At first I thought oh no, another cotton round and news paper DIY wax video. I’ve been in situations where 1, 5 minute fire starter was not enough. What I liked about your fire starters was the sustained length of time that they stayed lit with, a useable flame. I especially liked the multi pad method. Having fallen into water over my head in the middle of winter steelhead fishing, I experienced that situation that I thought would never happen to me. Had I not had a cinched wader belt on and a quick way to make fire I, wouldn’t be here. At times like that you don’t have time to use your knife to shave fat wood or use a bow drill to make a fire. Although not cheap I, carry Orion campfire pro flares with me and Hell’s Fire fire starting clay for those, it’s never going to happen to me situations. I’m going to make some multi pad paraffin fire starters at my next chance. Thanks for the video. The 893
I added some of the wax from toilet bowl seals because it’s sticky, maybe 1 ring to 3 lbs of paraffin wax. Several different wick materials, 3/8” twisted cotton rope, 3/8” jute rope, cotton makeup rounds and round cotton dental plugs.
Very much enjoyed your video. When making the cotton disk fire starters, the addition of citronella oil, paraffin oil, and the like, will aid in the starting of the cotton disk. As your demonstration shows, oils may cause the medium to burnup faster, always tradeoffs. You mentioned the use of a lighter over a ferro rod, I agree. However, cold weather is the downside to the lighter. Cigarette lighters use Butane which has a boiling point of -2 degrees Celsius (28.4 Fahrenheit). It is the reason butane gas cylinders might not work as effectively in colder weather as low temperatures make it difficult to produce gas vapor. Whereas Propane has a boiling temperature of -42.04 Celsius (-43.672 Fahrenheit), thus using propane for fuel better than Butane. My suggestion to campers and Bushcraft folks, also bring a ferro rod and matches.
Good stuff. I found that when I add a little kerosene or lamp oil to the melted wax, you get an easier to light, hotter burning disk. It doesn't compromise the disk at all. (If it does, you added too much) The multi-pad experiment was impressive. (DIY is just more satisfying)
I got an old crockpot slow cooker for all my wax melting - works great .. if a little slow at first. I only use it for wax so a quick wipe out with a paper towel while its still warm and your done.
Thanks for sharing this information and DIY project. I have actually done something similar years ago with cardboard egg cartons and various items, like dryer lint, pine needles, pencil shavings from a crank pencil sharpener and even pieces of pine cones. Heated up wax and covered all that. I did several test burns to see what was the longest burning fire starter. I am glad I stumbled onto your video here, even if it is 2 yrs old, because I have a whole bag of those makeup remover pads that I was going to also make into fire starters. I see for a longer burn instead of one, use 3 or 4 at a time. I, like you, like DIY projects. I even made a candle mold with 100% pure silicone and corn starch so I can make candles for my UCO candle. My wife likes to melt those scent square wax cubes, and instead of letting her throw those away when it has lost the scent, I save them so I always have some wax. Again, great video, thanks for sharing and I sub'd to the channel and will be checking out more of your videos. Juddie
I used whole pine cones once. I soaked them in copper sulphate, dried them out and then soaked them in hot wax. The grandkids were amazed and delighted when they burned bright blue green
Fascibating! I also appreciated the final aha moment. Thank you. P.S. Vaseline and cotton pads are also a great option. One pad folded in half like a taco, or two stacked like an oreo, with Vaseline inside.
80 year old weekend woodsman here. That essentially means I have few, if any, bushcraft skills. After watching your tutorial, I realized I’ve overthought the whole concept of dyi fire starters. Thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. While I smiled at my “aha” moment, I’ll remain a tenderfoot, but still use multiple cotton pads. I subbed, and look forward to more content from you. Can you tell me what lighter you used to ignite the starters? Looked like a torch lighter. All good wishes to you.
Hey, thanks for the great comment and the sub. Yes, I can (kind of) tell you what lighter I used. Since I'm kinda cheap, I bought 5 or 6 torch-style lighters from my local dollar store. That's it! However, if I had not been able to get torch lighters from a dollar store, I would have bought a torch lighter from Amazon. There are several brands and styles for under $10. I don't like regular lighters since I can't use them at all angles. I love torch lighters. I used to own an expensive Irodo torch (which converts regular bic lighters into torch lighters).
Can't help myself, I had to comment. Here is my method of making fire starters. It is free and makes use of items that would, under other circumstances, be sent to the dump. I make rags out of my warn out socks underwear, t-shirts, etc. I use these rags to clean up motor oil and diesel. To make additional oil soaked rags I soak them in used motor oil. Those are the wood stove or camp fire fire starters (the oil soaked rags). I put them on top of the load of wood for a top burn down which gives much less initial smoke. They work every time. If the wood is dry enough very little kindling is needed. One flick of a lighter is all that is needed to get the fire going.
