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="" />