The best ones that I've ever found: melt some wax in a container and then just keep stuffing cotton balls into it until all of the wax is absorbed. Take them out and let them cool separately. Once the wax is melted, you can do an entire bag of cotton balls in 10 or 15 minutes. You end up with cotton ball sized chunks of wax/cotton that you can split open and fire up. They are completely waterproof and burn for about 15 minutes. Much faster and a lot less messy than the straw method.
A guy by the name of Gene Ward, who is dead now would saturate the cotton ball in the vaseline and wrap it in aluminum foil. Then take his knife and split it open and take some tweezers and pull up on the cotton ball and make a little wick out of it. He would then light it. He said they could burn up to 1 hr. They are actually sold on his website run by his wife and some friends. They say it will burn for 30-60 minutes. I am going to make my own. The straw looked like it worked well also. Thanks for the video.
@@wildnessoutdoors I just saw his video a few days ago and have not tried it yet, but I am going to. He was a survival instructor in the Air Force. He traveled a lot and held seminars about survival. He actually walked across the U.S. continent one time.
That is how I do mine, little squares of aluminum foil. Take your knife, cut an "X" then use the tip of the knife to pull out a little bit. Don't really need a match or lighter. Just throw some sparks from a ferro rod.... Instant fire.
I have been using plastic straws to store many different items for my backpack survival kit for years. Coffee, cream, sugar, salt, spices, spaghetti, rice, matches with striker, dried soups, powdered milk, mashed potato flakes, just to name a few. Take up very little room in the back pack and they are waterproof and float too. Thanks for sharing this video.
that's crazy the amount of time and mess it takes you to fill and seal many up specially if you need a good amount of something, why not just use small food saver bags and vacuum seal what you need
We used to use sawdust soaked in a little paraffin. Just enough to make a firm paste. Lit easily and burned with a hot flame that resisted the wind quite well.
This is what I do, in a 1-gallon paint can I melt 1/4 to 1/3-gallon wax then quickly fill and mix in sawdust (avoid PT sawdust) I then roll it out on my Formica shop table to a thickness of about 1/2" then cut it into 1 1/2" squares. They make a nice large flame for a long time, great for starting your BBQ charcoal or any tinder. Hint: to make them light faster, I cut cotton balls in half, dip the end in molten wax and stick it to the side of a sawdust cube, also try to avoid using scented candles you will have to smell that every time you light one, ask me how I know.
@@wildnessoutdoors Thanks, One other thing I just recalled against using scented candles for this, I had raccoons steal the bag of firestarters thinking they are getting people food, they don,t eat them, just take them to the edge of the wood and tear up the bag.
I sometimes use a slightly longer piece of straw and put cotton wool with Vaseline at one end and just cotton wool at the other end with a match or two and tiny striker in,so you have an all in one mini fire starter.These are great for survival kits or mini pocket tins.
Pretty good container for easy packing and damp conditions. However, you're wasting one of the best traits of the cotton ball/Vaseline starter by massaging the jelly fully into the ball. A dry cotton ball will ignite easy with the spark from an empty Bic, but not if the jelly hinders it. Also, if you put jelly in one end of the straw, then press most of the ball into it you will get the best of both. To light, I snip the end off of the dry end, fluff some ball to catch spark, then you're set with almost guaranteed fire in all but the worst conditions.
Yes I know exactly what you mean. It does make it a bit harder to ignite with loads of jelly. I've done something similar to what you suggest by putting a little dry cotton in the middle to catch a spark more readily. I've not found it to be a major issue though. Thanks for comment!
For extended stays in the outdoors, you could actually leave the straw whole, pack it with a chop stick, seal either end then cut and reseal it as you need. Very cool idea. 👍🤝
I look forward to the reveal of the entire kit. The minimalist kit is well developed and tested, by all appearance. Thus far, I am impressed by the videos and the presentation. Press forward!
Cotton wool and petrolium jelly are two items I always put in any survival kit along with tea lights. Definitely making some of these for my tinder pouch.
Thanks for the great tip and straw sealing demo. 👍 Also by the way, this comment section is amazing! I read 15 comments and each had their own fire starter recipe, learned a ton. ;) Cheers!
Great idea! I keep cotton balls w/ Vaseline in a Ziplock, but I like to give them a light dusting of magnesium just to be sure they will start and generate some good heat!
Nice one! I'd like to add a warning: burning plastics isn't healthy at all! Don't inhale it!!! For an emergency situation or for prepping: no one cares. It just doesn't matter. But, for having fun in the yard or in the woods, for making these things or for training, you should beware of it. Stay healthy and have some fun!
@@markcocks5295 I have less concerns about food then about breathing... See... The tinder doesn't burn as long. For cooking you need a hot flame in the first place. This flame will eat your tinder pretty fast. When your fire got big enough to cook, the tinder should be gone. Imho, the risk is in having your face pretty close to the tinder while starting the fire. That's the moment, you inhale the burning plastics. PS: on a scd thought for clearification - The tinder is supposed to burn a long time. And it WILL burn for a pretty long time. But, just as long, until you got a hot flame. Then it will burn fast, due to the hot fire all around your tinder.
Yh I was thinking the same... all you need and it's quicker is a small jar of Vaseline and a small bag of cotton wool balls, wipe it and then light it.. I would also make my own Vaseline that contains no Petroleum, cos it makes them better for your health...
As a woman, I always carry tampons and a small jar of Vaseline in my hygiene/first aid kit. Tampons come sealed, but I store them in a zip lock bag for extra water protection. Don’t waste the Vaseline on your trousers, moisturize your hands/face/arms!
Tampons and condoms - Essential parts of many old old school survival tins/kits. There are better solutions to water carrying and firelighting these days, but the older solutions worked well enough back in the day.
Great video! These old timers in France were stacking tealight candles in a plastic tube and using one of them to start their fires. That and their old zippos and they were good to go for starting a fire. One of them swore by a little jar about 2/3 times the height of the tealight and he could hold twigs over the top to get them lighted. He said it works a dream in wind and rain.
