube of fire paste on Tuesday. Then at Walmart, I found an orange plastic match case with screw top and gasket to carry the paste. The total weight is 1.3 oz. I paid $1 for the case.

BTW, a road flare weighs 6.5 oz. and will be carried in my winter pack only.
 
I was thinking of that very same orange match case as a container for the paste. The only worry I had was the paste eventually breaking down the rubber gasket or even the plastic itself, its originally in a metal tube no? Maybe I'm thinking of something else. Let us know how it works out.

Road flares are a great idea. I've thought of them as a firestarter should my car get stranded, but I never really thought about throwing one in a pack. Maybe one of the handheld flares would be better as you could also signal with it more easily. This is something I'm going to look into.
 
cmdionne said:
Exactly. Traditional firestarting methods are good to learn and keep in mind, but I think there are much better modern ways of doing things when the chips are on the table.
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Exactly....... I am a BIG promoter of traditional and primitive fire making skills... a fool can make fire with a lighter/ferro and paste. But that's the whole point.... practice, practice, practice your primitive means whenever you can.... but when your life depends on it... become a fool and use what works NOW!...... flint and steel, friction, etc are longterm skills or when there is no alternative. You neeeeeeed to know your root skills. When you have the opportunity and time, practice the most difficult methods..... you'll be glad you did when you are separated from your tube of paste and all you have is a SAK and your shoes! People have died minutes from busy trails because they were injured and separated from there kits....
 
cmdionne said:
The only worry I had was the paste eventually breaking down the rubber gasket or even the plastic itself, its originally in a metal tube no? Maybe I'm thinking of something else.
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Nope. You're thinking of the right thing alright. The paste does come in a metal tube. I wish I'd have thought of the possible reaction with the plastic/gasket before buying it. I suspect it will be fine, but your thoughts will definitely having me checking it from time to time.
 
Magnussen said:
4. Last resort "Hail Mary" (taped to the back of my calf with "Elastoplast" tape) small 1/8" dia ferro and drill bit.
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I wear glasses. I kid you not, I have thought about doing this with a pair of contact lenses. I thought I was way beyond weird for thinking this, but I see I'm not alone. :thumbup: :D

By the way, that is a well thought out firestarting strategy, and I agree wholeheartedly with your general philosophy. First time I got fire from a bow drill I made myself, it made the other methods seem easy. I like the old ways, I think most of us do, they are great fun to practice and SO much more satisfying that lighting up a bit of fire paste with a bic. I get real pragmatic real quick though when I'm cold, hungry, lost, etc. Went hiking with a buddy once who is big into geocaching and had his $500 GPS receiver (I like map and compass). We got, ummm, temporarily geographically disoriented, and I had no problems telling him to fire that bad boy up.
 
Scott Free said:
I picked up a tube of fire paste on Tuesday. Then at Walmart, I found an orange plastic match case with screw top and gasket to carry the paste. The total weight is 1.3 oz. I paid $1 for the case.

BTW, a road flare weighs 6.5 oz. and will be carried in my winter pack only.
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Where did you pick up the road flare? I haven't handled one in probably 20 years... Are they waterproof, how would they handle being packed up in a pack and knocked around some? Any safety issues?
 
mapper66 said:
I wear glasses. I kid you not, I have thought about doing this with a pair of contact lenses. I thought I was way beyond weird for thinking this, but I see I'm not alone.
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Just because the two of you are doing this, does not mean it's still not "way beyond weird." :D

I always thought I was creative when it came to EDC. You guys are hardcore!
 
mapper66 said:
Where did you pick up the road flare? I haven't handled one in probably 20 years... Are they waterproof, how would they handle being packed up in a pack and knocked around some? Any safety issues?
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I don't know if they're waterproof. Even if they're not, this one is for a pack. A ziplock will protect it. The package came with three flares. If no one knows if they're waterproof or not, I'll sacrifice one and find out.

As for it's ability to hold together in a knock-around pack-- I'm not sure. It's not made of glass, though. I think I'll still pack softer things around it.

As for safety issues, I can't imaging what there would be. No way for it to go off on its own.

I paid about $7 at Auto Zone. It's just another of those strip mall auto places. I did a quick look at Walmart and didn't see them. That doesn't mean they don't have them, though.

It does weigh 6.5 ounces. That's pretty heavy for fire starting gear. If I KNEW I'd be in a cold and wet environment, it's probably worth it. It won't be in my summer pack.
 
