I showed my partner and they said “i dont get it.” At this point its become such a series of in-jokes i dont know if i do anymore, and cant really explain it adequately. “Her deer pop tarts”
I went to my local Walmart shortly after I watched this video to get some cotton balls and Vaseline, in order to test it out. As I was walking to the checkout, I was thinking about what you had said about a grown man getting looks when buying Vaseline and started chuckling to myself. When I got to the man running the cash register, he asked me if I had seen the latest Paul Harrell video. I laughed, and said "That's exactly why I'm buying this". We both were subscribers. Excellent video as usual, and congrats on the number of subscribers. You'll be at a million in no time!
After he passed, coming back to these is like coming back to a set of tutorials recorded in advanced by a parent or relative who left too soon. RIP Paul, thanks for the videos, the tips and the laughs.
I’m surprised Doritos worked because I assumed all the stabilizers in the cheese flavored powders would bind and somehow cake over the oils in the chips. Tried it with regular corn chips but bought in the past and it works well. Not as easy to start as a napkin or bundle of dry grass but
Yeah that was awesome little moment! They know if you’re in Camo they’re in danger lol. I’ve always said if you just walked around in plain clothes they’d never suspect it. I always see the most when it hunting.
There's a lot to be said for the "I'm not fucking around here" approach. I've yet to see anyone claim they've got something better for starting fires than a hexy tab.
same, i prefer to just carry two of them. those fire sticks he talks about are my backup along with a butane lighter if all hell really comes loose. road flares are like a buck a piece, come in a sealed plastic bag and are good to go. hard to beat outside of straight napalm lmao
I remember reading an article that said pulling bullets/ cutting shells and trying to ignite the powder in a survival situation kept you from wandering further into no man's lands and gave you something to do until you froze to death...
Cotton pads soaked in vasoline then coated in paraffin wax has been my go to. I personally stick to this recipe due to the fact that it will light with just a spark.
After the hellish trench warfare of the winter deer season, the deer thought they had the easy mark when they noticed the lone human out in the cold and attempting to build a fire. They prepared themselves to strike, first one attacker, then two.... Then they noticed it was Paul Harrell and gave up, 'cause ain't nobody got time for all that!
Felt like a Scout class with Mr. Paul as the Eagle Scout teacher. I enjoy learning from people that seem to teach so well. Regardless if I’ve had the class or not.
At least he’s aware of the times we are living and knows there’s a good possibility someone out there may be able to survive some in the bush with his demonstrations
Living here in Wyoming, I've tried several of the methods you describe, but I remember one in particular. A friend told me about the 0000 steel wool/9v battery thing, and I decided to try it. The first try wasn't exactly a roaring success, as the battery wasn't particularly fresh, but it did spark a little. Well, me being me, I decided that the wool needed a little help. We were out in the woods and I thought to impress my wife and kids, so I took out my ever-present can of WD-40 (you can see where I'm going) and sprayed a little on the steel wool. Well, I have to tell you, don't be holding the steel wool when you put the battery to the steel wool/WD-40 combo! Suffice it to say, my long-suffering wife and our equally long-suffering daughters thought this was the funniest thing they'd ever seen! Enough said about petroleum accelerants. Thanks, Paul, for bringing back memories of past family experiences!
I hate this man is gone! Hopefully he is in a better place!! He reminds me of a scout master I had! He was so smart and was always calm even when he shouldn’t have been!!
Loved the deer during the steel wool segment- so curious as to what this human was doing. And for a tip, I always carry a zippo in one pocket, and a handful of lard in the other. Makes a good fire starter, a good trail snack, and in case I meet a purty lady, a great hair pomade so i look extra spiffy!! No worries about bear, either- almost every kind of critter gets away from me as soon as I approach.
Zippos are great and all that but a Bic (or equivalent) disposable lighter is superior in the field because you don't have to remember to keep refilling it, plus it can float and only needs drying out if you dunk it. If you must have a wick lighter, the exalted IMCO Super Triplex 6700 is more likely to retain its fluid longer because the snuffer seals the wick better than the loose fitting lid of a Zippo. Plus the entire wick and reservoir can be slid out of the body of the lighter for full access to the flame--its like holding a candle.
To date, the three funniest and most unexpected things I’ve seen on TH-cam were 1) Paul, in bed, drawing from under the sheets, in the rain, outdoors, 2) Paul kicking over soda bottles while demonstrating that a 22 is better than nothing, and 3) that pop tart opener. The comment about lubricant at his age is a close second. Just awesome stuff guys. Practical, with a Leslie Neilson dry humour. No wonder I’ve been watching for many years. If you ever do a #3, we used to drop peanuts into the fire out of boredom, because those darn things would burn forever. I wouldn’t carry them on purpose, but they are small, compact, easy to carry, easy to light if you chip up the first one, and best of all, help you catch a squirrel, or make a snack. 😀. But for real, a piece of bike tire tube. Cut a piece small enough to light, and the rest will burn like a tire dumpster fire. My fav is thick jute twine, soaked in wax. Burn like a mega candle, and will light with a ferorod if you really fluff it up, and yes, I made a bunch and take them with me. You can hold it under your tinder for ad long as you want, then blow it out to save some for later.
I too found the bed shooting scenario interesting and entertaining. I don't sleep with my Colt Commander any more. I do sleep with my Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt.
I live in Brazil, snow is definitely not a problem to start a fire here, but rain usually is. The best unconventional fire starter I have used is inner tube patch glue. This shit is highly flammable, if you put it directly on water it will still burn. It is also cheap, easy to carry and use. Probably the fumes it releases are toxic, but you won't be breathing it on purpose. Another thing I've used is aerosol deodorant, spray it on your lighter and you'll have a flamethrower.
Used to be asked to help teach Winter Survival to Boy Scouts, and everyone of these Paul was in my curriculumn. I'm not former military, though I did work for the Feds for a few years in the Dept. of Interior. My Dad and I often went Winter Camping/Backpacking from the time I was 8 on, and most of what I know I owe to him. Great information you have on your channel. Ine of the best.
One bit of fire aid I have in all my bags and vehicles is a pencil sharpener with plastic canister that catches the shavings. I sharpen a stick with it and leave the shavings there as a fast catching tinder. You can make more if you ever run out just by sharpening a stick. Also when the sticks are dry, the shavings expose the center of the wood, which is most likely to be dry. Lastly, it is a safe and easy way to make small sharpened sticks for holding food over a fire, as a small tie down stake, or for making traps. Great little piece of kit that is light, easy to carry, and cheap.
I don't get many sticks around where I am that can fit in a traditional pencil sharpener. However, a while ago I did happen upon a "Carrot sharpener" which you're supposed to use to get carrot shavings to put in stir fries or curries which is very nice and you could certainly do it with that. Problem is it doesn't come with that plastic box for the shavings ;_;
@@moritamikamikara3879 I guess it depends on your exact location if you have sticks that size. I have lived along the East cost USA and everywhere I have been it has worked well, but I guess I just have had the right types of trees.