@@wildnessoutdoors I'm surprised Sir, because I cant think of seeing a bushcrafter on youtube with a candle, but I think it must be a really good idea. Being wax, candles are waterproof. Plus if you get a big fat candle and you only light them long enough to get tinder going (2 mins) they could surely last for 100's of fires? edit: Just googled it, a large thick candle can last 40-60 hours, a very big one (too big for backpacking probably) can last up to 100 hours! That must make for a LOT of campfires
I use paraffin- dipped cardboard that I get free at the grocery store. It's used to ship some vegetables. Talk to the greengrocer. These boxes are not recycled with regular cardboard because of the paraffin. For easiest lighting, peel up a bit at a corner.
I seal pre-threaded needles in straws with a mini paperclip (to improvise buttons) and 2 mini safety pins, I have a couple on me at all times. My straws are in color so I add a label on the outside mentioning the color of the nanocord (mini paracord ~a millimetre in diameter). I have to widen the eye of the needle with a very small flat screwdriver, cheap needles will break if you even try but the ones from fabricville (here in Canada) work fine.
I use cotton flat rounds, dipped in wax, stuck to birch bark round, with Vaseline sticking all together. Being disabled had time to make a dozen. Use fat wood mini sticks over fire.
FYI, you can use alcohol wipes , very cheap 100 for about $7 , just unfold them and crumple them up , they burn for about 4 minutes and light with just a spark , plus you can use them to clean yourself or gear, pre-made and light&easy
@@markm8188 at the drug store , individually wrapped , plus if you have any alcohol based hand cleaner , it’s like gel firestarter , put some on some tinder, poof
I find they do work well but don’t burn that long and can be unreliable as they tend to dry out over time.For that reason I wouldn’t rely on them in a survival kit.
@@kuzinit2374 Alcohol hand gel works great,very similar to Firedraggon fuel gel. I sometimes use it light my stove at home - just squeeze a bit on the kindling 👍👍
Such simple practical solution. I have thought about doing the same thing with a bigger straw and encapsulate a lighter so matter how wet it is you'll have a dry Flint lighter or two stashed away
You could make enclosures of any size, if you use heat-shrink tubing. That would seal with the application of heat (not open flame), to create a water-proof package.
The straw method has been around for sometime and it is handy and a lot less messy to deal with. Plastic straws are, or was, I guess they still are, available in different diameters. I even found 1/2” diameter plastic straws. They can be used to create spice kits, pill holders, match holders, fishing kits, ammo, etc. You could even stash or cache cash in those larger straws and keep it moisture proof.
I use the large diameter milkshake straws to store .22rimfire ammo for my single shot rifle..holds an average of 6 to 9 rounds depending on how long the straw is.
You may to try rolling the cotton ball like using a rolling pin by running the palm of your hand over it. I made a few of these as per your idea & found making the cotton roll out like sausages was a bit easier. But these are a brilliant idea to add to any fire kit or survival tin. Bloody Brilliant simple ideas like this are the very best. Good On You :)
This way is messy but works. I used to fill egg carton sections with dryer lint and used candle wax (melted). Let them harden and then break off each individual section...worked great😃
learned somewhere along the way, take a plastic ziplock sandwich bag, put a handful of cotton balls in, and enough vaseline to saturate them.... close the bag and mush the vaseline into the cotton balls inside the bag. No annoying mess and you can make enough at one time to last a good while.
I use a 50/50 mixture of Beeswax and 160F melting point microcrystalline wax. I use it as a bullet lubricant and fire starter fuel.It's not very tacky to the touch and can easily be formed and manipulated. It will not render gunpowder inert and is very waterproof. Vaseline is a very low melting point form of microcrystalline wax.
Vasoline is a mixture that contains some microcrystalline wax and heavy mineral oil. Actually a fairly complex naturally formed mix of refining leftovers but basically various grades of those two main compounds.
I just tried this because it looked like fun. However it's very messy. I found out that too much Vaseline on the cotton inhibits you from getting the cotton ball into the straw. Leaving both ends of the straw open when inserting the cotton makes it easier to go in. The ends will not seal if there are any cotton strands left at the end of the tube. It was kind of fun but I'm gonna stick with soaking makeup cleansing pads in Beeswax - it's not messy, they are waterproof and they work great. I used them every morning in Idaho for 5 weeks.
I do the cotton ball Vaseline and I make up like 3-4 cotton balls and store them in an old prescription bottle. Then I just pull one out when I need it. Lighting them with a ferro rod is good to know too. Cheers.
Hey same here with the pill bottle! You can stuff a whole bunch of them in there. I usually just pack mine until I can't get anymore in it and then I make some more when it's empty or close to.
I do a similar thing. Only I use triple antibiotic ointment in place of Patroleum jelly. Makes them multi-purpose. In my mind that's what it's all about.
I take a cotton dental damn/plug (whatever you want to call them) and put 3 or 4 drops of paraffin lamp oil on it then dip it in paraffin wax to seal it and extend the burn time. Super low temp melted wax works best and how i achieve that is i melt my wax in a tart warmer. Great video my friend!!!!
You can use a stick or a No. 2 pencil works really well to push the cotton ball in with also. This is handy, especially if you are making a large batch.
I use petroleum jelly, but I melt mine in a can in a pot of water. I bring the petroleum jelly to melting point, then dip cotton balls to saturate. They burn like candles. You could then put the cotton in the tube and seal, but I just fill up a medicine bottle. I highly recommend you do this outside unless you want to be homeless and then have to start campfires to live.
I like this concept somewhat better than putting several in a tin . Do to the fact these are small . You can carry many of them at one time and they're water proof.
I make mine waterproof by using wax instead. Heat up some wax using a double boiler or a woman's hot wax kit, dip the cotton in the wax, set on waxed paper to cool and dry. They also work as fuel to heat water over in a pinch if your stove breaks.
I did something very similar. I bought some plain white candles and some cotton rounds at a local dollar tree. Melted up the wax dipped them in and let them cool down on some aluminum foil. Then if I ever need to use it I can just tear it up into little pieces and I have a great little fire starter. And since they are soaked in wax I never have to worry about them getting waterlogged
@Kokopelau - if you don't seal them in, they will melt and make a mess in hot summer conditions, e.g. leaving it in a parked car. If you burn the tip before dipping it in the wax, starting it with a ferro-rod gets a lot easier.
