This weekend, I decided to make some cotton ball firestarters while watching a boring movie.

I tested one of them and found out that they burn with a nice flame for about 3 minutes. I am now moving to this firestarter instead of dryer lint! One downside : boy these balls can be messy! Since my survival containers are flat, I put the soaked balls in a small Ziploc bag; I guess the film containers would work fine also (lots of members here use that).

Bottom line : gross, cheap, VERY effective. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the report. I've been thinking of making some as well. I just need to get to the local drug store to get the supplies.

Just had a thought, would Q-Tips/Vaseline work? I know they wouldn't burn as long, but their shape, like matches and twigs, might lend itself to more control over the flame. Has anyone tried that?

I have tried the Fuji film canisters, and have had a problem with them. I left them in an ammo box that I use for my "car kit." The heat tended to melt the petrolium jelly, and the stuff ran out between the canister and the lid. It made a mess all over the inside of the kit. So I wrapped a layer of electrical tape around the seam to fix this problem.

The Fuji canisters are the clear ones. The black canisters with the grey lids are Kodak. I have not tried those. Any experiences with leaking on those?

If you're getting that much leakage, you've got too much PJ. Remember, when making these things, a dab'll do ya, I usually put about a teaspoon of PJ in a quart ziploc, along with about thirty cotton balls, knead it in, carry it in an inside pocket for a day, and the cotton balls'll come out saturated, but not gummy, and fluffed up, I've gotten burn times of over four minutes (can't seem to break five regardless of how I mix 'em up) <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Troy

Although I carry Q-tips in my Get Home Bag, when useing Vasiline soaked cotton balls as a fire starter I prefer to tear them in two. I fluff one half to take a spark. The other half I wrap around the end of a twig (sort of like a Q-tip) and light it from the first half.
I then have better flame location control when lighting a prepared teepee of kindleing.

Scott

The vasoline on a Q-tip burns okay, a little slower than a regular match, then they die shortly after the flame gets to the dry stick. I used the fiber stick ones, not the hollow plastic tube, which might fall off as a glob of burning plastic.

The cotton balls don't need to be totally saturated with the Vasoline.

Sue

The "Purell" antibacterial hand lotion is an expedient fire source, too.

It contains alcohol and burns with a nice, blue flame.

Not sure about its longevity outside of the bottle though, since alcohol likes to evaporate. I've got a bottle or two in the car as it's flu/cold season. Nice to know it's there "just in case".

I've never liked keeping stuff in film cans. The tops pop off too easily. Countycomm has some $1.00 screw-top gasketed plastic match cases about the same volume (taller but narrower) as a film can. Those seem good for stuff like this. I posted a "review" a month or so ago--yeah, found it:

http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Board=campfire&Number=56209

Your post and I believe it was Susan's from another recent post reminded me of one of my favorite short stories of all time. Jack London, I'm sure a familiar literary figure to those who frequent this site, put down one of the most telling and satisfyingly dark works in "To Build a Fire" (If you haven't ever read it, I strongly recommend you do).

My point is that whenever I'm planning on being out in the wild, I'm going to be equipped mentally and physically. Not only will I be carrying matches, sparklite, ferro rod, and lighter along with a quick fuel source (not just tinder), but I'm also going to make damn sure that I have some large motor control fire sources like a flare and big trigger lighter (BBQ style ones). I don't think I want my life depending on my ability to unscrew a match vault when my fingers are so cold they couldn't hold onto the match. Maybe a pushbutton ignition camp heater/propane tank hanging off my belt at all times? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Why not include about six or so of the propane torches with the long, slim propane bottle? They would make a nice clanking sound in the woods and ward off the bears. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Bee,

I am with you. The PF cotton balls burn great but are too messy. Also if they get wet they will not light with a spark. Using a small Zip-loc bag seems to be the best storage for tinder. The film canisters can be hard to open when cold. With the plastic bag you can see in and you can get into it with a knife if needed.

I suggest you switch from PJ cotton balls to Coghlan's Emergency Tinder. It burns for a good 5 minutes and will light from a spark no matter how long it is soaked in water. Just pull it in half and put the halves back togather with the frayed ends sticking up. It work the best of anything I have tried. A fat wood stick also works well. You scrape the side until you get a quarter size pile of scrapings. It will light with a spark. It only burns for about half a minute and it makes a sticky goo on your blade.

I read somewhere that instead of Vaseline petroleum you can use Neosporin and that way you kill 2 birds with one stone, have a fire starter and also something to desinfect and clean a wound. I have never tried that myself but I will sometime. Have anybody try the Neosporin impregnated cotton balls?

I have yet to find these. Tried Wally's, Bass Pro, Acadamy Sports, etc.

Any other ideas for a source? Can they be ordered on-line and shipped?

We have them, in Phoenix, at REI and Sportsman's Warehouse. You can order them from REI on the WEB. They only cost $3.00 for a package of 10. Please try some, if you can, and tell us what you think.

I have tried it and it does work but not quite a well as PJ cotton balls. It has been suggest to keep the antibiotic in it's package and the cotton ball plain until you need them. Then you can use them how you need them. I'm not a fan of that idea. I don't won't to be concerned if I am raiding my FAK for fire or vice versa. Somethings are too important to be "too clever by half."

But won't the subsequent burns from trying to treat a wound with a burning cotton ball full of Neosporin be problematic?

I'm here all week folks. Please tip the waitstaff. LOL

Seriously though, what if you need both first aid and to start a fire?