@@moritamikamikara3879 I think the carrot sharpener is for when people tell you carrots improve eyesight, so you can jam them into your eyes a little better. Follow me for more pro tips like this one.
About salvaging powder from cartridges, the .22 is king for that, you can easily remove the projectile with a multitool, and it'll catch a spark from a Ferro rod like nothing else, I've lit fires using that method. Cheap, very lightweight, extremely easy to carry hundreds of rounds and does many jobs. The .22 truly is the most versatile cartridge
Nice addition to part 1. Well done Paul, and thank you. If you ever change your mind about part 3, I would add a segment on ferro rods used with a carbon steel knife. On the Vaseline and cotton ball things, I taught survival skills at my local boy scout troop for many years. I used the Vaseline and cotton ball example as that was one option for young boys. They can get hold of that at home without going to a store. Other troops did it also, so it may be why that idea is so prevalent. Content idea: orienteering, land navigation. So many people get into trouble because they have no idea how to navigate in the wild. Just a thought.
@@marshallwickens8697 Just about every triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin, etc) are petroleum jelly (Vaseline) with antibiotic compounds suspended in it. Inversely, I've used neosporin as lip balm because it's pretty much just petroleum jelly anyways.
I was also taught the cotton ball + vaseline trick in a particular Army survival school. Works great, and vaseline has a lot more uses than mentioned in the video lol
THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE PAUL HARRELL VIDEOS I'VE SEEN IN YEARS!!!!! The wit and dry humor is exactly my cup of coffee and whiskey! -- "Don't EAT the fire"......... I laughed out loud! But not quite as loud as when he dumped the "Comparing an A1 Platform to the type of ladies I'd date" shtick!!! OMG - there were so many great one-liners in that bit of recording! I may not be as "seasoned" as you are (I'm 45, or so they tell me), and I'm guessing you've had a few more years to marinate than I, but I'm starting to get all those jokes in an experiential way these days! ---Not the latest, greatest, up-to-datest? Replacement parts? A lot of PMCS & CLP to work correctly??? Paul, did you write that out before hand and practice it before filming it? Or, did that just flow off the top of your head??? Either way, BRAVO!!!!! 😁😆😅🤣😂 BTW - I carry a Bic lighter and the $1 or $2 Carmex or Vaseline small tubes from the "spend extra money section" before the checkout registers in my kit when I'm out hiking alone every weekend. Unscrew the top, squeeze it all over something that burns, and viola!!!! You can easily control how much you use, "aim" where you want it, AND with the screw-off cap, NO mess in the pocket. Along with that, if you have a pocket-sized empty Ibuprofen container, you can always make your Carmex or Vaseline soaked balls (ha) ahead of time and store them inside of it - Again, no mess in the pockets when you have the tight sealing lid and puncture resistant container. I just chuck those few small items into my hiking kit or my pockets before I head out.
Pro tip from a smoker regarding lighters. If your lighter gets wet and you need it to work quickly, friction is the way to go. Just spin the wheel against something quickly. You should get a spark again in less than a minute.
LMAO.. as Paul was messing with getting the fire going.. the deer were like "allright boys.. move in slow... sloooow.. were gonna eat this human for dinner .. YEAH!!!" "This is for Uncle George!!"
something about paul's consistent authoritative tone and position in the frame throughout the bi-mart compared to on the range makes it feel like going to the store is just another field demonstration for him, like he's just about to demonstrate the proper procedure for loading the cart during a tactical shopping trip
I spent most of my LE career working in rural (as in off the road system) Alaska. One day out in Western Alaska in a village next to the Bering Sea, I'm having coffee in my office with a respected elder. It's cold out, winter next to the Bering. Probably -20f and blowing 50. I ask him, "when it's this cold and hard (ref the wind), how do you keep warm?" So he looks at me like I'm a fool. I hang on his next words, waiting for wisdom... "You stay home!" The very best winter survival advice I ever heard
TIME STAMPS ⚠Contains Spoilers: *Bonus Content: Spot the deer🦌 00:00 ~ Pre-Title Intro "Where a deer belongs" 🎸 00:35 ~ Main topic and viewer firestarter anecdotes 02:32 ~ Paul visits BI-MART for supplies 04:56 ~ Do Bic lighters really float? 06:53 ~ Firestarters you can make 09:09 ~ Paul's woman-to-AR platform comparison 11:19 ~ Fire starting begins 14:47 ~ Doritos 16:53 ~ Steel wool 21:25 ~ Your firearm's propellant 30:09 ~ No matches, no lighter but you have a shotgun + shells 38:53 ~ Paraffin coated cloth 42:25 ~ What you do have versus "what you're gonna have" 43:14 ~ The Star of the Show
One thing to keep in mind concerning shotshells and disposable lighters is that most plastic will burn. Even if your lighter is completely empty of fluid, it still has a striker capable of making a spark, and the body is made of plastic. Shavings from the shotshell or the body of the lighter may not make good fire STARTING material, but they can be a good additive to sustain a short-lived ignition source like gunpowder long enough to get your tinder lit.
Vaseline has been in every medicine cabinet of every family member i have. Great grandma on down. Between Vaseline, moonshine, and robitussin, every ailment could be cured. Although I know what you’re hinting at, and I still got a good chuckle out of it.
Making a fire in adverse conditions without having a "Bic" lighter can prove to be very difficult! I was surprised that no one had suggested making a fire starter out of duct tape, the adhesive on duct tape is flammable and burns for a considerable amount of time, enough to start a fire with damp or wet tinder. No need for part three, but you can check it out for yourself.
HEY POP TARTS...Give this man a sponsorship...at my age I had all put forgotten that Popstars existed...but because of Paul I recently bought two boxes to take to my hunting camp... PAUL HARRELL IS GOOD FOR POP TARTS!!!
As always, thank you for your presentations. A few things most of us already have: Our cleaning patches and CLP/oil. In fact, instead of throwing them away, I've been saving all my used patches in a zip lock bag for just this purpose. Basically already oil soaked rags.
Just commented this on part 1 lol. I keep mine in a mini m&ms container since it has a nice integrated, tight fitting cap and lets me fit a lighter in with it.