@ManniH H I carry mine in a ziplock bag and I also carry them in an Altoids tin they've never melted on me, so I don't know, maybe I use a different kind of wax than you do but even candles don't melt in the hot sun as a general rule. I've left them in my car all summer at 105° plus and they haven't melted. You can burn the end but if you do they will get wet, wet cotton won't burn. I just take and break off the wax when I want to start it then I can light it with the fero rod. I also use canning wax or beeswax neither of which generally melt on me. I learned that trick from my grandfather who was born in 1885 and was a beekeeper. He also used beeswax to waterproof all of his bullets around the primer and the seat of the bullet. If you can't find wax a crayon works nicely also. I also have a one foot section of braided twine in a metal tube that I have dipped in wax as a long fire starter it will burn for hours, it has never melted in the car where I keep my emergency fire kit. That is also coated in canning wax.
@@kokopelau6954 - I indeed use a quite soft wax from "eternity lights", used in graveyards, they already melt in your hand. Beeswax and other harder waxes get really hard and brittle in the cold and don't light well in winter, so I switched to softer wax. I'm still surprised that you never experienced melting, I once carried five firestarters waxed from ordinary candles side-to-side in a plastic bag in my ruck during a sunny fall day and they all were melted together to one solid block at the end of the day. We also had to switch to plastic LED-candle-lights for outdoors, because real wax candles with a LED-light insert always bend and looked crooked alfter a while. But however, everyone should use what works best for him. As I said, the charring of the tip has of course to be done before dipping it in wax, so it's waterproof. But igniting charred material is a lot easier - I could never get a fire started with a lens until I first charred the tinder.
Great idea and a good demonstration! One small suggestion - maybe put them in water, shake to dry and then light to demonstrate how water proof they are!
Excellent Buddy. many ways to skin a cat so to speak. I have been packing as many as I can into a plastic 35 mm film canister, which are always free from any camera shop. And they are about as waterproof as you can get. I really do like these being individually packaged as you have done. Next time at the Dollar Store, I will have to see if I can find some larger drinking straws as you have. During a down pour, it is always possible but more difficult to find dry fire starter material. And I have always liked the fact, as you mentioned, that these can have a rather long burn time.
Yes I agree there's usually something dry in a downpour if you look hard enough, and feathersticks are always an option. But having a reliable waterproof option is always wise. Thanks for feedback.
My favorite firestarter is a bag of plain Ruffles or Doritos. I use a few to start the fire, and have a snack. I, too, am fond of the Ferro Rod. Especially when it's in a Bic.
Hello, PJ; Nice video, thank you. What I do to keep the vaseline off my hands; take a zip-lock bag, push the bottom thru the top, pick up the vaseline on the inside of the bag. Turn the bag right side out, put my cotton balls in the bag & work the vaseline into the balls. Also, adding melted wax to vaseline (or mineral or other appropriate oil) is a good addition. Just my 2¢. BTW, I *𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑳𝒀* like your lighter, I'd like to know the brand, etc., so I can get one. Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!
I dislike the petro jelly option it's messy. Instead I bought an old thrift store cheap toaster oven and cookie sheet. Bought an beeswax toilet ring and a block of canning parriffin and ad boiled linseed oil to mine and heat a little in toaster oven. Drop in an sheet of paper towel with an pair of tongs and a little soak. Pull out and let dry and then fold into small tiny booklets. These are waterproof, easy to carry, not messy and easy to make and it makes an immense amount of starters. Open them, fluff them up with a blade and hit with an spark. The big deal is they aren't messy to carry.
A lot of people didn't know about using straws to hold various, small quantities of ( whatever), and they are waterproof. You can take lighter fluid, kerosene, and pretty much
Try the flat makeup cotton pads. Soak then in lighter fluid and pour melted wax on them. They harden to to cakes. I use them for lighting fires all the time
So... 2 things. Does it need to be that kind of lighter or would something like a BIC lighter work? AND I seems like you don't need to tear up the cotton bal 1st. Just dip it in the vaseline, spread it around and roll it into the straw. Yes?
Yeah a bic works just fine. I prefer my torch lighter for outdoors if there's any sort of wind, plus it's easier when recording a video. You unroll the cotton ball. They're really just flat pieces of cotton rolled up. Thanks for watching!
I heard you can even take it up a notch by first soaking the cotton in some cheap liquid Paraffin (half liter bottle just $11 USD on Amazon), then simply coat the outside with petroleum jelly and stuff it in the straw tube like you did. ? When using that ferrous rod method, could you reseal the tube for later use?
I soak cotton balls in mineral oil and carry them in any container I want-and my experiment shows they last longer than Vaseline and I just pour it in, so no mess.
Put the cotton/vaseline on some duck tape twice as long as the width and fold it over. To use just cut a cross shape on one side and peel back a bit and light - Job done. They are fully waterproof and you can stash them anywhere.
I used cardboard with wax: cut long piece of cardboard about 1" (2.5cm) wide, large soup can. Roll up strip and lay on bottom of can. Melt wax and pour over cardboard until covered, let cool completely. You can heat bottom of can enough to release waxed coil and dump out your wax-permeated cardboardthats about the size of a roll of electrical tape. To use, peel off however much waxy cardboard you need, lights easy, burns well!
Wow that's amazing and definitely making. Gained a subscriber today. I will be featuring them on my channel as well and will definitely give you full credit. Awesome idea.
Been wondering if I could use "Fire Ribbon Paste" instead of vaseline.....or if.....the "Fire Ribbon" will interact and melt the plastic. I'm gonna have to tested this at home here....because I really like fire ribbon but the tube is way to large and bulky. Don't get me wrong Vaseline is great, but I'm an Old man stuck in his old ways.
I have not tried it, but it has been suggested to use triple antibiotic ointment in place of the Vaseline with the cotton ball. That way, if the greater need is wound care, you can use it for that and still likely have enough left over to still start a fire. I do not know if the fibers of the cotton ball would represent a hazard to a wound healing well.
Not sure to be honest. My guess would be that it would work OK but not quite as well as cotton, given that cotton seems both more pure and more dense. But who knows!
@@denisdegamon8224 that is what I was thinking, I can roll it out into a long strand like the cotton in the video, and once it is mixed with Vaseline or paraffin, it should burn about the same since the added fuel is what is predominantly burning. Would be interesting side by side.
