3 Cheap Firestarter’s that work!
Being able to start a fire in a SHTF emergency can mean the difference between life and death if it is cold outside. It can also help keep wild animals away from your camp, help cook your food and much more. But starting a fire in the wild is not always easy. Damp wood, wind and lack of kindling can all conspire to try to keep you from your goal.
Source – My medicine cabinet
NOTE: Without moisturizers is best, this still works but is a little harder to light.
Note, these are silly easy so I am being a little silly with the instructions
Good chance you already have these items in your home
To complete all 3 of these projects you will need the following.
• Petroleum jelly (Vaseline or store brand)
• Cotton Balls
• Jellied Alcohol (hand sanitizer)
• Dryer lint
• Toilet paper cardboard tubes
Petroleum Jelly fire starters
Step 1 – Open the petroleum jelly
Step 2 – Pick up a cotton ball
Step 3 – Rub petroleum jelly on cotton ball
Step 4 – Store the ball in a waterproof container or bag
Benefits –
• Easy to start with a match, lighter or sparks
• Burns much hotter & longer than a plain cotton ball
• Will catch even if they get wet
• Both ingredients are very cheap
Jellied Alcohol fire starter
Step 1 – Pick up the bottle of jellied alcohol
Step 2 – Squirt on your pre-stacked wood
Step 3 – Light with a match, lighter or spark
Benefits –
• Very cheap, most dollar stores carry it 3 small bottles or two larger one for $1
• No prep work to use
• You can use it to clean your hands before eating if need be
Toilet Paper Roll Fire Starters
Step 1 – Pick up a cardboard core
Step 2 – Stuff it full of dryer lint
Step 3 – Store in a sealed container (but not next to your fireplace)
To use, simply remove on, insert it under some wood and light it. It burns hot enough to catch the wood above it.
These are all great ideas! Love the "silly" instructions. I've heard of dryer lint being a good fire starter before, but never thought of the other two.
Put your cotton balls w/ petro jelly in one of those film cases that the 35mm film comes in for a nice water tight container.
I'm kind of showing my age here, I'm not even sure if the still sell 35mm film in those little canisters, since everything has gone digital.
I don't know if the 35mm canisters are still around or not, but with the number of people who have diabetes, I bet it would not be hard to find someone that would give you some of the canisters most of the test strips are stored in. They are close to the size of the 35 mm canisters and seal air and water tight also. I have been looking for something to do with them. (I don't like throwing things away if I can re/up cycle) I have 2 sitting on the desk at this moment, trying to think of something to do with them!
That's the only good use for hand "sanitizer."
Say your ABC's while using soap and water. A nurse, during a first aid class I was attending, let the class know that hand saniters shouldn't be used if you want to get your hands free of germs. This was at least 20 years ago. Sadly, we are now finding germs in the sanitizers themselves. Nuts!
I haven't heard anything about that. I know there are some major differences in products out there and with most big businesses being so greedy, it would not surprise me if some brands are adding other ingredients that are not as effective.
I will always still have some in my survival supplies however, because in an emergency situation when society has broken down or you get lost on a hiking trip or whatever, having access to water is a major problem. Those are not situations you want to take your limited supply of drinking water to wash your hands and I would rather have hand sanitizer's than nothing.
I wonder if there is recipe to make your own hand sanitizer? :-)
I have never tried it because the thought never came up, but I found a recipe at http://cleanmyspace.com/make-your-own-hand-sanitizer/. I don't know if aloe gel is flammable or not, but glycerine is slightly flammable.
When making lotions, I have heard from herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, that you want to be careful when using aloe gel. It can go racid pretty quickly in hot, humid climates. (This has to do with homemade lotions that have no extra chemicals added, which would allow them to be shelf stable for a long time).
And I don't think aloe vera gel is flammable. That to me is kind of a weird concept, since I used to ingest it for tummy issues in the summer. :-)
Just found another recipe. The 2nd one of the page looks more like what we are talking about. http://www.survivopedia.com/diy-gel-fuel/
Let me know if you try either of those recipes. My husband took a survival-type class a few years back, and he has started fires the hard way (taking a smooth stick and rubbing your hands quickly to cause a spark to then ignite a small pile of shavings and dry grass).
As my grandfather would say, "Always have a back-up plan."
You are 100% correct on the back-up plan. I try to have back-up plans for my back-up plans, lol.
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/dirt-antibacterial-soaps
@fernowl13 Here's an article on antibacterial soaps and why we shouldn't be using them. I thought you might like to look at it. It never hurts to learn more.....and with me, repetition works best.
Never would have thought of the hand sanitizer. Great idea. You are a very wise prepper. Perhaps that is why owl is part of your name! Lol🐓🐓
lol. Thank you for your kind words!
Fernowl was given to me by my grandfather. It means Teacher of Wisdom or Wise Teacher depending on which tribe you talk to.
Then you have been rightly named. Your Grandfather was a wise man too. What tribe do you come from?🐓🐓
Cherokee, but my family was part of the ones who did not walk the trail of tears. They "headed for the hills" so to say and hid out the the mountains. By the 1920's or so, there were few full bloods remaining. My grandfather on my mothers side and my grandmother on my fathers side where the last full bloods in our line.
Great fire starting advice
For shtf and everyday life. I have used a few of these tips myself over the years. Always important to know how to get a fire going for warmth or food or just the comfort of a nice open flame on a nice night. Cheers and thank you for this post. May Steemit bring you untold wealth!
Your are very correct. Fire starting can save your life in many situations and may you too receive untold wealth!
The hand sanitizer is brilliant! I've tried the toilet paper rolls and found they work okay, but not as good as a fire starter stick.
If your wood is not aged (and often it is not in an emergency situation) Try adding a little wax inside the rolls. It causes it to burn a little longer and can give that extra edge. Hope this helps.