If you ever want to do a follow up to this one Paul, it would be neat to explore more of the items that ordinary people might have on their person, in their car, purse, pack, etc. Things like receipts, hand sanitizer, maybe a styrofoam cup, sock or pocket lint, maybe parts of clothing or vehicle upholstery. There's also maybe trying to get a bit of fuel or oil out of the car, and there's also a thing I've seen done where they actually lay some tinder on the battery, and then bridge the connection with a rifle barrel, or a wrench, piece of the jack assembly, etc. The idea is to get a good enough spark from the car battery. But that does mean starting an open fire under your hood and on top of your live car battery... You could also look in to some very plain/standard first aid kits to see if there's anything useful in there. There's lot's of places to look and ideas to explore if you're set your context to being things that the ordinary and otherwise unprepared person might actually have available to them in an unforseen emergency situation. Perhaps get an phone that someone doesn't care about, and possibly get a lens out of it, or some other useful material. I know you could probably get a decent little lens from a camera. There's lot's of cool things you could try out. Could be a fun presentation.
I always carried 2 things when camping: a flint & magnesium firestarter, and a candle & a lighter. I never used the magnesium bar. The candle worked every time.
It's hard to tell but the Big pine tree seems to have a long scar which should have resin which is quite flammable. Also if you cut a v-notch in the shot shell from the side into the powder the whole plastic fuel is available for the fire
The most adverse camping trip I've ever been on was a Wisconsin river camping trip during a week of torrential downpour and floods (how I got there is a long story). Day 1, our stove fell out of a swamped canoe, and suddenly, being able to start a fire with only soaked fuel was an essential skill. On this trip I learned a few things. 1, the waterproof matches that stay lit underwater do work, but they come with strikers that are not at all waterproof, and you only find that out after needing them very badly in the field. 2. Homemade crayon wax and dryer lindt firestarters work great, but if you only made two, they only work great twice. 3. Having many sealed rolls of paper towels is great when the whole world is soaked, and burning half a roll can get even the most drenched twigs lit. The moral of the story is that even in the worst conditions with everything going wrong, you can still succeed if you have enough prior training and can be resourceful in the moment.
a bit of cotton soaked in baby oil is an unstoppaple fire starter.. i regularly start fires with very little tender as the cotton or other material burns like a wick for an extended period of time.
Love your videos. Fritos burn better than Doritos. Black beard fire starters work awesome. They are small, wind and water resistant. I have even used plugs from a tire repair kit.
Sterno now sells their fuel separately as a fire starter in addition to the camp stove cans. It comes in a resealable, thick plastic bottle. It might be worth checking out IMO. Note: it might not be the exact same gel as what they use in the cans but I've used it and can confirm it works well for building fires in wet weather.
I for one would like to add that this video was not too long and that i did chuckle quite a lot during the presentation. Great work Mr. Harrell and keep up the great work.
I've always just used gel hand sanitizer, the strong stuff with a lot of alcohol in it. Flipside is if you have to go before lunch you can clean your hands with it and its a bit less of a disaster if it leaks. My thoughts anyways. Though admittedly I don't know how well that would light in the cold.
You don't need anything with dryer lint if it is dry. It takes off easily with a ferro rod. So yes, you would have to carry one in case your lighter failed. And don't leave home without a Gerber or Leatherman type tool on an expedition like Paul is showing.
I love how you, Paul, never seem to take any detail for granted. For example, how you announce Nacho Cheese Doritos as if it were a novelty. It inspires me to appreciate the items I consider for my various uses more carefully
I have used egg carton cups filled with dryer lint and covered in liquid Parafin wax. Let it dry on wax paper. Tear off a couple and carry in plastic bags or large prescription bottles with some hurricane matches. I also have some black pitch from an old Douglas Fir stump. That stuff will light almost on its own but hard to find. I have these in my pack with my aid kit and water purifier. Always have a Bic lighter or two because two is one and one is none. They aren't always reliable when it is bitter cold. Butane freezes before propane. This kind of stuff could save people and is very valuable to outdoorsmen and women. Thank you, Paul. Good luck with the Gundies Awards.
I had a friend with a woodstove who would fill the wells of a fiber egg carton with dryer lint and the paraffin wax . Of course seperate into 12 or 15 units per carton. It worked really well. To take it with you would be fine I suppose if you can transport it easily. But I think other things designed for starting fires might be superior. Great video brother. I enjoyed this and your witt, very much! God bless all here.
If you go this route, take cheapo sandwhich bags and cut sections around corners so you have 'pouches'; place those in the carton slots, but then its easier to pull out etc. you can also use a 'flap of the bag and fold it over top and with a heatgun 'quick' melt/seal it so its like a tidepod esque sealed firestarter. Super jank solution: and I'll just use flare or hexamine fuel tabs.
In my hunting pack I have about 5 handfuls of dryer lint vacuum packed for emergency fire starting. It will light with anything including ferro rod which I also have in my bag. great vid as always.
I know it would only work when the sun is out but I guess it's better than nothing. I carry a magnifying glass with me in my kit. When I was in the boy scouts many, many years ago we started a fire with one and some kindling.
When I saw this video drop late last night, I made a conscious effort to delay watching until there was enough time for comments. So, this morning I watched while sipping my coffee and laughing. Paul seem to have read all of the comments in Part 1 because he sure covered them. As always...great stuff!
11:17 That’s a whole lot of stuff to “put to the test’. But if anyone can do so, Paul (& crew) can…and then some. Great work guys…Paul especially. Thanks.
Great video. I have a “pocket bellows” which is really just a telescopic stainless hollow tube that you blow down to direct air where you want it and keeps your face out of the smoke.
I recently discovered a way to make fire starter from house old things that most of it you would throw away. I buy the big box of eggs from my local grocery store. I use those egg cartons and fill them with dryer lint. cover the lint with Vaseline or candle wax. Take the cardboard box and cut squares to cover each egg divot.Last cut out a square and and wrap it in old news paper or sell paper and put it in your bag. They also work good in fireplaces or wood burning stoves. When I tested one of mine, the egg divot I cut out burned for 15 minutes 20 seconds. I was able to make sixty of them in about one hour and it cost me one far of Vaseline since I also use it to treat dog's ears for mites. I wrote this because there are some people on a very tight budget and there are a lot more places than just the field that can require fire starter. Or if there is a major blackout. In my state we had a long snowy winter and in Texas they are more prepared for the heat than the cold which caused a big black out. Our fireplace saved us. I did not know about this method at that time, and it cost about 20 dollars in my state for 20 fire starters. This method cost me 3 dollars for 60.
This reminds me of an old thread on a physics forum about hypothetical concepts for drying clothes. While unsurprising if you think about it, the convergence of ideas to recreate a household dryer was still amusing to read through. Seems like you get the overwhelming % of being ready to start a fire by storing disposable lighters in a few places for redundancy. It's impressive that the chips were competitive with a lot of the other options though, haha.
My favorite fire helper is used motor oil. You'll need some leaves/paper/light tinder to get started, but it can help a small kindling fire make the jump up to actual logs. It's free, and I'm always getting more. Not very useful for hiking, but it's handy for car/RV camping. Throw some in an old quart bottle after an oil change, and I'm ready for the next time we go camping.