I made a small batch of dryer lint from our freebie 100% cotton towels issued from work..just as a test. It did ok but not as well as polly razzmatazz as jeans, etc. lint. I'd say plano mixed textiles lint would work fine. Heck, half the flame is the burning straw. ~ Pack on in with a pencil to max? Even pack with stale Fritos 'n hit with the lighter. (-:
Yeah I agree with Paleotech. I've tried hand sanitiser and rolls of tissue paper without great results. Never tried cotton balls though. Thanks for watching!
Might be a dumb question 😅 but os it safe to cook over? Or will the chemicals from the started go into the food? And if sealed how long can they be stored ?
It would be nowhere near hot enough to cook over regardless of safety! Petroleum jelly/Vaseline doesn't evaporate so in theory will last forever whether sealed or not 😁
You can get the large straws at Jack in the Box. I melt Vaseline in a can and mix in wood shavings. In a large jar, I mix a good amount of soap shavings with some gasoline/kerosene. I mix the two jellies together and add the secret ingredient; liquid paraffin lamp oil.
The best ones that I've ever found: melt some wax in a container and then just keep stuffing cotton balls into it until all of the wax is absorbed. Take them out and let them cool separately. Once the wax is melted, you can do an entire bag of cotton balls in 10 or 15 minutes. You end up with cotton ball sized chunks of wax/cotton that you can split open and fire up. They are completely waterproof and burn for about 15 minutes. Much faster and a lot less messy than the straw method.
Sounds great, thanks for the feedback 😁
@@wildnessoutdoors packet of crisps is the best, irish fire starters we call them in the uk, any flavour light corner of pack and up it goes
I'd be too tempted to eat them lol
Too much work!!!!
Put de cotton balls with petroleum jelly into the zip lock bag and BOOOMMM!!!
that's it!!!!
And cleaning your dryer vent and filter is a good thing besides helping prevent fires the lint is also a great material to throw in also
A guy by the name of Gene Ward, who is dead now would saturate the cotton ball in the vaseline and wrap it in aluminum foil. Then take his knife and split it open and take some tweezers and pull up on the cotton ball and make a little wick out of it. He would then light it. He said they could burn up to 1 hr. They are actually sold on his website run by his wife and some friends. They say it will burn for 30-60 minutes. I am going to make my own. The straw looked like it worked well also. Thanks for the video.
That's interesting, might have to play around with that idea.
@@wildnessoutdoors I just saw his video a few days ago and have not tried it yet, but I am going to. He was a survival instructor in the Air Force. He traveled a lot and held seminars about survival. He actually walked across the U.S. continent one time.
Yeah I was just looking at his website there. Firestarter Nuggets are what he called them.
That is how I do mine, little squares of aluminum foil. Take your knife, cut an "X" then use the tip of the knife to pull out a little bit. Don't really need a match or lighter. Just throw some sparks from a ferro rod.... Instant fire.
Defo gonna try these!
best thing about these videos is everyone has their own way of making fire in the comments
thanks a mill for the video lad 👌👌
Yeah I'm loving the ideas. Outdoor people are the best! Thanks for watching 😁
I have been using plastic straws to store many different items for my backpack survival kit for years. Coffee, cream, sugar, salt, spices, spaghetti, rice, matches with striker, dried soups, powdered milk, mashed potato flakes, just to name a few. Take up very little room in the back pack and they are waterproof and float too. Thanks for sharing this video.
Thanks for feedback. Yeah they're a great option, you can just keep thinking of more and more things to keep in them!
that's crazy the amount of time and mess it takes you to fill and seal many up specially if you need a good amount of something, why not just use small food saver bags and vacuum seal what you need
Each to their own 😁
@@ARCSTREAMSindividually waterproof. Medicine bottles work and are resealable.
@@akbychoice what are you on about?
Recently found some of these stored away in a sealable tube in a box of my old things. Made them about 5 years ago. Still worked perfectly
Yeah I stash them everywhere and find them years later lol 😆
We used to use sawdust soaked in a little paraffin. Just enough to make a firm paste. Lit easily and burned with a hot flame that resisted the wind quite well.
Never tried this but if it works, it works :) thanks for watching!
This is what I do, in a 1-gallon paint can I melt 1/4 to 1/3-gallon wax then quickly fill and mix in sawdust (avoid PT sawdust) I then roll it out on my Formica shop table to a thickness of about 1/2" then cut it into 1 1/2" squares. They make a nice large flame for a long time, great for starting your BBQ charcoal or any tinder. Hint: to make them light faster, I cut cotton balls in half, dip the end in molten wax and stick it to the side of a sawdust cube, also try to avoid using scented candles you will have to smell that every time you light one, ask me how I know.
That's some badass firelighting capabilities right there 👊
@@wildnessoutdoors Thanks, One other thing I just recalled against using scented candles for this, I had raccoons steal the bag of firestarters thinking they are getting people food, they don,t eat them, just take them to the edge of the wood and tear up the bag.
😯😯 thankfully we've no racoons over here. Foxes can be a pain in the ass though lol
I sometimes use a slightly longer piece of straw and put cotton wool with Vaseline at one end and just cotton wool at the other end with a match or two and tiny striker in,so you have an all in one mini fire starter.These are great for survival kits or mini pocket tins.
Nice!
Pretty good container for easy packing and damp conditions. However, you're wasting one of the best traits of the cotton ball/Vaseline starter by massaging the jelly fully into the ball. A dry cotton ball will ignite easy with the spark from an empty Bic, but not if the jelly hinders it. Also, if you put jelly in one end of the straw, then press most of the ball into it you will get the best of both. To light, I snip the end off of the dry end, fluff some ball to catch spark, then you're set with almost guaranteed fire in all but the worst conditions.
Yes I know exactly what you mean. It does make it a bit harder to ignite with loads of jelly. I've done something similar to what you suggest by putting a little dry cotton in the middle to catch a spark more readily. I've not found it to be a major issue though. Thanks for comment!
For extended stays in the outdoors, you could actually leave the straw whole, pack it with a chop stick, seal either end then cut and reseal it as you need. Very cool idea. 👍🤝
Yeah true! Thanks for watching!
Watching him I was thinking Chop Sticks.
I look forward to the reveal of the entire kit. The minimalist kit is well developed and tested, by all appearance. Thus far, I am impressed by the videos and the presentation. Press forward!
