tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30391680.post6203291129870887813..comments2024-03-15T05:40:55.564-04:00Comments on Survival & Emergency Preparedness: Homemade FirestartersDave Markowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00543441083086479631noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30391680.post-62902081966340041082012-01-02T02:48:19.025-05:002012-01-02T02:48:19.025-05:00I keep a small, waterproof tin (like a beefed up a...I keep a small, waterproof tin (like a beefed up altoids can) in my bug out bag. I've filled it with twigs of heart pine (or lighter knot as I grew up calling it). I have a ziplock bag of drier lint and a ferro rod, all in one compartment for easy access. I can get a fire going in less than two minutes that will burn long enough to dry out damp sticks and small limbs.McFloodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15345422373726514529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30391680.post-62314185450795284882011-10-12T08:55:00.158-04:002011-10-12T08:55:00.158-04:00Thanks, PTS.
I've used dryer lint and used dr...Thanks, PTS.<br /><br />I've used dryer lint and used dryer sheets as well. Without the wax they have the advantage of igniting extremely easily with a spark, but you need a good supply of something like small twigs or dry grass to keep the fire going. What i like about these fire starters with wax, though, is that the wax is itself a fuel and burns for a long time so less prep is needed at the time you need a fire.<br /><br />You could also cut the lint/wax firestarters into smaller chunks to extend your supply.Dave Markowitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00543441083086479631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30391680.post-11207486860047412642011-10-12T08:04:02.696-04:002011-10-12T08:04:02.696-04:00Nice article, Dave. As a quickie version, I've...Nice article, Dave. As a quickie version, I've rolled up dryer lint inside the dryer sheets, tied them in a simple overhand knot, and used those to start fire. Doesn't require the wax, but doesn't burn nearly as long either.PreppingToSurvivehttp://preppingtosurvive.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30391680.post-65420158607229601192011-10-11T14:14:15.912-04:002011-10-11T14:14:15.912-04:00We did something similar with books of matches whe...We did something similar with books of matches when I was in the Civil Air Patrol. we first wrapped them in aluminum foil, then secured the foil with a length of electrical tape. Enough tape was left loose to provide a handle, which we then used to dip the matchbooks in the melted wax.<br /><br />The waterproof matchbooks went into our survival kits.Dave Markowitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00543441083086479631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30391680.post-59443075922403884462011-10-11T09:26:12.808-04:002011-10-11T09:26:12.808-04:00Good advice about melting wax outdoors! Most peopl...Good advice about melting wax outdoors! Most people don't realize how flammable wax/paraffin is until they've almost burned down their house.<br /><br />In the Boy Scouts, we used to melt wax in old coffee cans over an open fire. Then we would remove the cans full of melted wax from the fire and dip bundles of matches into the wax to waterproof them. The matches were tied into bundles with a long string, to make it easier to dip them and then to retrieve them from the wax.<br /><br />chicopantherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com