Something people haven't mentioned as a firestarter that works is get a couple of instant light charcoal briquettes (the ones that smell like lighter fluid) and have them in a Ziploc bag or even better a jar, they light easy and pretty much give you an instant bed of coals
Not sure why you would think Vaseline is something we'd laugh at. Hmm. Weird. And yes, we have cotton balls and Vaseline at our home. Even when I was single. And, I've always carried cotton balls and Vaseline on my camping gear. No leaks... ever. And they work great. You sound odd talking about them the way you do. I'll add that I keep them in freezer quart zip lock bags and have some long term ones stored in vacuum bags (also used for freezing game). The bags are compressed and flexible. Much more convenient than most all other fire starters. One or two balls will burn better than any birthday candle could ever hope to. I've used them a number of times with excellent results.
just a tip for anyone who wants to do the cottonball Vaseline. pack an altoids tin, or my favorite a round tobacco tin with cotton balls or pads. then microwave the Vaseline like you would butter, short bursts while stirring. once liquid pour into tin it'll saturate the cotton balls thoroughly without making a big mess.
If you have a firearm, you can also try to shoot the bullet off the cartridge with the firearm, and try to get to the propellant that way. You could also try mixing the propellant with something like pine resin to make it burn slower.
Paul, about the vaseline cotton balls. Those commenters didn't do much research on TH-cam. If you really want to do something like this then: 1. Get cotton discs 2. Soak them with vaseline 3. Cover with wax - this will make them much better for handling and longer burning. Store in something like altoids can, because they crack. 4. Before using break them in half and spread the fibers a little. They burn quite well for about 5-7 min (if covered with wax) with 6-7 inch flames. Pretty waterproof too. Still they take time to make and not that much better than commercial products imho.
Totally agree that these items arent ones primary method of lighting a fire but carrying them with you for other uses but also beeing able to light a fire with them is superb. Its all about creating redundancies. The steel wool works in conjunction with cotton balls or other very dry and fine tinder like a birdsnest.
One of the down sides of steel wool is, if not properly stored it can spontaneously combust. So if you're in the habit of just throwing your survival gear in the corner of the basement until next year's hunting season you could be in for a surprise come July or August...
Yeah, that's one thing that a lot of "diy" firestarter kits seem to lack is how stable they are. Sure they may work...but maybe they work a little TOO well...when you're not looking.
We have a word for when a brand-named thing becomes synonymous for all objects of it's type or purpose: genericide! Brands try *really* hard to prevent it because they can loose control of their trademarks or even have their protections entirely collapse as a result. If you're looking for an easy example "escalator" is one of the strongest.
Walkman is no longer a protected trademark in some areas becase so many people used the term to describe any portable stereo cassette player and radio.
Haven't burst out laughing like that in a while. The pop tarts plug was brilliant.
They're where a deer belongs
seeing Paul in a hardware store parking lot had me in stitches. Something so unnatural and contrasting.
I showed my partner and they said “i dont get it.”
At this point its become such a series of in-jokes i dont know if i do anymore, and cant really explain it adequately.
“Her deer pop tarts”
Literally laughed out loud. That's some gold right there.
@@ns7353 on the other hand, I find his apprent fear of Vaseline baffling.
I went to my local Walmart shortly after I watched this video to get some cotton balls and Vaseline, in order to test it out. As I was walking to the checkout, I was thinking about what you had said about a grown man getting looks when buying Vaseline and started chuckling to myself. When I got to the man running the cash register, he asked me if I had seen the latest Paul Harrell video. I laughed, and said "That's exactly why I'm buying this". We both were subscribers. Excellent video as usual, and congrats on the number of subscribers. You'll be at a million in no time!
Thats hilarious
fake
After he passed, coming back to these is like coming back to a set of tutorials recorded in advanced by a parent or relative who left too soon.
RIP Paul, thanks for the videos, the tips and the laughs.
“Once you get that fire going, don’t try and eat it!” I knew I’ve been doing something wrong this whole time.
The forbidden spicy Dorito.
Flamin’ Hot Doritos… false advertising? This sounds like a case for Stephen P. New🏸
Paul trying to contain his laughter/surprise when the Doritos worked was so genuine.
Sugar burns, too.
I’m surprised Doritos worked because I assumed all the stabilizers in the cheese flavored powders would bind and somehow cake over the oils in the chips. Tried it with regular corn chips but bought in the past and it works well. Not as easy to start as a napkin or bundle of dry grass but
Red hot cheetos or whatever they're called are good too!
That one Dorito chip that fell back into the bag
Funyuns are even more flammable, probably the most flammable snack out there
Paul using Doritos is a certified gamer moment.
It's the new extra hot flavor
As a kid, while camping, I always used to throw doritos into the fire and watch them burst into little fireballs. Those things are no joke lol
Ampersand clan forever😊
He absolutely adores cod just for the realistic gun play, though haha
The doe looking at you like your out of your mind during the steel wool demonstration is pretty much classic!
Photo bomberz
Yeah that was awesome little moment! They know if you’re in Camo they’re in danger lol. I’ve always said if you just walked around in plain clothes they’d never suspect it. I always see the most when it hunting.
"I can haz Doritos?"
@@hotlinepressurewashing3064 Where's the top of his head? 🤣
lol. Was wondering if anyone else caught it. I didn't notice it til 18:18 . Thought it was a dog at first.
Paul is the man we all strive to be but everyone has their weakness, and his is apparently purchasing Vaseline.
I love the deer wandering around in the background in multiple segments!
Also... "don't eat the fire" - awesome tip!
Sounds like a punchline for some good hot sauce.
Deer: We're safe it's just Paul, and it's the off season.
Thanks Paul for the "Dad advice" when cougar hunting! 😉
As I've been told in the past; Having too much lubricant can be a problem, but having too little lubricant is a much bigger problem.
I carry road flares every hunt. They're light, waterproof and burn at 3500 degrees for 15-30 mins. They start everything.
There's a lot to be said for the "I'm not fucking around here" approach. I've yet to see anyone claim they've got something better for starting fires than a hexy tab.
same, i prefer to just carry two of them. those fire sticks he talks about are my backup along with a butane lighter if all hell really comes loose. road flares are like a buck a piece, come in a sealed plastic bag and are good to go. hard to beat outside of straight napalm lmao
I remember reading an article that said pulling bullets/ cutting shells and trying to ignite the powder in a survival situation kept you from wandering further into no man's lands and gave you something to do until you froze to death...
For the corn chips "Fritos" have a ton of grease and will instantly light up really fast. Also good for survival calories
Will the honey bbq twists work too? I really like those ones.