I just looked up the fire starters you showed from Lowe’s. You sure got a deal! Maybe they were mismarked 😳. I just checked. Lowes and Home Depot didn’t list them. Walmart’s price is $37.00 for the 48 count brick. Inflation is really bad down here in the States 🤪, but that’s a crazy amount. Good for you and thanks for the video. If anyone find those firestarter for less than 10 bucks please reply to my comment. Have a great day!
Hi Marilyn; I just checked Walmart.ca and it's $9.98 for a huge brick of 60 individual cubes. I figure you may not ever go through 60 emergency (wet weather) campfires for the rest of your life! ....maybe :) Thanks for dropping by, watching and commenting! Cheers,
All right very nice video Pete and at the end of the video whether you realize it or not you kind of pull all the different ideas and concerns together. People that made me feel they don't have the time or they're not that interested in making homemade fire starters can just go to the store and buy those packages of commercial Fire starters. Now you're single desk lasted 8 minutes which is really long enough to get fine Tinder started. If we're thinking about saving money or making the fire starters last for an Extended Stay in the woods then it makes sense to make a single layer and maybe even cut it in half and start with half and then if you need more you can always throw in another one. The fire starters that lasted 15 minutes or more would be a waste to use if you have good tender and dry wood. Of course if you are going camping or you were packing a kit for survival you could have different ones so you can have some that lasts just a few minutes and then maybe have a couple more for situations where maybe there's limited Tinder or it has rained and most of the wood is wet. So I would buy some commercially made stuff but I like the idea of being able to make your own so that you can decide if you want a little fire starter that lasts just three to five minutes or you want one that last more than 10 minutes and if it gets hot enough you could actually make some fire starters to boil a small cup of water or to heat up a can of soup. You've got a lot of flexibility if you make a few of your own
When l did the newspaper strips years ago l lightly crushed up the newspaper first then cut it into strips and put scotch tape to hold it closed then tied it with twine. I then held the end of the twine and dipped it into the wax a couple of times. It burns well enough to start sbout any kind of fire. I think it is a little less messy.
You might want to try laying your disks out on parchment paper or even freezer paper, waxed side up. Even if the disk sticks to either one, it will just burn up with the rest of your firestarter.
Use waxed paper as a cooling pad. It's made of wax, so it will burn too. You just cut out out the cotton circles. Scouts make newspaper rolls, and tie it with cotton string, then dip it in the wax. Don't forget to make some tinder char cloth by cooking some cotton cloth strips in a closed soup can on a fire.
Very good video. Thank you for the demonstration. If you are a woodworker of any skill level you can save the sawdust from your projects and add it to your wax along with any small pieces of wood, tiny pieces of paper, stuff like that to the point of mold ability and shape it however you want or just press it into whatever shape/mold you have. Because that’s what the commercial firestarters are, sawdust and wax.🤪
Mix 1:1 parifin wax and charcoal lighter fluid together. Put your makeup cotton pads into the wax/lighter fluid and after a quick soak lay them flat on aluminum foil so they don’t stick after drying. When lighting tear it in half and light it.
This is the trick you’re looking for; Use liquid paraffin lamp oil, 1/3 cup:1lb gulf wax or candle wax and NOT more than 1/3 cup because it will make the wax runny and messy. Forget the round cotton, fill paper ramekins with cedar chips and pour the melted mixture over them and cool in freezer for a half hour. 👍🏼
At first I thought oh no, another cotton round and news paper DIY wax video. I’ve been in situations where 1, 5 minute fire starter was not enough. What I liked about your fire starters was the sustained length of time that they stayed lit with, a useable flame. I especially liked the multi pad method. Having fallen into water over my head in the middle of winter steelhead fishing, I experienced that situation that I thought would never happen to me. Had I not had a cinched wader belt on and a quick way to make fire I, wouldn’t be here. At times like that you don’t have time to use your knife to shave fat wood or use a bow drill to make a fire. Although not cheap I, carry Orion campfire pro flares with me and Hell’s Fire fire starting clay for those, it’s never going to happen to me situations. I’m going to make some multi pad paraffin fire starters at my next chance. Thanks for the video. The 893
I like the diy fire starters too. We used to do the Vaseline and cotton balls with them. Easy, safer, and less messy than the wax method.
Great idea!!
safer than wax? are you sure about that? you mean it melts faster? sure, wax is better after it dries dont stick all over ur damn hands
Amazing the thick pad lasted 17 minutes. That’s probably long enough to dry wet wood. Thanks for the video!
You bet! Thanks for the comment!
I added some of the wax from toilet bowl seals because it’s sticky, maybe 1 ring to 3 lbs of paraffin wax. Several different wick materials, 3/8” twisted cotton rope, 3/8” jute rope, cotton makeup rounds and round cotton dental plugs.
lots of things will work for sure!
