Welcome Stretch.
I knew about the steel wool trick and liked it because it could be started by either a battery or a spark. I tried this a long time ago, but found that the steel wool degraded (rust) in storage, so I tossed the idea. However your addition of parafin oil gives this a new twist, since in theory this would prevent the rustproblem, as well as make the glowing steel wool burst into flame. I'll give this approach a try. Thanks for the tip.
I make my own dependable waterproof firestartes (tinder and first stage fuel). They won't stress your budget and they have infinite shelf life.
They consist of 3 inch pencil-thick pieces of fatwood with a PJ cottonball spun around one end. I looks sort of like a caveman's q-tip. They readily accept a spark and burn very hot and very long. Try this, you'll like it. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Regards,
Pharaoh.