@@kristenrockwell6637 No idea, give it a shot?😜
@@kristenrockwell6637 probably, most chips are the same, only the flavoring powder is different. Try lighting some and see
Cheese pleasers work pretty good. It’s the old Dutch version of cheetos
I would pick Fritos first because I love them in chili
Cotton pads soaked in vasoline then coated in paraffin wax has been my go to. I personally stick to this recipe due to the fact that it will light with just a spark.
After the hellish trench warfare of the winter deer season, the deer thought they had the easy mark when they noticed the lone human out in the cold and attempting to build a fire. They prepared themselves to strike, first one attacker, then two....
Then they noticed it was Paul Harrell and gave up, 'cause ain't nobody got time for all that!
They split before they could be invited to dinner, not the first time some one tried to invite them.
Deer have BRONCHITIS!?!?!? 🤯🤯
Outstanding
Felt like a Scout class with Mr. Paul as the Eagle Scout teacher. I enjoy learning from people that seem to teach so well. Regardless if I’ve had the class or not.
After every rabbit hunt I always save the cotton balls.
Only Paul Harrell could manage to put mule deer in a Pop tart commercial and make it work.
You know Paul Thinks shits getting bad when he's trying to make sure you can cook and not freeze in the bush.
Nah, he's actually sensible and knows it's not going to come to that. At least not in the context that you're implying.
@@jonpresley1163 Are you absolutely sure of that???
@@jonpresley1163 how do you know? I wouldn’t be so sure.
At least he’s aware of the times we are living and knows there’s a good possibility someone out there may be able to survive some in the bush with his demonstrations
Well when he first started doing videos, the group or company he was with, was called Disaster Contingency Specialists.
Paul, the cheap lighters have less fuel for the size, meaning that they have a large bubble inside which allows them to float.
Or any lighter that is half full from use will probably float, but who wants to rely on a half full lighter ?
Bic lighters are also made of thicker plastic, too. Heavier.
I LOVE PAUL HARRELL
Looks like I'm going to watch Paul build another fire
Living here in Wyoming, I've tried several of the methods you describe, but I remember one in particular. A friend told me about the 0000 steel wool/9v battery thing, and I decided to try it. The first try wasn't exactly a roaring success, as the battery wasn't particularly fresh, but it did spark a little. Well, me being me, I decided that the wool needed a little help. We were out in the woods and I thought to impress my wife and kids, so I took out my ever-present can of WD-40 (you can see where I'm going) and sprayed a little on the steel wool. Well, I have to tell you, don't be holding the steel wool when you put the battery to the steel wool/WD-40 combo! Suffice it to say, my long-suffering wife and our equally long-suffering daughters thought this was the funniest thing they'd ever seen! Enough said about petroleum accelerants. Thanks, Paul, for bringing back memories of past family experiences!
Paul Harrell was a true National Treasure 👍👍👍 Rest In Peace…you will be missed my TH-cam Friend 😢😢😭😭
Rest in professional.
I hate this man is gone! Hopefully he is in a better place!! He reminds me of a scout master I had! He was so smart and was always calm even when he shouldn’t have been!!
I'm shocked that Paul liked the Doritos based on his reaction to most other foods in that category.
Based on what he said, I don't think he did. He would burn them as soon as eat them.
@@Lexicologist1971 They worked as a fire starter as well as they would work as a snack, so I think they get a pass.
well now we know he likes Doritios or else he would have gotten a smaller bag. That big bag is expensive.
They are addictive ... lots of MSG, chemical and (maybe aspartame ???) Anyway... they definitely affect your brain's appetite center.
Doritos are delicious, even Paul can’t deny.
I love the deer just meandering through in the background.
Loved the deer during the steel wool segment- so curious as to what this human was doing. And for a tip, I always carry a zippo in one pocket, and a handful of lard in the other. Makes a good fire starter, a good trail snack, and in case I meet a purty lady, a great hair pomade so i look extra spiffy!! No worries about bear, either- almost every kind of critter gets away from me as soon as I approach.
Lol
I second that lol. The LOLs have it. The lol is passed.
I`ve had Zippo lighters fall out of my pocket when bank fishing, retrieved them 15 min. later and they still worked fine.
Zippos are great and all that but a Bic (or equivalent) disposable lighter is superior in the field because you don't have to remember to keep refilling it, plus it can float and only needs drying out if you dunk it. If you must have a wick lighter, the exalted IMCO Super Triplex 6700 is more likely to retain its fluid longer because the snuffer seals the wick better than the loose fitting lid of a Zippo. Plus the entire wick and reservoir can be slid out of the body of the lighter for full access to the flame--its like holding a candle.
My wife works at a Bi-mart.....love that you featured one in a video 😆👍
To date, the three funniest and most unexpected things I’ve seen on TH-cam were 1) Paul, in bed, drawing from under the sheets, in the rain, outdoors, 2) Paul kicking over soda bottles while demonstrating that a 22 is better than nothing, and 3) that pop tart opener. The comment about lubricant at his age is a close second. Just awesome stuff guys. Practical, with a Leslie Neilson dry humour. No wonder I’ve been watching for many years.
If you ever do a #3, we used to drop peanuts into the fire out of boredom, because those darn things would burn forever. I wouldn’t carry them on purpose, but they are small, compact, easy to carry, easy to light if you chip up the first one, and best of all, help you catch a squirrel, or make a snack. 😀. But for real, a piece of bike tire tube. Cut a piece small enough to light, and the rest will burn like a tire dumpster fire.
My fav is thick jute twine, soaked in wax. Burn like a mega candle, and will light with a ferorod if you really fluff it up, and yes, I made a bunch and take them with me. You can hold it under your tinder for ad long as you want, then blow it out to save some for later.
In school, we lit different nuts on fire to measure their calories. They burn well and long. Good point
I typically try not to set my nuts on fire, but thanks for the knowledge drop.
Paul did build half a house just to shoot at it
The funniest thing I saw Paul do was stand in a lake, shirtless, while holding a spatula.
I too found the bed shooting scenario interesting and entertaining. I don't sleep with my Colt Commander any more. I do sleep with my Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt.
I live in Brazil, snow is definitely not a problem to start a fire here, but rain usually is. The best unconventional fire starter I have used is inner tube patch glue. This shit is highly flammable, if you put it directly on water it will still burn. It is also cheap, easy to carry and use. Probably the fumes it releases are toxic, but you won't be breathing it on purpose.
Another thing I've used is aerosol deodorant, spray it on your lighter and you'll have a flamethrower.
Ive loved the lighter x bodyspray combo in my teenage years.
I'll definitely keep rubber cement in mind as an emergency fire starter. Thank you.
"i'd carry the Doritos before this..." made my day. Thanks, Paul.
The Doritos were no joke. I'm adding some to my evac bag after this.
