what makes the best emergency tinder?

Whatever you choose, make sure that it'll work when wet.

IMHO, dryer lint is the best for catching a spark and igniting -unless it has gotten wet.

A chunk of fatwood is the best for me as it will carry in this state for decades without problems. Vaseline cotton balls are just too messy for me.
 
PJCB are the best for me, however in a time of need I will always go to a stick of fatwood if I have it on me. Jute is also excellent at taking a spark. Good stuff :thumbup:
 
I like the steel wool noted above. In my experience, it works best if you get the 0000 fine steel wool. As everyone knows, you can use it to ignite a fire with a cell phone battery (or many other batteries) if other means have failed.

I know one guy who uses Fritos as fire starters. They don't take a spark but like inner tube rubber, they burn well once lit. My problem with Fritos is that I'd be eating all my tinder, which doesn't happen with fatwood, steel wool, etc.:D

As Bushman suggested, I carry a bunch of different tinders in a plastic bag inside a tin (and the tin is inside a Ziploc freezer bag).

DancesWithKnives
 
Take a common drinking straw and hold one end closed with pliers having about1/8" or so of the straw sticking out past the pliers. heat this end with a match or lighter until it partially melts-fusing itself closed. Fill the straw, which may be cut down to whatever size you like, with PJCBs and seal the other end.

No mess firestarter!

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Euell Gibbons would eat those chocolates (if he were still around)!

DancesWithKnives
 
I used to like the cotton balls, then I went canoeing. Alcohol based hand washer (small bottle in my pocket) and Cooglan fire sticks work for me.
 
I also use the PJ cotton balls. Also many craft and dollar stores have packs of tongue compressors that light very well and it is easy to carry a package of them.
 
nodh said:
** 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.
Click to expand...

:thumbup: I think I said as much yesterday. :) They'll fit in a tin too and weigh nothing.
 
Gasoline :D
Actually I Carry cotton in a 28 ga hull container and a tube of vaseline lip care . You can put vaseline on the cotton as needed or use it for first aid if needed.
and it isn't messy to carry around
Roy
 
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