inexpensive fire tinder and how to use

[Swordarm4]

Wazoo survival firstaid tinder packet , and wetfire both fairly cheap and they work really well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZlghip2wFA

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Good stuff. Is the wazoo waterproof? It's hard to see/tell and carrying under that and where I sweat hard is it gonna be ok?

[Swordarm4]

The plastic capsule it comes in is water tight. ( just answering again for this sites sake).

[Tackleberry]

I am still partial to 100% cottonballs soaked in Vaseline jelly. Easy to make, store, they take a spark like crazy, and a bunch of them way next to nothing.

[protus]

I am still partial to 100% cottonballs soaked in Vaseline jelly. Easy to make, store, they take a spark like crazy, and a bunch of them way next to nothing.

cut the balls in 1/2 or smaller.soak in candle wax. let dry.

they burn longer than the pj balls

[Tackleberry]

cut the balls in 1/2 or smaller.soak in candle wax. let dry.

they burn longer than the pj balls

Huh?!? Thanks! I will definitely try that out. What type of container do you store the cotton balls in once they have dried? How easy are they to light? The PJ balls take at most 2 sparks to fire up. BTW, never thought about cutting the cotton balls in half. That will prevent having to pull the PJ balls apart b/c they do end up being bigger than necessary to start a fire.

[WiseOwl]

I keep a pack of birthday candles in my fire starter kit and a few more in various hidey spots. They work like a charm

[RobertJ]

Just a FYI... Be careful with the "wetfire" it has a shelf life. Found out the hard way in the woods. Glad I carry more then 3 ways to make fire with me.

[BWnTX]

I use the cotton balls with wax and then wrap a non-waxed cotton ball around that to provide some fluff to take a spark from a ferro rod.

Then I individually vacuum seal them to keep the dry.

[protus]

Huh?!? Thanks! I will definitely try that out. What type of container do you store the cotton balls in once they have dried? How easy are they to light? The PJ balls take at most 2 sparks to fire up. BTW, never thought about cutting the cotton balls in half. That will prevent having to pull the PJ balls apart b/c they do end up being bigger than necessary to start a fire.

i leave part of the ball un waxed. it'll take spark just like the pj balls.

[protus]

Just a FYI... Be careful with the "wetfire" it has a shelf life. Found out the hard way in the woods. Glad I carry more then 3 ways to make fire with me.

stuff i got came in a pre made kit that the nra sold (wetfire..blastmatch.whistle etc in a small h20 proof case)....

did light for nothing then when it did i was not impressed.

[Tackleberry]

I keep a pack of birthday candles in my fire starter kit and a few more in various hidey spots. They work like a charm

I carry a 3 pack of 9 hour candles along with a collapsible candle lantern. I used the candle lantern and a space blanket to get me thru a cold night while deer hunting Northwest of Prescott, AZ in 1996. It was about 15 degrees that night but I was pretty toasty warm.

[dusso]

I just light 1-3 wicks in my NuWick can-candle, use the candle flames to dry out the fuzz sticks. :-) Almost always, a fire is not going to help if you suddenly need warmth. Only wind/water proof shelter or clothing and insulation can do that, preferably with another warm body inside of it with you. You'd need piles of fuel, a blaze on 2 sides, or 2 sides and a reflector, or 1 side and 2 reflectors. Fire doesn't stop rain or wind, and those are the killers.

[xdpatriot]

My kids and I tried some Tinder-Quick today. That stuff works great. Fluff up one end to create a surface to catch a spark and its great. It's basically cotton rope with an accelerant soaked in. We're gonna try and make our own.