Thanks!! I'll get the full kit documented at some stage, I'm still learning the fine art of TH-cam content creation!!
great idea! I have also used birchbark (common in northern and central Minnesota) and wooden splints soaked in a mixture of kerosene and wax.
Birch bark is my number one natural resource. Loads of it available in my area 😁
Thanks for watching 👀
Corn chips make great firestarter aswell. Also tostitos chips.
👍🎄🇨🇦
I've used Doritos before!!
Cotton wool and petrolium jelly are two items I always put in any survival kit along with tea lights. Definitely making some of these for my tinder pouch.
Thanks for watching 🙂 good luck!
THAT is a great method for everything from fire starters to food and coffee. Waterproof, light, and would float if dropped in water. WELL done.
Thanks 😊
Thanks for the great tip and straw sealing demo. 👍
Also by the way, this comment section is amazing! I read 15 comments and each had their own fire starter recipe, learned a ton. ;) Cheers!
I know right!? Outdoor people are the best people! Thanks for watching 😁
Great idea! I keep cotton balls w/ Vaseline in a Ziplock, but I like to give them a light dusting of magnesium just to be sure they will start and generate some good heat!
I've considered adding some magnesium powder to mine for extra oomph, maybe the next batch lol thanks for watching!!
Where do you obtain that?
I find gunpowder works a treat 💥
Nice one!
I'd like to add a warning: burning plastics isn't healthy at all! Don't inhale it!!! For an emergency situation or for prepping: no one cares. It just doesn't matter. But, for having fun in the yard or in the woods, for making these things or for training, you should beware of it.
Stay healthy and have some fun!
Completely agree!
Yes, I was thinking the same thing too, especially as it is used for food...
@@markcocks5295 I have less concerns about food then about breathing... See...
The tinder doesn't burn as long. For cooking you need a hot flame in the first place. This flame will eat your tinder pretty fast. When your fire got big enough to cook, the tinder should be gone.
Imho, the risk is in having your face pretty close to the tinder while starting the fire. That's the moment, you inhale the burning plastics.
PS: on a scd thought for clearification - The tinder is supposed to burn a long time. And it WILL burn for a pretty long time. But, just as long, until you got a hot flame. Then it will burn fast, due to the hot fire all around your tinder.
The whole firelighter is completely incinerated long before any food goes near the fire.
Yh I was thinking the same... all you need and it's quicker is a small jar of Vaseline and a small bag of cotton wool balls, wipe it and then light it.. I would also make my own Vaseline that contains no Petroleum, cos it makes them better for your health...
Been doing this for about 7 years now , maybe more, works great even after all these years of storage. Much easier to store and a lot less messy!
Excellent! Thanks for watching 😁
As a woman, I always carry tampons and a small jar of Vaseline in my hygiene/first aid kit. Tampons come sealed, but I store them in a zip lock bag for extra water protection. Don’t waste the Vaseline on your trousers, moisturize your hands/face/arms!
good point protecting lips and cheeks is really important in severe weather
Ugh hate vaseline on my face, I'm weird lol thanks for watching 😁
Ironic that you need 🔥 fire to make the Firestarter. Great idea though.
@@billsheehan4244 only spark with ferrorod
Tampons and condoms - Essential parts of many old old school survival tins/kits.
There are better solutions to water carrying and firelighting these days, but the older solutions worked well enough back in the day.
I really like the idea of using the straws to store other things as well; soap, spices, oil, etc. Neat and versatile. Thanks for the upload, cheers!
Yeah loads of uses! Thanks for watching.
Great video! These old timers in France were stacking tealight candles in a plastic tube and using one of them to start their fires. That and their old zippos and they were good to go for starting a fire. One of them swore by a little jar about 2/3 times the height of the tealight and he could hold twigs over the top to get them lighted. He said it works a dream in wind and rain.
Never question an old timer... voices of experience!!
@@wildnessoutdoors I'm surprised Sir, because I cant think of seeing a bushcrafter on youtube with a candle, but I think it must be a really good idea. Being wax, candles are waterproof. Plus if you get a big fat candle and you only light them long enough to get tinder going (2 mins) they could surely last for 100's of fires?
edit: Just googled it, a large thick candle can last 40-60 hours, a very big one (too big for backpacking probably) can last up to 100 hours! That must make for a LOT of campfires
@DamienNeverwinter I keep a few tealight candles in my kit but never really use them tbh
Good idea! I make my firestarter out of round cotton pads and soak them in wax. No mess, easy light and burn long and hot.
Yeah that works great too! Thanks for watching 😁
You can also use Q-tips with a little vaseline on them.
I like it. And as you said, the idea of sealing straw pieces can be used for storing other things. 👍
Defo! Thanks for watching 😁
I use paraffin- dipped cardboard that I get free at the grocery store. It's used to ship some vegetables. Talk to the greengrocer. These boxes are not recycled with regular cardboard because of the paraffin. For easiest lighting, peel up a bit at a corner.
Nice! Thanks for posting 😁
On a tangent,if you blacken cotton wool with charred wood powder it will light using a fresnel lens (you need strong sunlight obviously)
Ooo interesting idea!
I seal pre-threaded needles in straws with a mini paperclip (to improvise buttons) and 2 mini safety pins, I have a couple on me at all times. My straws are in color so I add a label on the outside mentioning the color of the nanocord (mini paracord ~a millimetre in diameter).
I have to widen the eye of the needle with a very small flat screwdriver, cheap needles will break if you even try but the ones from fabricville (here in Canada) work fine.
Pre threading needles is a great idea 💡👌
Neat idea
Well done. I like the way you explained the process and showed us. You “Savage” . 😂
Haha thanks, keep it savage lol
I use cotton flat rounds, dipped in wax, stuck to birch bark round, with Vaseline sticking all together. Being disabled had time to make a dozen. Use fat wood mini sticks over fire.
Nice!
Good info. Keep the vids coming so us campers can review our skills and for people new to camping or prepping.
Will do!
Thank you for sharing this. I will be making a pile of these for storage and usage.
Nice one, thanks for watching!
FYI, you can use alcohol wipes , very cheap 100 for about $7 , just unfold them and crumple them up , they burn for about 4 minutes and light with just a spark , plus you can use them to clean yourself or gear, pre-made and light&easy
Thanks for the tip 😁
Where do you find alcohol wipes?