I personally went through the whole gambit of fire starters and concluded the same
Used to be asked to help teach Winter Survival to Boy Scouts, and everyone of these Paul was in my curriculumn. I'm not former military, though I did work for the Feds for a few years in the Dept. of Interior. My Dad and I often went Winter Camping/Backpacking from the time I was 8 on, and most of what I know I owe to him.
Great information you have on your channel. Ine of the best.
One bit of fire aid I have in all my bags and vehicles is a pencil sharpener with plastic canister that catches the shavings. I sharpen a stick with it and leave the shavings there as a fast catching tinder. You can make more if you ever run out just by sharpening a stick. Also when the sticks are dry, the shavings expose the center of the wood, which is most likely to be dry. Lastly, it is a safe and easy way to make small sharpened sticks for holding food over a fire, as a small tie down stake, or for making traps. Great little piece of kit that is light, easy to carry, and cheap.
I don't get many sticks around where I am that can fit in a traditional pencil sharpener.
However, a while ago I did happen upon a "Carrot sharpener" which you're supposed to use to get carrot shavings to put in stir fries or curries which is very nice and you could certainly do it with that.
Problem is it doesn't come with that plastic box for the shavings ;_;
@@moritamikamikara3879 I guess it depends on your exact location if you have sticks that size. I have lived along the East cost USA and everywhere I have been it has worked well, but I guess I just have had the right types of trees.
@@moritamikamikara3879 I think the carrot sharpener is for when people tell you carrots improve eyesight, so you can jam them into your eyes a little better.
Follow me for more pro tips like this one.
Oh! I've seen extra large sharpeners for construction pencils. Would probably work better for larger sticks.
About salvaging powder from cartridges, the .22 is king for that, you can easily remove the projectile with a multitool, and it'll catch a spark from a Ferro rod like nothing else, I've lit fires using that method. Cheap, very lightweight, extremely easy to carry hundreds of rounds and does many jobs. The .22 truly is the most versatile cartridge
Nice addition to part 1. Well done Paul, and thank you. If you ever change your mind about part 3, I would add a segment on ferro rods used with a carbon steel knife. On the Vaseline and cotton ball things, I taught survival skills at my local boy scout troop for many years. I used the Vaseline and cotton ball example as that was one option for young boys. They can get hold of that at home without going to a store. Other troops did it also, so it may be why that idea is so prevalent. Content idea: orienteering, land navigation. So many people get into trouble because they have no idea how to navigate in the wild. Just a thought.
Vaseline is also as good or better than Neosporin to keep wounds from getting infected. It's worth carrying.
@@marshallwickens8697 Just about every triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin, etc) are petroleum jelly (Vaseline) with antibiotic compounds suspended in it. Inversely, I've used neosporin as lip balm because it's pretty much just petroleum jelly anyways.
I would also like to see the ferro rod/flint/magnesium bar fire starter in use.
I was also taught the cotton ball + vaseline trick in a particular Army survival school. Works great, and vaseline has a lot more uses than mentioned in the video lol
THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE PAUL HARRELL VIDEOS I'VE SEEN IN YEARS!!!!!
The wit and dry humor is exactly my cup of coffee and whiskey! -- "Don't EAT the fire"......... I laughed out loud!
But not quite as loud as when he dumped the "Comparing an A1 Platform to the type of ladies I'd date" shtick!!! OMG - there were so many great one-liners in that bit of recording!
I may not be as "seasoned" as you are (I'm 45, or so they tell me), and I'm guessing you've had a few more years to marinate than I, but I'm starting to get all those jokes in an experiential way these days!
---Not the latest, greatest, up-to-datest? Replacement parts? A lot of PMCS & CLP to work correctly???
Paul, did you write that out before hand and practice it before filming it? Or, did that just flow off the top of your head???
Either way, BRAVO!!!!! 😁😆😅🤣😂
BTW - I carry a Bic lighter and the $1 or $2 Carmex or Vaseline small tubes from the "spend extra money section" before the checkout registers in my kit when I'm out hiking alone every weekend. Unscrew the top, squeeze it all over something that burns, and viola!!!! You can easily control how much you use, "aim" where you want it, AND with the screw-off cap, NO mess in the pocket. Along with that, if you have a pocket-sized empty Ibuprofen container, you can always make your Carmex or Vaseline soaked balls (ha) ahead of time and store them inside of it - Again, no mess in the pockets when you have the tight sealing lid and puncture resistant container. I just chuck those few small items into my hiking kit or my pockets before I head out.
Pro tip from a smoker regarding lighters. If your lighter gets wet and you need it to work quickly, friction is the way to go. Just spin the wheel against something quickly. You should get a spark again in less than a minute.
LMAO.. as Paul was messing with getting the fire going.. the deer were like "allright boys.. move in slow... sloooow.. were gonna eat this human for dinner .. YEAH!!!" "This is for Uncle George!!"
something about paul's consistent authoritative tone and position in the frame throughout the bi-mart compared to on the range makes it feel like going to the store is just another field demonstration for him, like he's just about to demonstrate the proper procedure for loading the cart during a tactical shopping trip
agreed 100% 😂 he never strayed far from his tone and demeanor
I spent most of my LE career working in rural (as in off the road system) Alaska.
One day out in Western Alaska in a village next to the Bering Sea, I'm having coffee in my office with a respected elder. It's cold out, winter next to the Bering. Probably -20f and blowing 50.
I ask him, "when it's this cold and hard (ref the wind), how do you keep warm?"
So he looks at me like I'm a fool.
I hang on his next words, waiting for wisdom...
"You stay home!"
The very best winter survival advice I ever heard
I noticed that the deer were curious as to what Paul was up to... Until the rifle showed up.
TIME STAMPS ⚠Contains Spoilers:
*Bonus Content: Spot the deer🦌
00:00 ~ Pre-Title Intro "Where a deer belongs" 🎸
00:35 ~ Main topic and viewer firestarter anecdotes
02:32 ~ Paul visits BI-MART for supplies
04:56 ~ Do Bic lighters really float?
06:53 ~ Firestarters you can make
09:09 ~ Paul's woman-to-AR platform comparison
11:19 ~ Fire starting begins
14:47 ~ Doritos
16:53 ~ Steel wool
21:25 ~ Your firearm's propellant
30:09 ~ No matches, no lighter but you have a shotgun + shells
38:53 ~ Paraffin coated cloth
42:25 ~ What you do have versus "what you're gonna have"
43:14 ~ The Star of the Show
18:05 ~ Friendly neighborhood deer checking out the smoke
3:20 ~ Harrell doing the Hustle
gotta make sure you have the flaming hit doritos, the cool ranch doesn't work
18:18 Deer strolling through. (before that, but I noticed at 18:18 ).
There might be a second deer at 20:42. I don't think it's the same one.
Cute deer. We have a family in the field behind our house, they occasionally come up to the yard.
