Firestarter kit loadouts.

[CathyInBlue]

Trying to decide on a loadout for a survival/camping firestarter kit. Here's what I have so far.

Pre-made bow drill thong, bearing block, and fireboard, if not an entire bow/pump drill assembly.

one(1) Magnifying glass capable of focussing the sun's rays to a pin point.

one(1) Flint and steel.

one(1) firesteel.

two(2) full butane lighters (they're small and cheap).

one(1) zippo lighter (empty).

one(1) small can of zippo lighter fluid.

one(1) ziplock baggie (sandwich or snack size) of well-dried, fine wood tinder.

one(1) ziplock baggie (sandwich or snack size) of pill bottle cotton wadding/ drier lint from exclusively cotton loads.

one(1) pad of steel wool (fine)

one(1) 9 V battery (kept separate from steel wool).

many packs of cardboard matches.

one(1) small box of strike anywhere matches.

a pack of all-weather matches.

three(3) solid fuel pellets.

three(3) tea light candles.

one(1) 3W 450 nm handheld laser. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96E0RfyL2Gc

 

[gunsisgood]

That lazer thingy is outta control,
a much smaller version would be really handy.

 

[mrjarrell]

You might add some carbonised flannel. Put the flannel into a sealable can or jar and bake it at high temp for till it turns to charcoal like carbon. This stuff flames up really well and it only takes a small amount. You might be able to do the same with cotton lint from the drier, (never tried it).

 

[catfishjn69]

holy cow that laser is awesome. could see that going wrong in so many ways

 

[HotD]

We know who CIB is....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XchwE9zVdnw

 

[tom1025]

How many of the item's listed do you know how to use? I keep my kit simple.

Lighter, Matches, Metal Match, Fixed Blade Knife and Homemade Fire Starters

Fixed Blade Knife for making fuzz sticks

I usually just keep these in an old chewing tobacco can. ( I got this idea from another member )

Straws cut to about and inch and a half. Crimp and burn one end and stuff with American Eagle Never Dull crimp and burn opposite end. Just cut open and pull out the cloth when needed. It ignites easily with just a spark and will burn for about 90 seconds.

You can build a pretty substantial fire in no time provided you have everything needed prior to igniting your tender.

 

[ISP 5353]

WOW! Lots of cool fire stuff. I spend a lot of time outside and build a lot of fires every year. I carry a lighter even though I do not smoke. My fire kit has a little jute twine, a couple pieces of fatwood, a water proof match container with strike anywhere matches, some petroleum jelly cotton balls in an old film canister, and a firesteel. I can usually get a good fire going with one of these.

That said, I do like building fire in different ways. Fire by friction is tough! I like using char cloth with flint and steel. Those fire straws are awesome too. Whatever you carry, take it out and practice. Fire can be tough in some conditions. It is usually those conditions when you need a fire the most.

 

[tom1025]

WOW! Lots of cool fire stuff. I spend a lot of time outside and build a lot of fires every year. I carry a lighter even though I do not smoke. My fire kit has a little jute twine, a couple pieces of fatwood, a water proof match container with strike anywhere matches, some petroleum jelly cotton balls in an old film canister, and a firesteel. I can usually get a good fire going with one of these.

That said, I do like building fire in different ways. Fire by friction is tough! I like using char cloth with flint and steel. Those fire straws are awesome too. Whatever you carry, take it out and practice. Fire can be tough in some conditions. It is usually those conditions when you need a fire the most.

I agree. Practice, practice, practice. I usually build a fire once a week to help keep my skills sharp.

 

[kawasakiridrzx6r]

Ya im just getting into prepping and one of the first thingsvi learned was straws can be your best friend....quick easy way to start a fire

 

[CathyInBlue]

Straws cut to about and inch and a half. Crimp and burn one end and stuff with American Eagle Never Dull crimp and burn opposite end. Just cut open and pull out the cloth when needed. It ignites easily with just a spark and will burn for about 90 seconds.

You mean this stuff?

 

[daddymikey1975]

I believe so. There's a flammable chemical soaked into the cotton iirc

 

[rhino]

Some petroleum jelly on the cotton/lint?

This is going to sound crazy coming from me, but that kit has perhaps a little too much redundancy. I've go with more tinder and fewer alternative methods of ignition.

 

[tom1025]

You mean this stuff?

Yes.

I just tear it off and stuff it in the straw using a piece of metal coat hanger until it's full.

 

[RobbyMaQ]

[STRIKE]Am I reading right that you do not have a magnesium firestarter stick of any sort in that kit?[/STRIKE] nevermind, I just saw it.
Got my 11 yr old to make one work. Waterproof... helpful and lightweight. +1 dryer lint. You can pack it tight in a sandwich baggie, and then spread it out for an easy start.

 

[CathyInBlue]

Some petroleum jelly on the cotton/lint?

This is going to sound crazy coming from me, but that kit has perhaps a little too much redundancy. I've go with more tinder and fewer alternative methods of ignition.

It's not just about redundancy, it's also about depth of resources. How long are you going to need to be able to make fire out of environmental flotsam? If one type of firestarter is exhausted, use another. When it's exhausted, use another. Etc., etc. I would always rely on the magnifying glass if it's clear and sunny. It uses no non-renewable resources whatsoever. After that, the flint and steel with tinder gathered from the immediate environment, because it uses the least amount of resources. All the way up to a weather proof match and solid fuel as the last resource used because it uses the most resources for mere flame production.

Oh, and apparently, there's a firestarting resource no one has thought to mention yet.

VIAGRA TV Commercial

(I hope that stays referencing the firestarting beach scene commercial, or this is gonna get confusing for future readers.)

 

[TheRude1]

Just don't be down range !
And a little will go a long way !

 

[WETSU]

In all my go bags, BOBs, GHBs, range bag, Jeep etc, I keep some basic fire starter materials:

Bic mini
half dozen strike anywhere matches
Very small ziplock baggie of dry tinder: dryer lint, birch bark, pine shavings

Added to that in some kits is:

A fero rod and steel
Film canister of vaseline/cotton balls.

That has always given me waay more than enough to get a fire, even in cold, wet, raining conditions. Having a tiny bit of dry tinder and a ready source of spark/heat is all the advantage I need to get a fire going.

 

[Classic]

Bic Lighters

I don't know about the calendar life of a Bic lighter, but I do know from personal experience that they still work fine after a trip through the washer and dryer. I decided they must be pretty durable after that. Perhaps not a "romantic" as a flint and steel I carry multiple Bics in my EDC and BOB as a primary fire starter. Also carry plenty of other back ups, of course.

 

[2ADMNLOVER]

I don't know about the calendar life of a Bic lighter, but I do know from personal experience that they still work fine after a trip through the washer and dryer. QUOTE]

This ^ .

They are cheap and reliable and after the fuel runs out they still have a flint so you can still make a spark .

 

[Bunnykid68]

And with the bic lighter you can make a small pile of the flint shavings that will ignite like gun powder