@@markm8188 at the drug store , individually wrapped , plus if you have any alcohol based hand cleaner , it’s like gel firestarter , put some on some tinder, poof
I find they do work well but don’t burn that long and can be unreliable as they tend to dry out over time.For that reason I wouldn’t rely on them in a survival kit.
@@kuzinit2374 Alcohol hand gel works great,very similar to Firedraggon fuel gel.
I sometimes use it light my stove at home - just squeeze a bit on the kindling 👍👍
Such simple practical solution. I have thought about doing the same thing with a bigger straw and encapsulate a lighter so matter how wet it is you'll have a dry Flint lighter or two stashed away
Would need to be a big straw lol thanks for watching 😁
You could make enclosures of any size, if you use heat-shrink tubing. That would seal with the application of heat (not open flame), to create a water-proof package.
Great idea. I did this over the weekend after watching. I picked up the straws from the gas station
Nice! Thanks for watching 😁 👀
Brilliant Sir. I would love to get one of those lighters.
If you mean the torch lighter, it's a Soto Micro Torch, I did a full video about it 😁 thanks for watching.
Wow, that was incredible. I’ve never seen that before. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching and for the kind comment 😀 😊
There’s loads of videos out there 👍
Your sealing method... THAT'S what I was looking for! Great technique man! I've been dealing with mess & couldn't figure out how to solve it.
The straw method has been around for sometime and it is handy and a lot less messy to deal with.
Plastic straws are, or was, I guess they still are, available in different diameters. I even found 1/2” diameter plastic straws. They can be used to create spice kits, pill holders, match holders, fishing kits, ammo, etc. You could even stash or cache cash in those larger straws and keep it moisture proof.
Agreed! Thanks for watching 👀
I use the large diameter milkshake straws to store .22rimfire ammo for my single shot rifle..holds an average of 6 to 9 rounds depending on how long the straw is.
Loved the appearance of a Leatherman Juice. The best UK legal carry multitool.
Man I cannot believe they discontinued the Juice! Absolute best wee UK legal multitool.
You may to try rolling the cotton ball like using a rolling pin by running the palm of your hand over it. I made a few of these as per your idea & found making the cotton roll out like sausages was a bit easier. But these are a brilliant idea to add to any fire kit or survival tin. Bloody Brilliant simple ideas like this are the very best. Good On You :)
Thanks for the kind words!! 😊
This way is messy but works. I used to fill egg carton sections with dryer lint and used candle wax (melted). Let them harden and then break off each individual section...worked great😃
Yeah definitely a good option, thanks for watching 😁
learned somewhere along the way, take a plastic ziplock sandwich bag, put a handful of cotton balls in, and enough vaseline to saturate them.... close the bag and mush the vaseline into the cotton balls inside the bag. No annoying mess and you can make enough at one time to last a good while.
Nice! Thanks for watching 😁
I use a 50/50 mixture of Beeswax and 160F melting point microcrystalline wax. I use it as a bullet lubricant and fire starter fuel.It's not very tacky to the touch and can easily be formed and manipulated. It will not render gunpowder inert and is very waterproof. Vaseline is a very low melting point form of microcrystalline wax.
Nice!! Very inventive.
Vasoline is a mixture that contains some microcrystalline wax and heavy mineral oil. Actually a fairly complex naturally formed mix of refining leftovers but basically various grades of those two main compounds.
Someone needed to make a video showing this method and thanks for doing it. All the best in all future endeavors and Happy Holiday Season.
Thanks 😁 You too!!
I just tried this because it looked like fun. However it's very messy. I found out that too much Vaseline on the cotton inhibits you from getting the cotton ball into the straw. Leaving both ends of the straw open when inserting the cotton makes it easier to go in. The ends will not seal if there are any cotton strands left at the end of the tube. It was kind of fun but I'm gonna stick with soaking makeup cleansing pads in Beeswax - it's not messy, they are waterproof and they work great. I used them every morning in Idaho for 5 weeks.
Thanks for feedback, whatever works best for you!
I'd rather get a bit "messy" than freeze to death.
I do the cotton ball Vaseline and I make up like 3-4 cotton balls and store them in an old prescription bottle. Then I just pull one out when I need it. Lighting them with a ferro rod is good to know too. Cheers.
Nice! Thanks for watching 😁
Hey same here with the pill bottle! You can stuff a whole bunch of them in there. I usually just pack mine until I can't get anymore in it and then I make some more when it's empty or close to.
Diabetic test strip containers work well too. Plus, you can open them one handed if need be.
I do a similar thing. Only I use triple antibiotic ointment in place of Patroleum jelly. Makes them multi-purpose. In my mind that's what it's all about.
Excellent idea!
I take a cotton dental damn/plug (whatever you want to call them) and put 3 or 4 drops of paraffin lamp oil on it then dip it in paraffin wax to seal it and extend the burn time. Super low temp melted wax works best and how i achieve that is i melt my wax in a tart warmer. Great video my friend!!!!
Nice! Thanks for kind words 🙏
Superb hack and clear demonstration --- thanks! BTW, where'd you get that lighter?
Thanks 😊 it's a Soto Micro Torch, really good piece of kit, defo recommended 👌
You can use a stick or a No. 2 pencil works really well to push the cotton ball in with also. This is handy, especially if you are making a large batch.
My pinky finger works too lol thanks for watching 😁
Thats cool also small pieces of straw like that make really good little fishing floats too.
Thanks for watching 😁
I use petroleum jelly, but I melt mine in a can in a pot of water. I bring the petroleum jelly to melting point, then dip cotton balls to saturate. They burn like candles. You could then put the cotton in the tube and seal, but I just fill up a medicine bottle. I highly recommend you do this outside unless you want to be homeless and then have to start campfires to live.
Sounds good, thanks for watching 😁
I like this concept somewhat better than putting several in a tin . Do to the fact these are small . You can carry many of them at one time and they're water proof.
My thoughts EXACTLY!!!
I keep them in a tin, in a ziplock...
Good for mini ‘survival’ tins.
I make mine waterproof by using wax instead. Heat up some wax using a double boiler or a woman's hot wax kit, dip the cotton in the wax, set on waxed paper to cool and dry. They also work as fuel to heat water over in a pinch if your stove breaks.
