DIY Firestarters

[Uncle Buck]

Duct tape ripped into narrow strips burns readily. Is there anything you can't fix with duct tape?

[Jake]

Take the rolls from the inside of TP.  Fill with cotton balls or dryer lint.  I usually tape one of the ends.  Heat the wax and pour into the TP rolls.  Let cool and then cut into discs.  Just another variation but works just as well.  Good post.  Thanks for sharing.  Good pictorial.

[shoes]

Great idea, will make some with my kids this weekend.

[jerryb]

       

[gudspelr]

Thanks guys-some other great ideas, too.  That's what I love about his site, always learning something.

[Russ H]

Another trick with the vaseline and cotton ball starter is to cut McDonalds Straws into two inch lengths and stuff with the saturated cotton balls. Seal them by holding the end with needle-nosed pliers over candle or stove to melt the ends closed. To use, split the straw and picks out some of the cotton. These will burn for several minutes.it is also easy to carry a handful of these in your pack.

[Autumnarcher]

I carry a small canister of char-cloth made from old t-shirts. Char cloth works excellent to catch a spark from my flint. I also carry cotton balls/vaseline, and i keep a small candle on hand as well. I prefer to keep several easy and light wieght methods to make fire, so I never have to depend on one means to get one going.

I wonder, with this method picture, if adding some small strips or pieces of birch bark into the paraffin along with the woods chips would work to get it good and hot? Gonna have to try it.