Hello to everyone. I'm new to this forum and have been reading posts for several days before signing up. Great info!
I was reading the thread (started 07/2006) about using the Sparklight firestarter. I am going to buy two of those: one for me and one for my daughter.
We have been using the magnesium/flint (Doan) method. As starter, we've used 000 steel wool, with several drops of parrafin oil soaked into it, stored in a small ziplock bag. We tear out several strans (so it's light and fluffy), place it on top of dried tinder, and use the BACK of my knife blade to strike the sparks. If it's saturated (lightly) with the parrafin oil, the steel wool will produce a nice flame for about 20 seconds to one minute. Then we reach under and wrap the tinder around to get it started.
Anyway, I guess most of you know about the steel wool tinder. I'm going to try the cotton ball/vaseline tinder next.
....just thought I would say "hi" and post this.