Walmart's current cotton balls are much less reactive for fire rolling than they used to be. The usually very easy "cotton and ashes" and "cotton and rust" fire rolls will only barely ignite now. I don't think this cotton ball could not ignite difficult fillers... like green Burnweed, Lichens, White Oak bark, etc. I went ahead and bought some Family Dollar Store cotton balls. Let's compare the two brands trying a BIC, ferro rod, 3 fire rolls each, and trying to make a tinder bundle go to flames. Please follow the LINKs below and SUBSCRIBE. Thank You! Rudiger Roll, Fire Roll Playlist th-cam.com/play/PLkoXX8XsMW3kLMA7kY_LznhzK5nOrA3Wd.html How To Fire Roll Denim? Take It Apart. th-cam.com/video/QVRG8N4vsLM/w-d-xo.html
David , Thanks for the heads up . Corporate economics seems to always be based on cost , not necessarily turning out a consistent product . The Walmart cotton balls I bought 4 years ago still well . I store them in a metal sealed container and only use them when we go camping . Keep posting , we'll keep watching brother .
That's actually very interesting, because I'm a scale model maker and prop builder, and I've noticed recently that Wal Mart cotton balls don't fluff out for smoke and web effect like they used to.
Thank you very much David Thought I was losing my mind bought a bag of cotton balls from CVS couldn't get a single one to ignite. I believe you've solved my dilemma. Oh yeah there claiming 100 percent cotton!
Agreed, before I watched this video, I had problems getting Walmart brand cotton balls to fire roll awhile ago, never would have picked up on it till you made this video, thanks. Now I know I didn't do something wrong. Great video thanks... from Beaver County, PA.
Thank You for the keen observations , all the issues you described with WMT cotton balls have been happening with Equaline super jumbo cotton balls distributed by Supervalu inc Eden Prairie MN , at first I thought it was my ashes, but fresh ashes didn't fix the 50 plus rolls it required. Saw your recent -3 deg fire roll video, and that soundly shot down the idea that low temps were retarding the ignitions, will try another brand.
I was hoping others had run into the same problems that I have. We all know that several different brands of these cotton balls can all come from the same plant. Thank you for your input.
As them folk say here in West Virginia- Family Dollar, Make You Holler- Im thinking that many companies labeling practices are deceptive, but they seem to get away with it. Interesting some of the experiments you come up with. You and Mrs West be good-
I came home from Walmart earlier and I've been out back for an hour trying so hard to get even a bit of smoke 😭 my first time trying to start a fire naturally
Wonder if that is part of my problem. Never gotten the roll to work but I have Walmart cotton balls. I now just use them in the dryer with essential oil. The first couple of cotton balls stayed in balls. Now they fall all apart in the dryer.
Interesting observation and comparison. Have you tried using the cotton balls from bill bottles? I hadn't thought there would be much difference but who knows where big stores source their "cotton" these days.
@@DavidWestBgood2ppl Thanks for the swift response, David. That would explain why I've had some difficulty fire rolling it. It still works beautifully with Vaseline and a fero rod though but I reckon it's only acting as a "holding agent" for the flammable Vaseline like a potato chip holds Picante Sauce.
So some of those cotton balls are actually polycotton - some cotton and some fillers. I wonder if the ones sold as pure and hypoallergenic are actually real cotton. I guess if you burn one and it burns down to very fine ash it is pure but if there are any little beads in the ash it is one with filler. My wife used to work with "pure" sisal rope but many brands actually had a lot of filler in them including various plastics and pieces of wire! It's getting so you can't trust anyone anymore.
I'm wondering what naturally materials out in the woods would work? I know Yucca and Dogbane. Would any fiber tough enough to make cordage work? I tried birch bark. It looked promising for a minute, then crumbled. Could you mix materials? Dog bane and birch bark?
Have you ever tried raw cotton? I wonder how some raw cotton, with seeds may do. Dried seeds of course, maybe one per roll, possibly crushed? Maybe the oil would inhibit the ember…
@@DavidWestBgood2ppl I’d be more than happy to send you some. I’ve got some in an old jar that at least 4-5 years old. And of course there will be fields and fields down here next year.
you may have done a video on it, but will ask any way, is it possible to make a fire roll from just materials you would find in the woods, for example if you had no cotton wool on you?
