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#271601 - 09/08/14 11:58 PM Mineral Oil instead of Petroleum Jelly?
ireckon Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 04/01/10
Posts: 1629
Loc: Northern California
I tried out mineral oil on cotton as tinder. It works well. I heard somebody say mineral oil burns hotter than petroleum jelly (PJ), but I couldn't find any data to prove that. Mineral oil is cleaner to manage (not a big deal). However, PJ has more alternative uses I think.

For tinder, do you carry mineral oil and cotton, or PJ and cotton?
Mineral oil or petroleum jelly?
Only one choice allowed


Votes accepted starting: 09/08/14 11:57 PM
You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.
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#271602 - 09/09/14 12:02 AM Re: Mineral Oil instead of Petroleum Jelly? [Re: ireckon]
chaosmagnet Offline
Sheriff
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/03/09
Posts: 3819
Loc: USA
Having tried a number of things, I'm carrying Tinder-Quik. I've got Purel as a backup.

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#271603 - 09/09/14 12:50 AM Re: Mineral Oil instead of Petroleum Jelly? [Re: ireckon]
JerryFountain Offline
Addict

Registered: 12/06/07
Posts: 418
Loc: St. Petersburg, Florida
I reckon,

You need 1more option, Sometimes. Like Chaosmagnet, I normally carry Tinder-Quick, but sometimes go back to PJ.

Respectfully,

Jerry

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#271605 - 09/09/14 04:50 AM Re: Mineral Oil instead of Petroleum Jelly? [Re: ireckon]
ireckon Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 04/01/10
Posts: 1629
Loc: Northern California
Tinder-Quik is in a tough market. I can get 13 ounces of Vaseline and 500 cotton balls for about $7, and these items have many other uses besides fire starting.
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#271608 - 09/09/14 08:45 AM Re: Mineral Oil instead of Petroleum Jelly? [Re: ireckon]
Phaedrus Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3148
Loc: Big Sky Country
Originally Posted By: ireckon
Tinder-Quik is in a tough market. I can get 13 ounces of Vaseline and 500 cotton balls for about $7, and those items have many other uses besides fire starting.


True, but I think Tinder-Quik is among the best quality products you can find. Cotton balls and Vaseline work but it's messy. The Tinder-Quik are premade, very water resistant and very compact. I'd rather use them than cotton balls in a pinch. But of course, the cotton balls work great and are a lot cheaper.
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#271610 - 09/09/14 01:49 PM Re: Mineral Oil instead of Petroleum Jelly? [Re: ireckon]
RNewcomb Offline
Member

Registered: 04/19/12
Posts: 170
Loc: Iowa
I've used the PJ and cotton balls, but they are messy. They do work well.

I picked up some o those Tinder Cards a few weeks back, haven't had a chance to try them out yet, but will on my next camping trip.

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#271612 - 09/09/14 03:32 PM Re: Mineral Oil instead of Petroleum Jelly? [Re: RNewcomb]
Chisel Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/05/05
Posts: 1562
Quote:
I've used the PJ and cotton balls, but they are messy.


They are messy , but if I have to use them instead of a lighter or match, I am already in a MESSY situation. I won't mind anything to start a fire.

Oh, and the excess PJ ?
I won't mind smearing that over my hands.
Can't do that with mineral oil.

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#271613 - 09/09/14 03:53 PM Re: Mineral Oil instead of Petroleum Jelly? [Re: Chisel]
yee Offline
Member

Registered: 12/10/11
Posts: 169
Originally Posted By: Chisel

They are messy , but if I have to use them instead of a lighter or match, I am already in a MESSY situation.


Interesting. PJ cotton balls are my PREFERRED way to make fires. Cheap, works well.

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#271615 - 09/09/14 03:55 PM Re: Mineral Oil instead of Petroleum Jelly? [Re: ireckon]
Denis Offline
Addict

Registered: 01/09/09
Posts: 631
Loc: Calgary, AB
I've never tried mineral oil but, when I'm out & about in the outdoors, a firesteel & PJ cotton balls are my primary fire starting method. I do also have some Tinder-Quik, but they are tucked away in a kit as a back-up item.

As mentioned, the PJ & cotton balls are inexpensive and as so are my go-to item for regular use.

I don't find them too messy, but I don't tend to go too heavy on the PJ. I tried making saturated ones once but wasn't able to come up with a combination that used a lot of PJ that I was still able to light easily.
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Victory awaits him who has everything in order — luck, people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take the necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck. Roald Amundsen

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#271616 - 09/09/14 05:44 PM Re: Mineral Oil instead of Petroleum Jelly? [Re: Denis]
yee Offline
Member

Registered: 12/10/11
Posts: 169
Originally Posted By: Denis
I don't tend to go too heavy on the PJ. I tried making saturated ones once but wasn't able to come up with a combination that used a lot of PJ that I was still able to light easily.


Using only a little PJ leaves the cotton ball fluff intact. Saturated cotton balls require about 30 sec of fluffing up before it will take a spark.

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