Excellent review and follow-up comments - thanks guys! :thumbup:
 
Melvin-Purvis said:
Excellent review and follow-up comments - thanks guys! :thumbup:
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Wow, you sure brought this thread back from the dead. I'm glad you did. I just reread Mapper66's original post. Lots of good stuff (now that we're heading back into the colder months.) :thumbup:
 
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Scott, dead threads need lovin' too ;)

Seriously, the whole point of archiving and the search function is to find good info like this and bring it into the light of day - I've dug up some dusty threads in my day...lol
 
This thread deserved resurrection. I'm gonna have to see if i can find any of that fire paste stuff. Does anyone know what it's made out of?
 
I picked some fire paste up a couple of weeks ago to experiment with it. I've had similar great results. Now I make my PJCB's with the paste instead of vaseline , and it's a never fail tinder for me now ( as long as kept dry , but even slightly wet ,still works.)
 
I think earlier in this thread, I mentioned that I had purchased one of those cheap Walmart orange plastic match cases and filled it with fire paste. The question was— Would the paste destroy the rubber gasket? After much time, I can say that it did not eat the gasket. Unfortunately, though, the fire paste dried out. Those who have purchased fire paste know that it comes in a metal squeeze tube. My guess is that vapors penetrate and escape through plastic. Paste that was stored in (metal) spy capsules did not dry out. If you're going to rely on fire paste, make sure you store it in a metal or glass container.

Edited to add: Rosonol Lighter Fuel comes in a plastic container. Apparently not all plastics allow eventual evaporation.
 
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A good post will give you pause for thought. A great post will make you get off your ass. In thinking about it, my firekit has went through a whole lot of renditions mainly being a compromise between number of fires I can start and ability of the method to resist mechanical failure (i.e. firesteel wins out).

However, this thread really got me thinking about the fact that I tend to get too focused on ignition rather than fire building. I decided that fall and winter could use a super-duper back-up. A failsafe for fire where getting a useable fire going is the objective. Just a fire, but warm up those hands and let you get down to work.

My failsafe is a little bundle of 6 coglans firesticks (I like these things), a 50 mL tube of fire gel and a set of REI stormproof matches with the extra set of sealed striking pads. They are in a sealed ziplock bag rolled and secured with three ranger bands. The coglans firesticks can be used as kindling rather just as fire starter when combined with the gel. I know those storm proof matches will ignite the gel no mater what. Even without wood, I could get enough fire from the coglans to warm the hands and then get down to buisness. Bundle is about the size of a fist and a not so bad emergency addition to fall and winter packs.
 
After reviewing this thread and following a few links, I went and dug thru my older car camping bags and found a ton of good stuff, most of it still usable. In the bags I found some still-sealed hand warmers and split them up between my three sizes of hiking/camping bags.

Hand warmers could come in real handy, gloves too. My hands were nearly numb the other day, the reason for my initial post about starting fires in bad weather...
 
Rick Marchand said:
4. Last resort "Hail Mary" (taped to the back of my calf with "Elastoplast" tape) small 1/8" dia ferro and drill bit.
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That's nuts. Do you shave your legs?

... I know someone who tapes it to the inside of their arm.
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Plan on needing E&E equipment? Fleeing felon or something?

I don't know who you are trying to fool. Any cop worth his salt knows that the armpits, sock, groin, and booty are where the bad guys keep their treasure. (Now you know why that last dime bag smelled like shit.) And many cops would assume you're up to know good if you kept even legal stuff there (knife, whatever).
 
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cmdionne said:
Road flares are a great idea. I've thought of them as a firestarter should my car get stranded, but I never really thought about throwing one in a pack.
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Yeah, we used to carry one in our kits when I patrolled on snowmobiles... often it was on a lake.

Another thing to remember is to open any tools you have or might need (folding knive, etc.) before your hands go numb.

The DNR guys who taught our class told us to have our car key in our hand as soon as we could if we took a spill in the drink and were trying to get back to our vehicle. Otherwise, your hands might be useless by the time you walked to your car.
 
nemoaz said:
Agreed.

And there are ways around wind. You're gonna have to get good at building windbreaks or that firepaste flame is all the fire you're gonna get.
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Too black and white man....Igniting a fire and keeping it lit are the difference between foreplay and intercourse my friend...Once your in...chances are you'll be out, then within micro-seconds in again...know what I mean? Now on ignitition, like foreplay, that whole situation is a heck of a lot more delicate....
 
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