@@DavidWestBgood2ppl Thankyou very much for reading my comment. I haven’t had a chance to use the new ones yet, because I was just replenishing my stock but I will attempt to get in contact. With that said, I did attempt to unroll two of them and they definitely were noticeably harder to unroll.
The biggest lying manufacturer out there is Carhartt. I’ve been wearing them for 40 years. The label has always said 100% cotton. They started mixing in some synthetics about 10 years ago. I guess no one is checking or making them advertise honestly.
Walmart's current cotton balls are much less reactive for fire rolling than they used to be. The usually very easy "cotton and ashes" and "cotton and rust" fire rolls will only barely ignite now. I don't think this cotton ball could not ignite difficult fillers... like green Burnweed, Lichens, White Oak bark, etc.
I went ahead and bought some Family Dollar Store cotton balls. Let's compare the two brands trying a BIC, ferro rod, 3 fire rolls each, and trying to make a tinder bundle go to flames.
Please follow the LINKs below and SUBSCRIBE. Thank You!
Rudiger Roll, Fire Roll Playlist
th-cam.com/play/PLkoXX8XsMW3kLMA7kY_LznhzK5nOrA3Wd.html
How To Fire Roll Denim? Take It Apart.
th-cam.com/video/QVRG8N4vsLM/w-d-xo.html
David ,
Thanks for the heads up . Corporate economics seems to always be based on cost , not necessarily turning out a consistent product . The Walmart cotton balls I bought 4 years ago still well . I store them in a metal sealed container and only use them when we go camping . Keep posting , we'll keep watching brother .
Moisture has little effect on fire rolling. I have videos fire rolling damp ashes and green plants.
I got this message too late
Thanks for exposing the lies and showing us the truth Dave.
Thanks Chad!
That's actually very interesting, because I'm a scale model maker and prop builder, and I've noticed recently that Wal Mart cotton balls don't fluff out for smoke and web effect like they used to.
That’s what I’ve found also… the change for the worse is a recent occurrence.
Thank you very much David
Thought I was losing my mind bought a bag of cotton balls from CVS couldn't get a single one to ignite. I believe you've solved my dilemma. Oh yeah there claiming 100 percent cotton!
I’ve bought so called 100% cotton, cotton balls and could only get ashes ignitions 1 out of 3 times.
fascinating experiment!
OMG thought it was my technique. Tried four times and failed each time. I'm going to Dollar tree for my next attempt. Thanks for making this video.
Please let me know if the new cotton balls worked.
Agreed, before I watched this video, I had problems getting Walmart brand cotton balls to fire roll awhile ago, never would have picked up on it till you made this video, thanks. Now I know I didn't do something wrong. Great video thanks... from Beaver County, PA.
Let me know if you try a different brand and get better results.
Thank You for the keen observations , all the issues you described with WMT cotton balls
have been happening with Equaline super jumbo cotton balls distributed by Supervalu inc
Eden Prairie MN , at first I thought it was my ashes, but fresh ashes didn't fix the 50 plus
rolls it required. Saw your recent -3 deg fire roll video, and that soundly shot down the
idea that low temps were retarding the ignitions, will try another brand.
I was hoping others had run into the same problems that I have. We all know that several different brands of these cotton balls can all come from the same plant. Thank you for your input.
Good to know. Thanks!
Great balls of fire! Or, not so much.
i've had the same problem with the walmart cotton balls. where i live we have dollar tree. their cotton balls work great. good video.
Walmart’s used to work just fine. Something’s different.
Good to know where to look…gettin’ low on my supply an’ can’t remember where I bought my mine…plus I put them in a zip lock bag😠…..thanks!
Walmart’s cotton balls used to work well. This is a recent development.
As them folk say here in West Virginia- Family Dollar, Make You Holler- Im thinking that many companies labeling practices are deceptive, but they seem to get away with it. Interesting some of the experiments you come up with. You and Mrs West be good-
They are getting away with it. There are no repercussions for the false advertising/labeling I guess.
I came home from Walmart earlier and I've been out back for an hour trying so hard to get even a bit of smoke 😭 my first time trying to start a fire naturally
See my fire roll playlist for tutorials.
Good video David , thanks for sharing , God bless !
Very welcome
Wonder if that is part of my problem. Never gotten the roll to work but I have Walmart cotton balls. I now just use them in the dryer with essential oil. The first couple of cotton balls stayed in balls. Now they fall all apart in the dryer.
