Gas doesn't burn wood if you put it on the wood, you need to put it UNDER the wood. In my junior high school science class, some kids would douse their hand in alcohol, and light it. It doesn't hurt, because the evaporation of the alcohol cools your hand off as much as the flames heat it up*. Gas on wood is similar. Plus, green wood also won't burn very readily, the water content keeps it from burning.


*Note: You have to make sure you put it out before the alcohol is all gone. Also, don't do it if you have hair on your arms, otherwise that will change!

I bet what Goatrider said is correct about the gas burning off. I can't imagine a gallon and a half of gas not getting a fire going!
I find that no matter how often I am out or how much older I get, I still learn something new every time. It may be something simple or it could be something major. Often you find a piece of equipment is inadequate or fails, sometimes you realize all of a sudden that you need to have something with you that you left behind or need to purchase. Maybe that is why I have so much gear, I like to try things out, that way I learn myself what works and what doesn't. CHeers!

this is precisely why CABELAS has more of MY money than I do!!!

Is the vasaline there to keep the cotton dry or some other purpose? Dry cotton balls light just as well as vasaline-dipped.

I also tried Neosporin - it lights just as well and adds another use for the cotton balls.

It's there to make it burn longer and hotter. The more you add, the longer it burns, but the harder it is to light. Dry is easiest to light.

Interesting take on using that Neosporin...I might have to try that as that would be a useful thing to have to treat minor injuries or cuts. when I go riding my wheelers this weekend, I am gonna try this vasoline soaked cotton ball thing once again and try to perfect that process....hopefully, the weather will be conducive to fire-making....wouldn't want to try making fire in the rain! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Anything that you might have on you that is Vasoline- or oil-based could probably be used: lipstick (yeah, guys!), Chapstick, lanolin-based hand lotions, etc).

About the waxed paper: I just slipped 3 credit credit-sized pieces inside my EDC flat -- crumpled first takes too much space, & I can always crumple them when the need arises.

Sue

The petroleum jelly is a fuel. The peroleum jelly is melted by the flame and wicked to the surface by the cotton. The petroleum jelly burns off first. After all the fuel is used up, the cotton ball burns up, but hopefully by this time your fire is well underway.

Technically speaking, the petroleum jelly does not make the cotton burn longer. A cotton ball will burn up in about 30 seconds. The petroleum jelly on the cotton ball will just burn for 2 or 3 minutes before the cotton ball starts to burn.

So you want the petroleum jelly on the outside and dry cotton on the inside because the dry cotton will readily accept the spark and turn it into flame which in turn starts to melt the petroleum jelly and bring it to the surface. This said, more petroleum jelly might be good as long as the middle of the cotton remains dry and you can pull the cotton ball apart without pressing all that extra jelly into the middle. The petroleum jelly probably also keeps the inside of the cotton ball dry too, so even though it might be a stretch, it does in effect water proof the cotton.

Cody Lundin even points out that the excess petroleum jelly can be used on dry skin. This makes your fire starter a multi use item.

I use the same technique and it hasn't let me down yet. In my PSK I keep the cotton wall in drinking straws as well but I seal the end by using hot pliers

MMullins,

The K&M Industries that makes the matchcase does not have a website.

Keith Lunders and his wife make these and soon....fingers-crossed soon, they should be available once again.



They will NOT be engraved but will come in brass or black anodized aluminum.

I am trying to get a few orange powdercoated versions too, but this may not happen.



I will be assisting the Lunders out with these and will announce when they become available.