I found the tinder sticks made by Coughlan to fall apart easily also. I pay a little more for them, but similar ones made by Coleman don't break as easily. They come in a robust ziplock bag, but I cut them to size to put them into a real small tin to keep them from breaking and making a mess in my BOB. They flame up excellently, and one cut about twice the size of a bullion cube will burn for about 5 minutes.

I'm still looking for the perfect homemade tinder. I guess from what I've been doing making different tinder might make somebody think I'm a pyromaniac.