Wax from toilet bowl ring I think is beeswax
Try melting Vaseline, and dipping in that FIRST! Pop in freezer.
THEN dip in paraffin wax!!! 🤓❤️
Very much enjoyed your video. When making the cotton disk fire starters, the addition of citronella oil, paraffin oil, and the like, will aid in the starting of the cotton disk. As your demonstration shows, oils may cause the medium to burnup faster, always tradeoffs. You mentioned the use of a lighter over a ferro rod, I agree. However, cold weather is the downside to the lighter. Cigarette lighters use Butane which has a boiling point of -2 degrees Celsius (28.4 Fahrenheit). It is the reason butane gas cylinders might not work as effectively in colder weather as low temperatures make it difficult to produce gas vapor. Whereas Propane has a boiling temperature of -42.04 Celsius (-43.672 Fahrenheit), thus using propane for fuel better than Butane. My suggestion to campers and Bushcraft folks, also bring a ferro rod and matches.
Excellent input. This may just offer some excellent insight for viewers!
@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 Thank you for your polite reply.
Good stuff. I found that when I add a little kerosene or lamp oil to the melted wax, you get an easier to light, hotter burning disk. It doesn't compromise the disk at all. (If it does, you added too much)
The multi-pad experiment was impressive. (DIY is just more satisfying)
Two ingredients. Easiest. Fastest to make. Excellent burn time for the thick rounds. 👍👏👍👏👍👏👍
Exactly! Thanks for the feedback!
I got an old crockpot slow cooker for all my wax melting - works great .. if a little slow at first. I only use it for wax so a quick wipe out with a paper towel while its still warm and your done.
Add some vasalene to your wax and they light and burn better
Thanks for sharing this information and DIY project. I have actually done something similar years ago with cardboard egg cartons and various items, like dryer lint, pine needles, pencil shavings from a crank pencil sharpener and even pieces of pine cones. Heated up wax and covered all that. I did several test burns to see what was the longest burning fire starter. I am glad I stumbled onto your video here, even if it is 2 yrs old, because I have a whole bag of those makeup remover pads that I was going to also make into fire starters. I see for a longer burn instead of one, use 3 or 4 at a time. I, like you, like DIY projects. I even made a candle mold with 100% pure silicone and corn starch so I can make candles for my UCO candle. My wife likes to melt those scent square wax cubes, and instead of letting her throw those away when it has lost the scent, I save them so I always have some wax. Again, great video, thanks for sharing and I sub'd to the channel and will be checking out more of your videos. Juddie
Hey Juddie! Thanks for your feedback/comments. I appreciate you taking time to write and I hope it helps others! Many blessings,
I used whole pine cones once. I soaked them in copper sulphate, dried them out and then soaked them in hot wax. The grandkids were amazed and delighted when they burned bright blue green
Great video....thanks!!
Really good information, thank you
So nice of you. Many blessings,
Fascibating! I also appreciated the final aha moment. Thank you.
P.S. Vaseline and cotton pads are also a great option. One pad folded in half like a taco, or two stacked like an oreo, with Vaseline inside.
Thanks for sharing!! Yes, there are lots of other options out there! It's great to get more ideas! Cheers,
80 year old weekend woodsman here. That essentially means I have few, if any, bushcraft skills. After watching your tutorial, I realized I’ve overthought the whole concept of dyi fire starters. Thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. While I smiled at my “aha” moment, I’ll remain a tenderfoot, but still use multiple cotton pads. I subbed, and look forward to more content from you.
Can you tell me what lighter you used to ignite the starters? Looked like a torch lighter.
All good wishes to you.
Hey, thanks for the great comment and the sub. Yes, I can (kind of) tell you what lighter I used. Since I'm kinda cheap, I bought 5 or 6 torch-style lighters from my local dollar store. That's it! However, if I had not been able to get torch lighters from a dollar store, I would have bought a torch lighter from Amazon. There are several brands and styles for under $10. I don't like regular lighters since I can't use them at all angles. I love torch lighters. I used to own an expensive Irodo torch (which converts regular bic lighters into torch lighters).
Can't help myself, I had to comment. Here is my method of making fire starters. It is free and makes use of items that would, under other circumstances, be sent to the dump. I make rags out of my warn out socks underwear, t-shirts, etc. I use these rags to clean up motor oil and diesel. To make additional oil soaked rags I soak them in used motor oil. Those are the wood stove or camp fire fire starters (the oil soaked rags). I put them on top of the load of wood for a top burn down which gives much less initial smoke. They work every time. If the wood is dry enough very little kindling is needed. One flick of a lighter is all that is needed to get the fire going.
Sounds like it would work for sure! Thanks for the input!
