The other thread on tinder prompted me to do a quick test of my two favorite tinders. I carry dryer lint in a SEALED film canister (Sealed because the tops tend to pop off)

The winner? Dryer lint, hands down.

See for yourself (low-rez video)

www.focazio.com/equipped/tindertest.mov (requires Quicktime, which is free, from www.apple.com/quicktime)

Cool! Dryler lint lights easy <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (Of course depends on what kinda link too.)

I think someone else mentioned a pencil sharpener being a waste as any decet knife should be able to make similiar filings... I agree too.

Remember with tinder it's not only how easy it can light but how easy it can light your fire and dryer lint while goes up easy also burns pretty quick. I haven't done my tests yet but that's what I saw when testing just dryer lint. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Nice vid thanks.

No argument here. But there are a couple things the sharpener seems to do better than the knife. For one thing, I find it a lot quicker to generate uniformly thin shavings. Second, it seems to be much easier to keep the shavings confined to one spot. I mean, if it's windy, you can hold the sharpener in one hand turned so the shavings stay in your hand. YMMV.

Martin-

Did you take any special precautions to ensure that your lint was cotton-based? I recall someone pointing out in an earlier discussion that lint from synthetic materials has a tendency to melt, rather than create a useable flame. Or did you not find that to be an issue?

Dan

Nice video!

Now try a Vaseline treated cotton ball next to your dryer lint. Also, try a piece of pine pitch wood. Take the pitch wood and scrape the side with your knife until you get a pile about the size of a quarter. You will find that they both light easily and have a good flame and good burn time. The treated cotton ball it tops in every way.

My lint collection proceducre was to walk into the laundry room, grab a fistfull of whatever was in the trash, and light it.

We don't have/use many synthetics, so it was probobly mostly cotton

In my house probably 75% of what we wear is cotton and a lot of the other 25% goes to the dry cleaner's so it's a pretty safe bet that our lint will light well on any given trip to the laundry room. I use the same "highly scientific" method as Martin for gathering my lint and no problems so far. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

This whole thing is so weird to me -- while I was REALLY laid up for about 3 months, I watched 6 survial oriented forums. I saw pencil sharpeners come and go on several of them (Mike -- you with me?)

But there were few actual tests. Hey, try it in your woods. If it works, good. If not, move on to the next mode of fire starting. Cody says 3; I can't really count what Doug says, but it sure is more than one.