Both methods work great, thanks for watching 😁
I did something very similar. I bought some plain white candles and some cotton rounds at a local dollar tree. Melted up the wax dipped them in and let them cool down on some aluminum foil. Then if I ever need to use it I can just tear it up into little pieces and I have a great little fire starter. And since they are soaked in wax I never have to worry about them getting waterlogged
@Kokopelau - if you don't seal them in, they will melt and make a mess in hot summer conditions, e.g. leaving it in a parked car.
If you burn the tip before dipping it in the wax, starting it with a ferro-rod gets a lot easier.
@ManniH H I carry mine in a ziplock bag and I also carry them in an Altoids tin they've never melted on me, so I don't know, maybe I use a different kind of wax than you do but even candles don't melt in the hot sun as a general rule. I've left them in my car all summer at 105° plus and they haven't melted. You can burn the end but if you do they will get wet, wet cotton won't burn. I just take and break off the wax when I want to start it then I can light it with the fero rod. I also use canning wax or beeswax neither of which generally melt on me. I learned that trick from my grandfather who was born in 1885 and was a beekeeper. He also used beeswax to waterproof all of his bullets around the primer and the seat of the bullet. If you can't find wax a crayon works nicely also.
I also have a one foot section of braided twine in a metal tube that I have dipped in wax as a long fire starter it will burn for hours, it has never melted in the car where I keep my emergency fire kit. That is also coated in canning wax.
@@kokopelau6954 - I indeed use a quite soft wax from "eternity lights", used in graveyards, they already melt in your hand. Beeswax and other harder waxes get really hard and brittle in the cold and don't light well in winter, so I switched to softer wax. I'm still surprised that you never experienced melting, I once carried five firestarters waxed from ordinary candles side-to-side in a plastic bag in my ruck during a sunny fall day and they all were melted together to one solid block at the end of the day. We also had to switch to plastic LED-candle-lights for outdoors, because real wax candles with a LED-light insert always bend and looked crooked alfter a while.
But however, everyone should use what works best for him.
As I said, the charring of the tip has of course to be done before dipping it in wax, so it's waterproof. But igniting charred material is a lot easier - I could never get a fire started with a lens until I first charred the tinder.
Great idea and a good demonstration!
One small suggestion - maybe put them in water, shake to dry and then light to demonstrate how water proof they are!
Yeah that would have been a good idea for the video. I'm confident of their waterproofness but it's always good to provide proof!!
As long as you sealed them properly they are completely waterproof.
Excellent Buddy. many ways to skin a cat so to speak. I have been packing as many as I can into a plastic 35 mm film canister, which are always free from any camera shop. And they are about as waterproof as you can get. I really do like these being individually packaged as you have done. Next time at the Dollar Store, I will have to see if I can find some larger drinking straws as you have. During a down pour, it is always possible but more difficult to find dry fire starter material. And I have always liked the fact, as you mentioned, that these can have a rather long burn time.
Yes I agree there's usually something dry in a downpour if you look hard enough, and feathersticks are always an option. But having a reliable waterproof option is always wise. Thanks for feedback.
That’s an idea I haven’t seen yet & I’m going to make some of those today! Thank you so much! 🥰Be safe & God bless! 💗✝️💗
Excellent! Thanks for watching 😁
I like the idea of containing the messy petroleum jelly, have to make some up,,,
Go for it! Thanks for watching :)
I always use dryer lint instead of cotton balls, but I like the idea of using straws
Either works but I don't have a dryer lol 😅
I use Cotton wool vaz balls, but this idea is fantastic to keep one maybe in your wallet or somewhere just in case. Great video, cheers
Thanks 😊 I stash them everywhere lol
My favorite firestarter is a bag of plain Ruffles or Doritos.
I use a few to start the fire, and have a snack.
I, too, am fond of the Ferro Rod.
Especially when it's in a Bic.
I'd only end up eating them all 🤣🤣
@@wildnessoutdoors That's why I do plain. Sour Cream and Chives would never last.
Lmao 🤣 🤣
Great waterproof version........brilliant
I’ve made these for years. Still one of my favorite ways to make and store my homemade fire starters.
Definitely agree there 👍 thanks for watching 😁
awesome tip. It keeps it nice and dry too
Yup! Thanks 😁
That's pretty simple and genius. I like it and will use the idea!
Thanks for watching and commenting 😊
If you slightly melt the ends they close up really well
I completely melt them 😁
I also use a straw to hold a sewing needle in my repair kit. Keeps the sharp end protected.
Good thinking! Thanks for sharing 😊
Hello, PJ;
Nice video, thank you.
What I do to keep the vaseline off my hands; take a zip-lock bag, push the bottom thru the top, pick up the vaseline on the inside of the bag. Turn the bag right side out, put my cotton balls in the bag & work the vaseline into the balls.
Also, adding melted wax to vaseline (or mineral or other appropriate oil) is a good addition.
Just my 2¢.
BTW, I *𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑳𝒀* like your lighter, I'd like to know the brand, etc., so I can get one.
Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!
Thanks man! The lighter is a Soto Micro Torch, there's a separate video on my channel about it 😁
I dislike the petro jelly option it's messy.
Instead I bought an old thrift store cheap toaster oven and cookie sheet. Bought an beeswax toilet ring and a block of canning parriffin and ad boiled linseed oil to mine and heat a little in toaster oven. Drop in an sheet of paper towel with an pair of tongs and a little soak. Pull out and let dry and then fold into small tiny booklets. These are waterproof, easy to carry, not messy and easy to make and it makes an immense amount of starters. Open them, fluff them up with a blade and hit with an spark. The big deal is they aren't messy to carry.
Sounds complicated but also sounds good 😁 thanks for watching
Cool idea can you make a video on it
Indeed, the straw idea is a winner.
Thanks for watching 😁
A lot of people didn't know about using straws to hold various, small quantities of
( whatever), and they are waterproof.
You can take lighter fluid, kerosene, and pretty much
They're very versatile. Thanks for watching 😁
Best fire starter, simple, cheap, no brainer.
Definitely!! Thanks for watching 😁
I use a 50/50 mix of petroleum jelly and wax. Burns a good long while, nice big hot flame, and not as messy as just jelly
Nice. You melt the wax and jelly together first you mean?