Cat food can fill with rubbing alcohol for bottom up fire starter. Also works great to warm up a cold chimney. It's just to easy.
Thanks, try wax and vasoline with dipping pine cones 3/4 way in
Works good 😊
Thanks for the tip!
I just looked up the fire starters you showed from Lowe’s. You sure got a deal! Maybe they were mismarked 😳. I just checked. Lowes and Home Depot didn’t list them. Walmart’s price is $37.00 for the 48 count brick. Inflation is really bad down here in the States 🤪, but that’s a crazy amount. Good for you and thanks for the video.
If anyone find those firestarter for less than 10 bucks please reply to my comment. Have a great day!
Hi Marilyn; I just checked Walmart.ca and it's $9.98 for a huge brick of 60 individual cubes. I figure you may not ever go through 60 emergency (wet weather) campfires for the rest of your life! ....maybe :) Thanks for dropping by, watching and commenting! Cheers,
4 ME NOT A LIFE TIME BUT THEY ARE CLEAN AND EASY
All right very nice video Pete and at the end of the video whether you realize it or not you kind of pull all the different ideas and concerns together. People that made me feel they don't have the time or they're not that interested in making homemade fire starters can just go to the store and buy those packages of commercial Fire starters. Now you're single desk lasted 8 minutes which is really long enough to get fine Tinder started. If we're thinking about saving money or making the fire starters last for an Extended Stay in the woods then it makes sense to make a single layer and maybe even cut it in half and start with half and then if you need more you can always throw in another one. The fire starters that lasted 15 minutes or more would be a waste to use if you have good tender and dry wood. Of course if you are going camping or you were packing a kit for survival you could have different ones so you can have some that lasts just a few minutes and then maybe have a couple more for situations where maybe there's limited Tinder or it has rained and most of the wood is wet. So I would buy some commercially made stuff but I like the idea of being able to make your own so that you can decide if you want a little fire starter that lasts just three to five minutes or you want one that last more than 10 minutes and if it gets hot enough you could actually make some fire starters to boil a small cup of water or to heat up a can of soup. You've got a lot of flexibility if you make a few of your own
When l did the newspaper strips years ago l lightly crushed up the newspaper first then cut it into strips and put scotch tape to hold it closed then tied it with twine. I then held the end of the twine and dipped it into the wax a couple of times. It burns well enough to start sbout any kind of fire. I think it is a little less messy.
You might want to try laying your disks out on parchment paper or even freezer paper, waxed side up. Even if the disk sticks to either one, it will just burn up with the rest of your firestarter.
Try mixing the wax with petroleum jelly as well
Great Share Thanks. Blessed Be and Stay Safe.
Thanks, you too!
Thank you
You're welcome my friend!
Thanks for the valuable information
My pleasure
Use waxed paper as a cooling pad. It's made of wax, so it will burn too.
You just cut out out the cotton circles.
Scouts make newspaper rolls, and tie it with cotton string, then dip it in the wax.
Don't forget to make some tinder char cloth by cooking some cotton cloth strips in a closed soup can on a fire.
Absolutely! If it burns, I'm thinking no wrong answer :)
Very good video. Thank you for the demonstration. If you are a woodworker of any skill level you can save the sawdust from your projects and add it to your wax along with any small pieces of wood, tiny pieces of paper, stuff like that to the point of mold ability and shape it however you want or just press it into whatever shape/mold you have. Because that’s what the commercial firestarters are, sawdust and wax.🤪
Thanks for the tips!
Mix 1:1 parifin wax and charcoal lighter fluid together.
Put your makeup cotton pads into the wax/lighter fluid and after a quick soak lay them flat on aluminum foil so they don’t stick after drying.
When lighting tear it in half and light it.
This is the trick you’re looking for;
Use liquid paraffin lamp oil, 1/3 cup:1lb gulf wax or candle wax and NOT more than 1/3 cup because it will make the wax runny and messy. Forget the round cotton, fill paper ramekins with cedar chips and pour the melted mixture over them and cool in freezer for a half hour. 👍🏼
Good advice! Thanks for the feedback!
Many of these things can be made with rope made from nature and dipped in grease.
Obviously the one with more fuel will last longer. Thanks for sharing
You bet
Add equal amounts of wax and lighter fluid
Try adding a high concentration rubbing alcohol to the wax
sounds like it would work - is it easy to get? I've never even heard of high concentration rubbing alcohol.
But then what would I do with my dryer lint, burned down cables and old unusable egg cartons?
I tried selling fire starters at the local farmers market. Sold 30 bucks in 4 weekends.
👍🏾🙏🏾
The cold lamp oil froze some of the wax.
Just dunk it in cold water it'll harden instantly
Perfect!
That's the point of using a ferro rod everyone knows how to use a lighter