One thing to keep in mind concerning shotshells and disposable lighters is that most plastic will burn. Even if your lighter is completely empty of fluid, it still has a striker capable of making a spark, and the body is made of plastic. Shavings from the shotshell or the body of the lighter may not make good fire STARTING material, but they can be a good additive to sustain a short-lived ignition source like gunpowder long enough to get your tinder lit.
Vaseline has been in every medicine cabinet of every family member i have. Great grandma on down. Between Vaseline, moonshine, and robitussin, every ailment could be cured. Although I know what you’re hinting at, and I still got a good chuckle out of it.
That deer is really interested in the steel wool method !
New meat target idea should include corn nuts, those deer are getting tired of pulverized oranges.
So , I SHOULDN’T try to eat the fire ? Ok I’m writing this down - this is Gold !
😂Depending on how much they're paying for the show...
The only true legend in the land is this man. Thank you Paul.
Making a fire in adverse conditions without having a "Bic" lighter can prove to be very difficult! I was surprised that no one had suggested making a fire starter out of duct tape, the adhesive on duct tape is flammable and burns for a considerable amount of time, enough to start a fire with damp or wet tinder. No need for part three, but you can check it out for yourself.
Always cute when the deer do a cameo. : ))
suprised to see the disparaging comments about vasaline, as a moisture barrier, lip and face coating, and in wound care it is unmatched.
Steel wool and a nine volt battery is straight out of the field manual. Also from the military chapstick and cottinballs or pocket lint, duct tape
HEY POP TARTS...Give this man a sponsorship...at my age I had all put forgotten that Popstars existed...but because of Paul I recently bought two boxes to take to my hunting camp...
PAUL HARRELL IS GOOD FOR POP TARTS!!!
I sure hope there's a part 3 (and 4!)
Paul, I can't believe you let The Hustle go without dancing in the store.😆 Yup, I'm THAT old 🕺💃
As always, thank you for your presentations. A few things most of us already have: Our cleaning patches and CLP/oil. In fact, instead of throwing them away, I've been saving all my used patches in a zip lock bag for just this purpose. Basically already oil soaked rags.
Sounds like a good idea!!!
Just commented this on part 1 lol. I keep mine in a mini m&ms container since it has a nice integrated, tight fitting cap and lets me fit a lighter in with it.
If you ever want to do a follow up to this one Paul, it would be neat to explore more of the items that ordinary people might have on their person, in their car, purse, pack, etc. Things like receipts, hand sanitizer, maybe a styrofoam cup, sock or pocket lint, maybe parts of clothing or vehicle upholstery. There's also maybe trying to get a bit of fuel or oil out of the car, and there's also a thing I've seen done where they actually lay some tinder on the battery, and then bridge the connection with a rifle barrel, or a wrench, piece of the jack assembly, etc. The idea is to get a good enough spark from the car battery. But that does mean starting an open fire under your hood and on top of your live car battery...
You could also look in to some very plain/standard first aid kits to see if there's anything useful in there. There's lot's of places to look and ideas to explore if you're set your context to being things that the ordinary and otherwise unprepared person might actually have available to them in an unforseen emergency situation. Perhaps get an phone that someone doesn't care about, and possibly get a lens out of it, or some other useful material. I know you could probably get a decent little lens from a camera. There's lot's of cool things you could try out. Could be a fun presentation.
I always carried 2 things when camping: a flint & magnesium firestarter, and a candle & a lighter. I never used the magnesium bar. The candle worked every time.
Tea lights at the dollar store are cheap.
It's hard to tell but the Big pine tree seems to have a long scar which should have resin which is quite flammable. Also if you cut a v-notch in the shot shell from the side into the powder the whole plastic fuel is available for the fire
The most adverse camping trip I've ever been on was a Wisconsin river camping trip during a week of torrential downpour and floods (how I got there is a long story). Day 1, our stove fell out of a swamped canoe, and suddenly, being able to start a fire with only soaked fuel was an essential skill. On this trip I learned a few things. 1, the waterproof matches that stay lit underwater do work, but they come with strikers that are not at all waterproof, and you only find that out after needing them very badly in the field. 2. Homemade crayon wax and dryer lindt firestarters work great, but if you only made two, they only work great twice. 3. Having many sealed rolls of paper towels is great when the whole world is soaked, and burning half a roll can get even the most drenched twigs lit. The moral of the story is that even in the worst conditions with everything going wrong, you can still succeed if you have enough prior training and can be resourceful in the moment.
a bit of cotton soaked in baby oil is an unstoppaple fire starter.. i regularly start fires with very little tender as the cotton or other material burns like a wick for an extended period of time.
Love your videos. Fritos burn better than Doritos. Black beard fire starters work awesome. They are small, wind and water resistant. I have even used plugs from a tire repair kit.
9:20 deer in the background to the left by the trees.... 🤣
Sterno now sells their fuel separately as a fire starter in addition to the camp stove cans. It comes in a resealable, thick plastic bottle. It might be worth checking out IMO. Note: it might not be the exact same gel as what they use in the cans but I've used it and can confirm it works well for building fires in wet weather.
Love the comedy stuff man. You could be the new Red Green.
I for one would like to add that this video was not too long and that i did chuckle quite a lot during the presentation. Great work Mr. Harrell and keep up the great work.
those fire sticks work well from the previous fire lighting video, here in kiwi land an old bicycle tube cut into small strips is a fav works gd to
I've always just used gel hand sanitizer, the strong stuff with a lot of alcohol in it. Flipside is if you have to go before lunch you can clean your hands with it and its a bit less of a disaster if it leaks. My thoughts anyways. Though admittedly I don't know how well that would light in the cold.
I've also done this one. It lights just fine in the cold
You don't need anything with dryer lint if it is dry. It takes off easily with a ferro rod. So yes, you would have to carry one in case your lighter failed. And don't leave home without a Gerber or Leatherman type tool on an expedition like Paul is showing.
The CLP reference killed me. I’m going to have to watch the rest of this tomorrow when I recover. This whole video is just priceless.
I love how you, Paul, never seem to take any detail for granted. For example, how you announce Nacho Cheese Doritos as if it were a novelty. It inspires me to appreciate the items I consider for my various uses more carefully
I have used egg carton cups filled with dryer lint and covered in liquid Parafin wax.
Let it dry on wax paper. Tear off a couple and carry in plastic bags or large prescription bottles with some hurricane matches. I also have some black pitch from an old Douglas Fir stump. That stuff will light almost on its own but hard to find. I have these in my pack with my aid kit and water purifier. Always have a Bic lighter or two because two is one and one is none. They aren't always reliable when it is bitter cold. Butane freezes before propane.
This kind of stuff could save people and is very valuable to outdoorsmen and women.
Thank you, Paul. Good luck with the Gundies Awards.
