Making a BETTER Fire Starter: Easy Light Waxed Cotton Rounds
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มิ.ย. 2024
- Get You Own PaleoHikerMD Patches HERE!: www.etsy.com/shop/PaleoHikerM... If you have ever made waxed cotton fire starters, you know that they can be a bit of a pain to start if you don't have an open flame source. Well, I set out to fix that, and this is what I came up with. Thanks for watching!
#waxedcotton #bushcraft #firestarter
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Ernie, you've not been using your cotton/wax wafers properly if you can't light them. Just break them into halves. There is a line of exposed cotton on each side of each break. It lights easily with a sparker. These new disks are no improvement, as they have exposed cotton to get wet. How do you light wet cotton?
Correct. Just want to add that after breaking them into halves you can pull on the fibers in the exposed middles and fluff them up.
Waxed cotton ball. Easy, cheap and functional.
I soak them in lamp oil then wax and sprinkle cedar dust
This past spring I had my youngest make some starters using a cardboard egg crate , dryer lint and wax . Taught him how to use a Fresnel lens to light them
As everybody said, just break the biscuit. Leaving that uncovered cotton rim anihilates the waterproof seal in “traditional” fire biscuits. This is not an improvement at all.
Thank you for doing this video. You stimulated a lot of discussion that is helpful. I, & others I'm sure, really benefit when people share information.
Add a bit of food coloring which is flammable, to your clear wax it will show you where the clear wax has impregnated in the cotton, and it will make it more highly visible.
Useful. Thank you.
Now, it’s time for v. 2.0 - charrope, w/ a bit of drizzled wax.
I make mine with shredded paper, and soak it in used oil of any kind. works great.
They aren't difficult to light buddy; I light them with one strike of the firesteel. Simply bore the centre with your knife or clip anywhere on the perimeter of the cotton round to expose the cotton and that is it. Spark of flame and it'll ignite immediately.
Yep I was waiting for the ferro rod then out came the bic
I dip the rounds in tiki oil then in the wax. Just rip a round in half to fray fibers and that sucker catches a ferro spark real fast. I usually just use half a round at a time to get a fire going.
Been making these for years..... easy fix, add 1 part grilling lighter fluid to 3 parts wax. Dip the whole cotton. Easy key point do remove excess wipe on the next pad.... water proof, separate layers slightly to expose some fibers...single strike Ferro every time.
Hey Ernie, just want to say thanks. Appreciate the information provided. Can ‘always’ be different or even better ways of doing something but it’s the thought process and the ‘what about s’ that make it fun. Keep going.
I take 3 square cotton wipes stacked on top of each other and dip 3/4 of it in paraffin wax. After they harden, I can fluff up the 1/4 section that I didn't wax, and it will light with a ferro rod VERY VERY easily.
I used candle wax and dipped the round in it, to light it all you have to do is pull it in half and it lights extremely easily
If you expose the cotton (only partially waxed) they won't be waterproof anymore. Just break them in half and you won't have any problem lightning them.
I don't understand the whole waterproof obsession! Keeping the rounds (prepped or in natural state) in Zip-loc bags solves the waterproofing problem very easily (apart from the wife's anger when she finds out you've nicked them from the kitchen drawer!).
@@dennisleighton2812 Hello, yes, the ole angry wife trick, been there done that have the scars. Okay, one's obsession for waterproof cotton rounds is the same as the need for waterproof matches. We must get the fire going and keep it going, wet cotton cannot do that. Being caught during inclement weather occasions (rain, snow, windy, any combination) finding you are now very much in need of a fire, having waterproof fire starters be they cotton rounds, matches, rope, and the like, will be a blessing maybe a life saver.
@@ricdonato4328 Agreed! By the same token, the obsession about Bic lighters not working when wet. Again, pack them in small Zip-loc bags and exit problem.
The same logic applies to a small kindling bundle! If one has a small kindling bundle and the tinder to get it going, you can use that first fire to dry out the next kindling bundle! Roll that over with every fire and you'll always have kindling! People tend to make things so complicated!
[However, this excludes those occasions when enthusiasts practise traditional skills using period methods. That is a very different field of endeavour, with different "rules" etc.]
Great idea! Thanks.
Like it has been said below... break them in half, fluff the exposed cotton a little, and they start easily with just 1 spark.
Vaseline cotton balls work just as well. Easy to light
A great thing to carry in an old Altoid's can.
cool ( welll hot more like it ) DIY /creation. I usually try this stuff with cooler sparks of dead lighter. If that goes , then very very likely "hot sparks" from a ferro rod or flame source should get it going.
Ive yet to make any of these for myself. Now when I do make some I’ll have to try the gel! Thanks Ernie!
they're very easy to light! just crack it to expose the fibers.
great demo
Here’s one, Ernie: put a little magnesium on the center of one side while the wax is still soft. Just press it in a bit, but not deep, so it stays exposed a little. Bet you’d have no issue sparking that! Could probably do the same thing by embedding a match head so the wax hardened and held it. Poof! Fire.