Something has definitely changed.
I have the same problem with Publix cotton
I’m glad you mentioned it. TY!
Have you ever tried fire rolling cottonwood tree cotton? I’m definitely trying it this spring once the trees start shedding!
They don't grow around here. See my fire roll playlist to save yourself a lot of wasted energy.
Interesting observation and comparison. Have you tried using the cotton balls from bill bottles? I hadn't thought there would be much difference but who knows where big stores source their "cotton" these days.
Yes, they are synthetic and wont work.
@@DavidWestBgood2ppl Thanks for the swift response, David. That would explain why I've had some difficulty fire rolling it. It still works beautifully with Vaseline and a fero rod though but I reckon it's only acting as a "holding agent" for the flammable Vaseline like a potato chip holds Picante Sauce.
So some of those cotton balls are actually polycotton - some cotton and some fillers. I wonder if the ones sold as pure and hypoallergenic are actually real cotton. I guess if you burn one and it burns down to very fine ash it is pure but if there are any little beads in the ash it is one with filler. My wife used to work with "pure" sisal rope but many brands actually had a lot of filler in them including various plastics and pieces of wire! It's getting so you can't trust anyone anymore.
True.
If I can get wallyworld cotton balls to smoke, I hope this means I'm good to go on proper cotton.
Maybe.
What property does the ash and rust have that help get ignition? really curious on that
Friction and chemical reaction… probably.
I'm wondering what naturally materials out in the woods would work? I know Yucca and Dogbane. Would any fiber tough enough to make cordage work? I tried birch bark. It looked promising for a minute, then crumbled. Could you mix materials? Dog bane and birch bark?
Yes, See my fire roll playlist.
Whuts in the red can?
Wood ashes. See my fire roll playlist.
Well THAT explains my miserable attempts…
Similar to Walmart ice cream sandwiches…. They won’t melt in 80 weather
We don't have real foods anymore... sad!
Have you ever tried raw cotton? I wonder how some raw cotton, with seeds may do.
Dried seeds of course, maybe one per roll, possibly crushed? Maybe the oil would inhibit the ember…
I’d like to try some.
@@DavidWestBgood2ppl
I’d be more than happy to send you some. I’ve got some in an old jar that at least 4-5 years old. And of course there will be fields and fields down here next year.
you may have done a video on it, but will ask any way, is it possible to make a fire roll from just materials you would find in the woods, for example if you had no cotton wool on you?
Yes indeed. see the many natural Fire rolls in my fire roll playlist.
Dave, you would have to show this 6 days after I bought a hundred count bag of Walley world bag of “cotton” balls. Best wishes! Al
If you have more trouble making them ignite than usual, let me know.
@@DavidWestBgood2ppl Thankyou very much for reading my comment. I haven’t had a chance to use the new ones yet, because I was just replenishing my stock but I will attempt to get in contact. With that said, I did attempt to unroll two of them and they definitely were noticeably harder to unroll.
Try 100% Organic cotton.
Thanks David, must not be 100% cotton. Maybe processed differently.
what did you sprinkle on the cotton?
Wood ashes. See my fire roll playlist.
Thank you.
The Walmart “Equate” brand has always bee substandard in my opinion. It’s more obvious with certain items than with others.
I agree. TY!
I quit walmart 3 or 4 yrs ago. NO REGRETS. i literally recommend never shopping that company
Terrible meats too, compared to Costco.
@DavidWestBgood2ppl oh for sure. If you can get locally raised meats you should if not costco
If Walmart's cotton balls are from China, I'm not surprised they are not 100% cotton even if they say they are.
The biggest lying manufacturer out there is Carhartt. I’ve been wearing them for 40 years. The label has always said 100% cotton. They started mixing in some synthetics about 10 years ago. I guess no one is checking or making them advertise honestly.
@@DavidWestBgood2ppl I stopped buying Carhartt years ago when they started manufacturing in China.
Curious, burning plastic ‘fillers’ could smell different than real 100% cotton. 👃🏻👃🏻👃🏻
It does smell different. I don't notice that smell from these though. They must have a chemical on them that inhibits ignition.
I dont use anything from walmart anymore
Costco's got a lot better food.
@Quiettime, I don't either. I rarely go there, except for large boxes of baking soda, or eyeglasses.
Corporate liars
Yes.