what is your fire starter?

[pointysticks]

i've been shopping fire starters. i'm looking for one of the Ferro rod things.

i carry Bic lighters everywhere, and i have them everywhere. great tool!! but it is my only tool. foolish.

my friend lights his jet boil with one. he feels it is safer than my bic lighter method. (it is).

any thoughts to Ferro rods? i like the one handed models, but question lighting a stove with one. i need to build in some redundancy to my fire building kit. thanks.

[BrentLaBere]

I was watching a Meat Eater episode with Steve Renalli, he had a paste that he used. Carried it in a small tin and looked like it worked really well. I will try to find out what it is and post it up. Something I am looking for too.

[BrentLaBere]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCJ-Ps8LAmo
@ the 1 minute mark

[Lefty]

For starting a fire I use bic lighters, but if the flint and striker get wet they are tough to light/spark
In my emergency kit I carry a flint and steel and a few starter matches. The fat thick paraffin soaked match that burns a nice flame for a couple minutes.
For tinder I’ll use paper towel , toilet paper or a candle if necessary. Ive has a few Boy scouts use those starter tablets, an easy way to get a fire going

The few times at camp, a bic lighter for the propane burner or electronic starter for the lantern

[elkaholic]

Vaseline and cotton balls wrapped in tinfoil. Imake up six or seven of theses and keep them in a pill bottle. I then take my magnesium striker to the outside. Lights up easy and burns for about 5 minutes.

[poisonarrow]

I have used vaseline and cotton balls. I have gone to soaking the cotton balls in vegetable oil and they actually light as easy with a a flint striker and burn longer. They are not as messy either.

[ferris bugler]

Fritos. Snack and fire in one.

[RichM]

Zippo in my pocket almost always. (people look at me strange because I don't smoke, it has sentimental value to me)
In the pack is a magnesium block and a ferro rod along with the before mentioned cotton balls and Vaseline when things get wet.

[dotman]

Vaseline and cotton balls wrapped in tinfoil. Imake up six or seven of theses and keep them in a pill bottle. I then take my magnesium striker to the outside. Lights up easy and burns for about 5 minutes.

Just make sure to take freshly made with you, over time something breaks down and they do not burn for crap. Found that out the hard way this year.

I'm thinking about moving away from these and trying this: take paper or paper towel and put it in an airtight metal tin, then put the tin in a fire for 15 or 20 mins. What happens is the paper towel turns into a charcoal that ignites immediately and weighs nothing. I think as long as moisture can't get to it that it will last a long time depending on how humid your environment is.

[Tim in Wa.]

trioxane and anything that will make at least one spark
Tim