Great idea
Made some today with a mix of straight candle wax and petroleum jelly, totally saturated in a pan. They are beyond easy to light with a ferro rod. Soaked it in water before I lit it. Burned one for 10 minutes !! Extremely cheap to make as well. No offense intended, but I’m not too impressed with this method compared to soaking them in wax and petroleum jelly. They’re completely waterproof, but hats off anyway. Knowledge is power, for sure.
Great news as I was wondering about the same system for my new fire starter kit!
Exposing the fiber makes it easier to catch fire even if it is just a spark
I have all natural wax melts for my smelter. When it runs out I use the cotton rounds to sop up the wax b4 I put a new scent in. All I do when im ready to use one as a fire starter is cut a small triangle out of it then fluff it up like you do to dry tinder. It will take a spark like dry tinder.
Good idea.
Thanks Nathan, hope all is well in Cali!
Mix a little lamp oil in that wax and it will start more easily. Guessing about 1/2 teaspoon for that small of an amount?
Not sure about the gel wax.
Hand sanitizer works too but alcohol evaporates out of it.
I tried bacon grease.
It will burn once you get it started for nearly 8 minutes depending on the amount.
Warning: it might make you hungry LOL
Oh and you were scorching your wax.
Beeswax melts around 175F.
Parrafin wax around 130-140F
Gel? Dunno.
To prevent scorching, place your wax crucible in a shallow pot of water.
Heat the water.
To solve the hard biscuit problem, just bring a plain cotton ball, set biscuit on top, light cotton ball.
good video and demo, I liked
Thank you, and thanks for watching!
Petroleum jelly and cotton balls that’s all you need
Is it so difficult to break the waxed pads open and light them up 🤔 ? Instead this extra plinkering 🤔
WaschyNumber1 Exactly, or just scrape with the back of your knife to rough up and then light.
Yep....that is the easy way to light them...
Great tips!! Thanks for taking us along!
Blessings
Consider pushing some fatwood slivers parallel or cross-hatched into the cotton patch, for a longer, hotter, and multiple flame points burn. You could even do the fatwood toothpick and smash with hammer into a wood fiber fluff and this also would ignite and have multiple flame points.
Appreciate Video! Apologies for chiming in, I am interested in your initial thoughts. Have you researched - Proutklarton Incredible Match Plan (erm, check it on google should be there)? It is a smashing one off product for getting an understanding of how to survive in a disaster and make your own survival food without the hard work. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my cousin after a lifetime of fighting got excellent results with it.
👍🏻
Uh-oh, another Louisianian? Subscribed. For the "sportsman's paradise," there really aren't a lot of bushcrafters, hikers, ruckers, etc around that I can find.
For most of these people, I think their idea of "bushcraft" is taking an extra moon pie to the heated deer stand lol.
Hello, yes I am a bit late to this party. When I create the makeup cotton disk fire starter, I melt paraffin then add a small amount of paraffin oil to the mixture. Soak the makeup disk, cotton ball, and the like, flipping it making sure it soaks in. When finished if it is firm all is good, if moist and flimsy too much oil, add more wax to the pot. To use the disk, I split it apart exposing its fibers, the ferro rod does its job.
My concern with your method with not fully coating the cotton is starting a fire during inclement weather. Will the uncoated outer edges of cotton absorb water making it difficult starting? During fire building the cotton falls on wet ground and the like. My experience is a fully coated cotton could be placed in water, then pulled apart, it can be lighted with a ferro rod or other fire tool; the cotton is protected with the wax. Just a thought.
Common household items like hand sanitiser gel, or Vaseline petroleum jelly, rubbed into those cotton rounds make excellent starters and ferro rod sparks ignite them very easily. If one carries the ingredients separately, and use them as needed, this is very convenient and easier to manage. Also, if you store the rounds in Zip-loc bags the whole waterproof issue goes away!
In my opinion, another fire extender is the simple household candle. Once one has even a small flame, the candle can be lit quickly for a strong flame which is then applied to fine kindling to get things going. A single candle used like this is good for hundreds of fires!
I've got no idea why the wax is needed? It just complicates the preparation process enormously. More attention to the kindling supply and use is much better use of effort. Using a candle is the most obvious solution and is dirt cheap.
Man, I miss your videos…
i just use left over candles its free and the smell would proby be a good pick me up if i ever had to use them in a dire situation
Just dip like 90% of it into the wax and then just have one corner that's open without anything on it I'd assume that work better
I've a slug of bees wax from my father's estate.
If I stirred that into a handful of chainsaw shreds(prolly oak) and made cookies from it, do you know if firesteel would ignite it? I've not worked with bees wax as such. Just did molten wax Easter eggs. (-:
By the way, beeswax and paraffin wax are edible. Well, not exactly edible, but they won’t hurt you if you swallow some. I’d stay away from getting that gel wax near any food, though. I don’t know what the heck they put in it.
Great info and a smart demo!
Pine pitch/sap is also a good fire starter as is, but it can pop/explode from any air pockets. What if you melt it down and pour over the cotton pads? Problem is it's still sticky.
What if you combine some pitch with some type of wax?
i use cotton rounds with regular and/or beeswax .
never had any problem lighting the both with a ferro rod .
you must not be holding your mouth in the right position .
