I figure he would learn that one by himself. It just wouldn't be meaningful if told.

Hey wait a minute! I've been there myself.

Hi big_al

My kit consists of two items: (1) cotton balls and (2) 1 inch by 6 foot pieces of toilet tissue rolled into loose, 1 inch diameter rolls and soaked in paraffin. I keep eight of each in a Zip-Lock bag along with my magnesium scratch block.

Buld up your wood in whatever way you personally like it - I prefer the traditional teepee design with bigger sticks over smaller sticks - all collected from standing deadwood, of course.

Make a little hole under your woodpile. Peel one end of your waxed paper back so about one inch is unrolled. Place it under your wood. Place one cotton ball under this unpeeled waxed paper.

Strike sparks into your cotton ball and you have instant fire, even in wind and pouring rain.

Yes, I'm sure the purists will suggest this is cheating a bit, but, to my thinking, no more than bringing such things as shavings from your garage.

To each his or her own.

Enjoy.

I don;t think it's cheating at all...nor should a purist. The idea is to use the most expedient and available means to start a fire. Bringing along ready-made tinder is no more cheating than bringing a knife and /or firesteel. The idea is that, as we lose comfort items or they somehow become less available to us, we use what we have on-hand.

Cheating.... Cheating only applies to games with rules.

Fair.... Fair means you win. I'd consider this fairness, not cheating.

I do carry a small pencil sharpener in one of my fire-starting kits. The shavings made from just about any reasonably dry wood catch very easily, but I often nest them around a PJ-soaked cotton ball just to be sure of things. The only down side of shavings is they must be completely shielded from wind - they scatter on the slightest breeze.

The best tender I have seen for capturing a spark is the lint from the clothes dryer's filter. The next time your wife dries the towels give it a try.