what makes the best emergency tinder?

[BryFry]

I'd like to keep a small amount of some type of tinder sealed in a waterproof container, or hollowed handle of my Bark River Neck knife, and I'm just wondering what are some good materials I could use that are easy to come by?

I'm thinking maybe cotton, or drier lint, but is there something better, and would it work better if I added some kind of flammable paste or liquid? -if so what kind?

What would/do you guys carry?

edit: ...this is to be used with a firesteel.

 

[k_estela]

All cotton Vaseline cotton balls.

 

[nodh]

** Tampons **

They are sterile and can be used for wounds.
They are packed watertight and are therefore dry.
They can be used for its intended purpose, popular if that day comes unexpected.
They contain a huge amount of cotton for its size.

Dip it in anything flammable and it will burn for minutes.

 

[Diomedes Industries]

I agree with Kevin. Jute twine is good, dryer lint, tinder fungus, birch bark, cedar bark, fat wood (cut into tiny curls).

TF

 

[OkefenokeeKnives]

Small strips of fat lighter , I had a piece that had been rained on for three days, and it still started a fire. I did cut off some small shavings first and then put some bigger strips on top.
That waterless soap/handcleaner everyone carries will start a fire because of the alcohol you cant see the flame.

 

[CSG]

I find it's hard to beat pj cotton balls although I've had good success experimenting with waxed jute, Wetfire (needs to be shaved thin to catch a spark), and Tinder-Quik. If you carry hand sanitizer a little of it mixed with most any sort of tinder will take a spark easily.

 

[BryFry]

Thanks guys, you've given me some good ideas!

 

[cody1]

Fatwood or maya dust. Fatwood is pretty much water proof. Takes a spark easily. As stated, birch bark is great aswell.

 

[BryFry]

Not familliar with "Fatwood", is that a type tree? Not sure what maya dust is either, is it something you buy, or something you make?

 

[Kbrasmodeler]

Fatwood is wood from a dead coniferous tree, like a pine, where the stump has remained upright, and the pitch has gathered in the bottom of the tree and saturated the wood. It smells similar to Pin-Sol, and burns like gasoline!

 

[Shoki]

Another vote for Petroleum Jelly Cotton Balls.

No mention of magnesium shavings yet? That stuff burns like thermite.

 

[BryFry]

Another vote for Petroleum Jelly Cotton Balls.

No mention of magnesium shavings yet? That stuff burns like thermite.

I do have some of that, worked fine but dulled my blade trying to shave off enough of it.

I was just wondering about some cheap or free home versions of good portable tinder. -and I've already learned some things I wasn't aware of! ...cool!

 

[raider63]

Steel wool

 

[KuRUpTD]

I was just wondering about some cheap or free home versions of good portable tinder. -and I've already learned some things I wasn't aware of! ...cool!

You can make some char cloth as well.

 

[OwenM]

What would/do you guys carry?

edit: ...this is to be used with a firesteel.

Google "trioxane".

I've lit the tinder for a fire on three different camping trips with 3 pieces from a single trioxane tab, and a total of three strokes of the firesteel.

 

[newknife]

All cotton Vaseline cotton balls.

I agree. My vaseline soaked cotton balls light very easy and will burn for about 6-8 minutes by themselves. Plenty of time to get a fire started.

 

[STR]

I save the ash from my wood stove and store it until its just a fine soft powder with no ambers in it that can ignite anything. Then once I have a bucket full of that I soak it to just a dampened state with kerosene. I can then carry that powder as I need it in a small pouch in my back pack in small old used pill or film containers. Then when I am ready to start a fire I can just throw that on the wood or tinder and light it. It usually starts burning just fine even if the wood is slightly damp. I also use that same ash to throw a shovel scoop full on my wood in the morning when I'm starting my fire in the stove. On rare occasion I'll have to throw another half scoop or so on the wood if it is stubborn or damp but usually not.

STR

 

[PropThePolecat]

I agree. My vaseline soaked cotton balls light very easy and will burn for about 6-8 minutes by themselves. Plenty of time to get a fire started.

Man, i really need to try this out, 6-8 minutes of burn-time sounds fantastic! So far ive always used natural materials year round, especially birch bark which is readily available in my part of the world.

 

[Evolute]

I did a lot of tinder tests, a few years ago. I tested for a variety of factors, such a waterproofness, ease of ignition, durability in your pack, and length of time they burn.

Of everything I tested, fatwood was the best natural tinder (in my opinion), and Tinder-Qwik was the best artificial tinder.

 

[Bushman5]

All of the above. have a tin just for tinder. Mix and match.