I've tried everything discussed so far, and am happy with PJ/Cotton..to catch a spark and then light tinder. I have soda straws stuffed with the PJ/Cotton stashed all over my kit. That being said, just for the "back up" knowledge, I tried out the following (remember, my criteria was to catch a spark and then flame enough to ignite tinder):
1) Neosporin - on a piece of 4x4 gauze. Worked fine. The Neosporin was in a foil pack. It has a petroleum jelly "base" anyway.
2) 4x4 gauze pad rubbed with Chapstick. Worked fine. Again, some of the lip balms are petroleum based, some are carnuba wax based. Both have worked fine for me.
3) Alcohol Prep Pad (alcohol, not benzalkonium chloride) Just opened and hit with sparks.. great blue flame and it started tinder just fine! These little pads are stowable everywhere!.

If I use a match, lighter, or some other actual FLAME (not spark): I light a ranger band sized strip of bike innertube. This will start fairly poor tinder. Stinks.. drips hot burning rubber everywhere (not a disadvantage, though).. but try it!

That's a great idea about the alcohol prep pads!!

I placed my cotton balls/PJ in a clear film canister... It works fine, and it looks nicer than a folded up snack-size Ziploc bag.

Just use your knife's blade or a small twig to take the balls out from the canister. Case closed. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Bee,

The craft stores sell bags that are very small and are just the right size. I pray your film canisters never freezes hard when you need to open it.

Here's what I did for petroleum jelly (I don't know if it is a good idea or not...)

1) Fly internationally somewhere. Collect the toothbrush and toothpaste they give you on the flight.
2) The toothpaste I got was in a small plastic squeeze tube with a screw-on lid. Exactly like a regular toothpaste tube, but miniature (about 1.5" long). If yours is not like that then find something else.
3) Empty the tube (the toothpaste in these is like gelled washing up liquid with peppermint oil and ground glass). Rinse, dry and leave in a warm place so it's really dry.
4) Get a small syringe (pharmacy) and a piece of heatshrink tubing about 2" long (electronics hobby shop)
5) Shrink the tubing onto the syringe. It'll grip tightly and make a small diameter nozzle.
6) Put your tub of jelly in a warm place for a while until it is runny.
7) Fill the syringe with jelly, inject it into the tube. Use the nozzle to start injecting at the bottom of the tube, and withdraw the syringe as you fill the tube, this should ensure the tube is full from the end with no bubbles.
8) Put the top on and label the tube.

You now have a small amount of jelly in an easy-to-dispense form. Take some *dry* cotton balls with you and smear a little jelly on them when you are ready- less mess. Also, use the jelly on some tinder or twigs to help a fire get established.

A

I have also seen small tubes of PJ based lotion and lip ointment that would be at least as small as this without the hassle. And as some have stated, a small tube of neosporin or triple AB would work. Granted, your option is certainly the cheaper one. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Washing up liquid... Ah, how I miss my friends in Sydney....

How do you keep your cotton balls dry? If they get wet they will not light with a ferro rod, will they?

Like this?

The jelly is water repellant. It's a light petrochem grease.

I think I will try smearing PJ on the kindling next time I start a fire to see if it helps. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

A good way to store greasy cotton balls is inside plastic drinking straws. Cut a straw in half. Cut the ends in convex semi circles (so the corners are rounded rather than straight across). Pinch one end closed with a pair of hemostats. Melt the end with a BIC lighter so it's sealed. Stretch out your greased cotton balls into long strings. Stuff them into the straw using a toothpick or Q-Tip with the end cut off to pack them down tight. Pinch remaining end of straw closed with hemostats when full of cotton. Melt end. Wipe excess vasoline off outside of straw. Waterprrof. Not messy to store. Cut open with a pocket knife lengthwise to extract cotton. Fluff cotton. You can sometimes find really fat plastic straws at specialty places like coffee/tea shops. I've got some that have to be at least 1/3 inch in diameter. You can cram a bunch of cotton balls in there.

You can get large diameter drinking straws at mcdonalds. They use large ones because it makes drinking the milkshakes easier.

What about paraffin pads, normally called "firelighters" for barbecues and woodburners, this stuff is like a white solid pad easy to split in small pieces and store it in a small container. A small piece like 2x2 in. lasts on fire for more than 15min.
The pros are:
Windproof
Easy to carry (solid)
Long shelf life
Cheap to buy (here costs like a dolar an 8x6 in. packet)
Esay to handle (not messy, just a bit smelly like kerosene)
You can shape it with knife to store in any container.

Anyone try lithium grease instead of PJ? Hmm.

-john

Is there a rule to soaking? If not why not carry sealed pocket of jelly (one time use like you find in hosp) with few dry cotton balls? Seems like a cleaner idea.

Not yet. But I have tried a product called Howard Feed-N-Wax which is a blend of orange oil, carnuba wax, beeswax and petroleum distillate. Worked well. Next I will try the same product but let the soaked cotton sit for a while in a sealed container to see if I still get good results.
Kenn

Seems like quite a few folks are looking to replace the venerable cotton ball/vaseline fire starter... and missing the point. Cotton balls and vaseline can be found, already sitting there, in almost any home... already there, nothing to buy. If properly made/used, the combination works as well or better than any firestarter you can buy (at a higher price) to do the same thing. If someone comes up with a home made firestarter that is as simple and effective as CB/PJ, they'll be doing a great service to all, but to suggest that you can BUY a replacement is missing the point... just my humble opinion.

Troy

gauze 2x2s dipped like candles?

Easy to make, supplies are common. End product won't be spark friendly like the cbpj, but should like fine from flame.

Ergo my boy scout firestarter using all recycled materials (dryer lint, candle stubs, and paper egg cartons).

This is perhaps one step above the cotton balls, since it leads to recycling.

There ya go... that's the idea.

Troy