Try the flat makeup cotton pads. Soak then in lighter fluid and pour melted wax on them. They harden to to cakes. I use them for lighting fires all the time
Yeah I've friends who use them, they work great! Thanks for watching 😁
So... 2 things.
Does it need to be that kind of lighter or would something like a BIC lighter work?
AND
I seems like you don't need to tear up the cotton bal 1st. Just dip it in the vaseline, spread it around and roll it into the straw. Yes?
Yeah a bic works just fine. I prefer my torch lighter for outdoors if there's any sort of wind, plus it's easier when recording a video.
You unroll the cotton ball. They're really just flat pieces of cotton rolled up.
Thanks for watching!
Maybe otter pop ice cycle plastic also for cotton balls. Ducktape around twigs also works
Interesting ideas 💡 🤔
I heard you can even take it up a notch by first soaking the cotton in some cheap liquid Paraffin (half liter bottle just $11 USD on Amazon), then simply coat the outside with petroleum jelly and stuff it in the straw tube like you did.
? When using that ferrous rod method, could you reseal the tube for later use?
Sounds good 👍 not sure about resealing the tube though, sounds more hassle than it's worth 🤔 thanks for watching 😁
An interesting idea; thanks! May I ask what torch you're using?
It's a Soto Micro Torch. Thanks for watching.
@@wildnessoutdoors thanks!
I soak cotton balls in mineral oil and carry them in any container I want-and my experiment shows they last longer than Vaseline and I just pour it in, so no mess.
Interesting. I've experimented with olive oil but not mineral oil 🤔 thanks for your comment!
@@wildnessoutdoors I have some cotton balls soaked in Olive oil. Works very well.
Vaseline and cotton wool balls have other uses too though.
I’ll try that.I’ve read baby oil also works well.
Put the cotton/vaseline on some duck tape twice as long as the width and fold it over. To use just cut a cross shape on one side and peel back a bit and light - Job done. They are fully waterproof and you can stash them anywhere.
Sounds great, personally I prefer the shape and size of straws. Thanks for feedback 😀
That’s clever,the duck tape also burns really well.
Nice upgrade!
Thanks my dude!!
the nice thing about vaseline on your hands is that they won't burn as easily. it is protective and good for hydrating skin anyway
True! Thanks for watching 😁
I used cardboard with wax: cut long piece of cardboard about 1" (2.5cm) wide, large soup can.
Roll up strip and lay on bottom of can. Melt wax and pour over cardboard until covered, let cool completely. You can heat bottom of can enough to release waxed coil and dump out your wax-permeated cardboardthats about the size of a roll of electrical tape. To use, peel off however much waxy cardboard you need, lights easy, burns well!
Cool idea!
I do something similar to this
But I also mix in some magnesium shavings…… Just make sure it catches and stays lit pretty good
I've been meaning to try adding magnesium actually, thanks for reminding me! 😁
Wow that's amazing and definitely making. Gained a subscriber today. I will be featuring them on my channel as well and will definitely give you full credit. Awesome idea.
Thanks!! Will check out your channel and subscribe back. To be fair, I doubt I'm the first person to think of this method.
Been wondering if I could use "Fire Ribbon Paste" instead of vaseline.....or if.....the "Fire Ribbon" will interact and melt the plastic. I'm gonna have to tested this at home here....because I really like fire ribbon but the tube is way to large and bulky. Don't get me wrong Vaseline is great, but I'm an Old man stuck in his old ways.
I've never heard of Fire Ribbon Paste to be honest, I'll have to look it up! Thanks for watching 😁
Thanks for sharing, will definitely be trying this.
Good luck! Thanks for watching 😊
I have not tried it, but it has been suggested to use triple antibiotic ointment in place of the Vaseline with the cotton ball. That way, if the greater need is wound care, you can use it for that and still likely have enough left over to still start a fire. I do not know if the fibers of the cotton ball would represent a hazard to a wound healing well.
Nice idea! Thanks for watching 👀 🙂
Would old dryer lint work as good as cotton balls, but free?
Not sure to be honest. My guess would be that it would work OK but not quite as well as cotton, given that cotton seems both more pure and more dense. But who knows!
It works just as well. Drier lint is cotton.
@@denisdegamon8224 that is what I was thinking, I can roll it out into a long strand like the cotton in the video, and once it is mixed with Vaseline or paraffin, it should burn about the same since the added fuel is what is predominantly burning.
Would be interesting side by side.
I made a small batch of dryer lint from our freebie 100% cotton towels issued from work..just as a test.
It did ok but not as well as polly razzmatazz as jeans, etc. lint.
I'd say plano mixed textiles lint would work fine. Heck, half the flame is the burning straw.
~ Pack on in with a pencil to max? Even pack with stale Fritos 'n hit with the lighter. (-:
I had the same idea but with isopropyl hand sanitizer. Give that a try. I just soak the cotton balls then light them
Burns too quickly and evaporates if the seal,is compromised in any way.
Yeah I agree with Paleotech. I've tried hand sanitiser and rolls of tissue paper without great results. Never tried cotton balls though. Thanks for watching!
I found the best straws are "milk shake" straws for making these waterproof firestarters.
I get mine from eBay or Amazon 😁
Nice work. Fantastic way to waterproof!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks 😁
Pretty neat. Yet pretty messy lol
But it works. Great job. Thanks for the video
Yup! Thanks for watching 😁
Might be a dumb question 😅 but os it safe to cook over? Or will the chemicals from the started go into the food? And if sealed how long can they be stored ?
It would be nowhere near hot enough to cook over regardless of safety!
Petroleum jelly/Vaseline doesn't evaporate so in theory will last forever whether sealed or not 😁
Never seen this before. Great tip. Thanks 👍🏼
Thanks 😊
That's a great idea!!!!! Well done
Thanks!! 😊
Nice demo on that mate
Thanks mate!
Nice. I'm totally stealing this 🌞
Haha go for it!
Fantastic idea! Thank you 👍🏻👍🏻
You're welcome, thanks for watching 😁
You can get the large straws at Jack in the Box. I melt Vaseline in a can and mix in wood shavings. In a large jar, I mix a good amount of soap shavings with some gasoline/kerosene. I mix the two jellies together and add the secret ingredient; liquid paraffin lamp oil.
Thank you for the video, very informative. I learned something new today.
Glad to hear it, thanks!