I had a friend with a woodstove who would fill the wells of a fiber egg carton with dryer lint and the paraffin wax . Of course seperate into 12 or 15 units per carton. It worked really well. To take it with you would be fine I suppose if you can transport it easily. But I think other things designed for starting fires might be superior.
Great video brother. I enjoyed this and your witt, very much!
God bless all here.
If you go this route, take cheapo sandwhich bags and cut sections around corners so you have 'pouches'; place those in the carton slots, but then its easier to pull out etc. you can also use a 'flap of the bag and fold it over top and with a heatgun 'quick' melt/seal it so its like a tidepod esque sealed firestarter.
Super jank solution: and I'll just use flare or hexamine fuel tabs.
PART 3: Tinder Tubes, Ferrocerium Rods, Fire Pistons & making heat by rubbing wood! 😆
In my hunting pack I have about 5 handfuls of dryer lint vacuum packed for emergency fire starting. It will light with anything including ferro rod which I also have in my bag. great vid as always.
Same here. The lint is awesome stuff for fire starting.
@@skippylippy547 It really is. Amazes me that there aren't more drier fires!
I know it would only work when the sun is out but I guess it's better than nothing. I carry a magnifying glass with me in my kit. When I was in the boy scouts many, many years ago we started a fire with one and some kindling.
When I saw this video drop late last night, I made a conscious effort to delay watching until there was enough time for comments. So, this morning I watched while sipping my coffee and laughing. Paul seem to have read all of the comments in Part 1 because he sure covered them. As always...great stuff!
11:17 That’s a whole lot of stuff to “put to the test’. But if anyone can do so, Paul (& crew) can…and then some. Great work guys…Paul especially. Thanks.
Great video. I have a “pocket bellows” which is really just a telescopic stainless hollow tube that you blow down to direct air where you want it and keeps your face out of the smoke.
I recently discovered a way to make fire starter from house old things that most of it you would throw away. I buy the big box of eggs from my local grocery store. I use those egg cartons and fill them with dryer lint. cover the lint with Vaseline or candle wax. Take the cardboard box and cut squares to cover each egg divot.Last cut out a square and and wrap it in old news paper or sell paper and put it in your bag. They also work good in fireplaces or wood burning stoves. When I tested one of mine, the egg divot I cut out burned for 15 minutes 20 seconds. I was able to make sixty of them in about one hour and it cost me one far of Vaseline since I also use it to treat dog's ears for mites. I wrote this because there are some people on a very tight budget and there are a lot more places than just the field that can require fire starter. Or if there is a major blackout. In my state we had a long snowy winter and in Texas they are more prepared for the heat than the cold which caused a big black out. Our fireplace saved us. I did not know about this method at that time, and it cost about 20 dollars in my state for 20 fire starters. This method cost me 3 dollars for 60.
This reminds me of an old thread on a physics forum about hypothetical concepts for drying clothes. While unsurprising if you think about it, the convergence of ideas to recreate a household dryer was still amusing to read through. Seems like you get the overwhelming % of being ready to start a fire by storing disposable lighters in a few places for redundancy. It's impressive that the chips were competitive with a lot of the other options though, haha.
My favorite fire helper is used motor oil. You'll need some leaves/paper/light tinder to get started, but it can help a small kindling fire make the jump up to actual logs. It's free, and I'm always getting more. Not very useful for hiking, but it's handy for car/RV camping. Throw some in an old quart bottle after an oil change, and I'm ready for the next time we go camping.
I take a gallon with me when we go camping and it starts the fire right up!
Something people haven't mentioned as a firestarter that works is get a couple of instant light charcoal briquettes (the ones that smell like lighter fluid) and have them in a Ziploc bag or even better a jar, they light easy and pretty much give you an instant bed of coals
Not sure why you would think Vaseline is something we'd laugh at. Hmm. Weird. And yes, we have cotton balls and Vaseline at our home. Even when I was single. And, I've always carried cotton balls and Vaseline on my camping gear. No leaks... ever. And they work great.
You sound odd talking about them the way you do.
I'll add that I keep them in freezer quart zip lock bags and have some long term ones stored in vacuum bags (also used for freezing game). The bags are compressed and flexible. Much more convenient than most all other fire starters. One or two balls will burn better than any birthday candle could ever hope to. I've used them a number of times with excellent results.
just a tip for anyone who wants to do the cottonball Vaseline. pack an altoids tin, or my favorite a round tobacco tin with cotton balls or pads. then microwave the Vaseline like you would butter, short bursts while stirring. once liquid pour into tin it'll saturate the cotton balls thoroughly without making a big mess.
If you have a firearm, you can also try to shoot the bullet off the cartridge with the firearm, and try to get to the propellant that way. You could also try mixing the propellant with something like pine resin to make it burn slower.
Something about the shots of Paul in a department store just make me laugh. It's like two worlds crossing over to blend that which should never touch
Paul, about the vaseline cotton balls. Those commenters didn't do much research on TH-cam.
If you really want to do something like this then:
1. Get cotton discs
2. Soak them with vaseline
3. Cover with wax - this will make them much better for handling and longer burning. Store in something like altoids can, because they crack.
4. Before using break them in half and spread the fibers a little.
They burn quite well for about 5-7 min (if covered with wax) with 6-7 inch flames. Pretty waterproof too.
Still they take time to make and not that much better than commercial products imho.
Extra points for the deer walking behind you as you try to get the 9 volt trick to work 😂
I kept imagining Paul out there hunting deer and not finding a one, deciding to light a fire for the night.
Seems underrated as the actual ignition source vs the lighter in each other method
Totally agree that these items arent ones primary method of lighting a fire but carrying them with you for other uses but also beeing able to light a fire with them is superb.
Its all about creating redundancies.
The steel wool works in conjunction with cotton balls or other very dry and fine tinder like a birdsnest.
With great knowledge comes great dry humor. Thanks Paul!
One of the down sides of steel wool is, if not properly stored it can spontaneously combust. So if you're in the habit of just throwing your survival gear in the corner of the basement until next year's hunting season you could be in for a surprise come July or August...
Yeah, that's one thing that a lot of "diy" firestarter kits seem to lack is how stable they are. Sure they may work...but maybe they work a little TOO well...when you're not looking.
That intro, for laughing out loud! Looking forward to the contents of this video!
...don't...try...and...eat it...got it! The good info you get here is amazing, thanks Paul!
We have a word for when a brand-named thing becomes synonymous for all objects of it's type or purpose: genericide! Brands try *really* hard to prevent it because they can loose control of their trademarks or even have their protections entirely collapse as a result. If you're looking for an easy example "escalator" is one of the strongest.
Walkman is no longer a protected trademark in some areas becase so many people used the term to describe any portable stereo cassette player and radio.