No reason to leave edges unsaturated. Just break the disk, spark it with a ferro rod.
Good video. Question: could you melt Vaseline, place the cotton round in it. Then freeze it to hard the Vaseline back, then melt bees wax, and dip the cotton in that. Then let Harden. Your thoughts?
There’s a video on TH-cam showing how to do just that. Worked really well. I’m going to try it. I think the channel is jiujitsu2000
th-cam.com/video/aDFNEKKZrnw/w-d-xo.html
@@ricker76er I've seen that video too and believe that combo to the best yet, although I haven't tried it myself. The Vaseline gives the best ignition, then the hard wax shell eliminates the Vaseline mess and provides a longer burn time. The best wax to use is whatever free stuff you can scrounge up but if you have to buy it then parafin is about half the price of beeswax. For fire starters the perceived benefits of beeswax aren't worth the extra cost. Also a double boiler setup is the safest for melting the Vaseline or wax even though it may be a bit slower. Getting the wax hot enough to smoke, as shown in this video, especially over an open flame is asking for a flash fire just like a bacon grease or deep frier fire it can be disastrous. That smoke is highly flammable so will ignite esily. Please be carefull. Happy days
@@richardelliott9511 I agree about smoking wax/Vaseline. That is just asking for a fire.
Nice video, as always, my friend! You made me curious when you mentioned the heat difference between the PF burner vs the Trangia burner. Maybe a comparison video in the future? -Dave
Thanks Dave! Honestly I've wondered if something is wrong with my PF stove. I primed it per their instructions, but it just does not seem to perform well. Yes, I smell a video! Thanks for watching friend. We will see how your Bills do this year!
I have the PF burner and noticed the same issue. It took a very long time to boil water for coffee the last time I was out camping. Look forward to the comparison video Ernie! And hey Dave! Blessings to you both!
Try dipping that cotton round 3/4 with wax and then rub some magnesium powder in the remaining dry part, starts with just a spark.
jolly fresh yes, just a theory haven't tried but might work.
I use regular gulf wax ,, fully dip them .. give them a few folds when ready to use one ,, add a Vaseline coated cotton ball fluffed up and one spark from anythjng has never failed to light up into instant flame for me .. I’ve never timed this method ,, as I have my smalls in a fire lay and actually ready to have a blazing fire .. if I really want to kick things up a notch I add a ping pong ball size wad of fat wood scrapings ,, .. don’t try this indoors .. you may burn more than you intended to burn.
I've been using the same system for a while and I really don't know why people don't know about it? It works great, with cotton ball and PJ as fail safe and wax pad as waterproof!
These seem as if they would be pointless in the rain. The outer layer would be wet and wick it into the fibers inside the round.
What if they are water soaked? There are better videos out there on this topic. Maybe a revisit opportunity?
Try adding a small percentage of parafin lamp oil to your wax. Makes a big difference....10% lamp oil, in melted wax, quick full dip. Corrects the lighting problem. Video please
I saw a video where the guy did what you (kendog53) suggest. I wondered if that is what is used in some of the commercial fire starters. How do they keep over time?
I generally just use cotton balls, swiped in some petroleum jelly, and stuffed in a film can. No melting required. Over time it seems to me that the petroleum jelly saturates them completely, osmosis I suppose. For emergency kits I just use something a little neater.
Yeah thats not true at all, you can have these completely covered in candle wax and light them eaisly with a ferro rod. All you do id snap it in half and the fibers will show themselves and you can light it with your ferro rod very easily. Sure some peoole who is inexperienced with ferro rods might struggle a bit, but to say is very difficult is just not true.
Rotate the camera screen away and look into the lens :)
They aren't hard to light at all. Just tear the cotton pad in the middle and set it on fire. I am not sure why it's a struggle.
LEAVING OUTSIDE FREE OF WAX IS MY WAY. YOU NEED TO TEAR FIBERS THEN LIGHT.
Is that paleo mascara you are wearing? Now I see why you have all the cosmetic rounds.
Looks like hard boiled egg !
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This is basically a 6 minute video highlighting that you don't know how to make wax and cotton fire starters.
Not difficult to light at all that's the whole point of them. Use some common sense and break them in half
Thought I found an different way/improvement video on the basic waxed cotton pad. I'll pass because what I have works and is a upgrade on the basic waxed cotton pad.
You took basic of all basic fire starters and said it doesn't work and you're "improving" them. The problem isn't they don't work. The problem is you don't know how to properly use things and you need to go back and learn the basics. I should know I've been camping for 30+ years and if you can get a fire started with the basics of all things you're already in deep trouble.
You are supposed to break the pads when you light them!!!!! What is wrong with you.
I don’t think you improved anything…. if anything you made it actually worse
Cotton round w wax cut w lighter fluid! Lighter fluid serves as a cutting agent to maw wax lil softer as well as serves as immediate combustion! Wax is obviously the extender….best results you can get,it’s only rival would be quality Fatwood!
Why not simply dip the cotton round into the melted material instead of pouring it,once ya pull it apart for better results it will light regardless huh??
Clown show ! 👎