Hi -i am wanting to get a fire starter kit but see that different kits have different contents. Are some flints better than others too? Do flints need to be kept bone dry too? Some have cotton, some flakes and some fuel tablets but which is best and can you make your own kit up with cotton swabs or wood shavings maybe?
Anyone who has experience using these and can advise me on the best ways i would appreciate it.
Cotton wool balls soaked in Meths work really well, or a 'free' option is the lint from your tumble drier, both take a spark really well. Although the higher the cotton content of your lint, the better it works.
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I just use an army issue fire steel, and you can use whatever is around you to start fire, ive never been one for these fire starter boxes, bit of a search on google or youtube for bushcraft will help no ends. its so easy once you know how.
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Seem to remember that when I was a young squaddie,I carried waxed matches and a firelighter,and left the flint and steel for the boy scouts! Niether are affected by water,and work every time. A small hexi block is good in place of tinder too.
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Cotton wool with Vaseline rubbed into it works even better than Meths 'cos it burns longer. If you are buying a Firesteel type "sparker" keep in mind that the plastic bit very often comes off - I always suggest that people Araldite them in place.
If you fancy doing the Ray Mears bit the easy way it is worth collecting a few King Alfred's Cakes and a Video Dry them out a bit first and be careful because the fungus is glowing at at very high temperautures.
Hi I use wool collected from fences and fields when been out walking Works a treat with most steel and flints and it's very green ! Have also carved a wood fire starter ( check YouTube ) took me ages and wouldn't use it to start a fire when camping ( would look a fool on the site 20 mins and covered in sweat ) but it does blow your mind to start a fire from two bits of wood !!! A real man moment lol
Great posts and ideas, thanks for all your replies, i like the free/green ideas too and think i will try what everyone has said and see which works best. The main thing is something that will work well in bad weather and even snow now! Thanks again.
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Topic: fire starter kits
