FIRE

the monk5845

This is one of the most important aspects of survival it provides you with warmth, drinking water, cooked food, light ETC. so here's my question what do you keep in your fire making kit and what techniques do people use to make fire?

the monk5845

In my kit i keep a lighter, flint, cotton mixed with vaseline and paper with a list of things to do just to remind myself (also can be used to burn)

Grizzly 45

Bic lighters,cheap and plentiful at the moment,waterproof lifeboat matches,flint&steel,[must upgrade now with the cotton balls,easier than the char cloth to use and make]

fenris

Jute is also good, get a ball of Jute twine from the garden centre, you can use it as string or if you fray the end if a piece of twine out into a "nest" (takes about 10 seconds) you have some very good tinder that will take a spark very quickly. Dual purpose for as many items as possible is the way to go!

Hibrion

Bic lighter, wind and waterproof matches, swedish firesteel (Army) some wet fire tinder for real emergencies and various tinder I pick up along the way.

Delancey

I have heard that dipping ordinary matches in candle wax can make them waterproof.

Sticky_Fingers

I read the match thing in the SAS survival guide as well. The only problem I see though is that most (ordinary) safely matches need the striking pad off the side of the matchbox which would also have to protected from water somehow.

I'd also assume that the whole match needs to be waxed, if the stem gets wet or damp then the moisture will just wick up the wood and ruin the match. You've probably experienced that at some stage, the match head just seems to flake off whenever you try to strike it.

Tigger

three zippos a small pacl of 50 odd flints and a large bottle of fluid

in my opinion its one for you one for other one spare (for you)

Grizzly 45

Sticky_Fingers wrote: »

I read the match thing in the SAS survival guide as well. The only problem I see though is that most (ordinary) safely matches need the striking pad off the side of the matchbox which would also have to protected from water somehow.

I'd also assume that the whole match needs to be waxed, if the stem gets wet or damp then the moisture will just wick up the wood and ruin the match. You've probably experienced that at some stage, the match head just seems to flake off whenever you try to strike it.

Best ones to waterproof are thepaper book matches.i'll dig out Kurt Saxons recipe for this .

Modern safty matches arent worth a shi££e for anything anymore .Especially the Euro shop and Lidil stuff.Even athmospheric dampness seems to do them in.

Delancey

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Best ones to waterproof are thepaper book matches.i'll dig out Kurt Saxons recipe for this .

Modern safty matches arent worth a shi££e for anything anymore .Especially the Euro shop and Lidil stuff.Even athmospheric dampness seems to do them in.

Not many shops here seem to sell the matches that I think are great - Swan Vestas , easily available in the North.
Agree that Lidl type matches are pure garbage.

krissovo

I have amongst other things wire wool and a 9v battery, touching the battery with the wool makes the wool glow red hot and melt that can be used to get kindling going. Also makes a good trigger for other survival tools and weapons;)

The matches trick with wax only really works with "Swan Vesta" type matches. These are the non safety ones which can strike off most surfaces even a beard stubble

I also have a flint and steel, multiple bic lighters and a magnesium fire starter. My current survival tin has a mini Bic lighter, flint and steel and ex British army water proof matches.

The most important element is the kindling, this is what will get a fire going. In my survival tin I have cotton wool. In my survival jacket (like a survival tin with all the tools hidden and sewn in) I have cotton wool, cotton and roll up tobacco enough for about 15 smokes

Grizzly 45

krissovo wrote: »

The matches trick with wax only really works with "Swan Vesta" type matches. These are the non safety ones which can strike off most surfaces even a beard stubble

:(Trouble is;non saftey matches are unavailable in the ROI and have been for some time.Due to our slight problem with Northern Ireland,many wonderfuland fun things have been kept out of our hands as we might do naughty things with them in N Ireland.Strike anywhere matches included due to their load of potassium chlorate,which is an explosive component and can also be used for percussion detonators.

Rhinocharge

Zippo lighter, bic lighter is always first point of call.
Matches if can't locate the lighters & a flint & steel is always carried just in case.
Cotton wool was always my first choice for tinder.
Recently I discovered that a dried baby wipe works just as well.
You have to stretch the fibres a bit, but it will light.
Very handy to have.
Whether you clean your hands wipe your bum or start a fire.
Tampons are very handy to have too.
Compressed cotton for fire lighting, it's sterile in case you need to use it as a wounding dressing or god forbid plugging a puncture wound.
I've made sure that all the family can use the flint & steel.

ajhalpin

Zip firelighters and cheap plastic lidl lighters. I have a firesteel but try lighting anything in a dank Irish forest after a good nights rain and see how quickly you'll come to the conclusion that "keeping it simple" is the way to go. If your going to carry around a load of tampons soaked in vaseline you'd better hope the Guards dont do a spot check on you:D

Ophiopogon

Dried dead Cordyline leaves work very well as kindleing.

Once you have them dried out you can tie them into knots to save on space. We have loads around here at this time of year so I just collect them when out walking. I use just one leaf per fire no need for firelighters.

eth0

Refillable butane lighter (very cheap from Malaysia) + couple of refills + lots of matches.

9v battery is a good idea, must try it

ShadowFox

When out and about camping I carry Storm matches lighter flint and steel and for tinder i use cotton wool soaked in fuel gel even when they dry out they are very easy to light and i made up small ziplock bags with fire lighter dust in them even in the pouring rain either of these light and last a few minutes to light your fire

Doc Ruby

I am finding strike anywhere matches inexplicably hard to buy, which is a pain since you need to keep the lighting strip for the matches in your waterproof container, and it wears out as well as being very fiddly. Maybe they are illegal in Ireland?

Anyway problem solved, here's an amazingly simple tutorial on how to make your own strike anywhere matches. Basically sand off the strip on the matchbox, dip the matches in it and then dip them again in ground match heads.

As an added bonus, dip them in candle wax and you now have waterproof matches as well, for half nothing!

Doc Ruby

Sticky_Fingers wrote: »

I'd also assume that the whole match needs to be waxed, if the stem gets wet or damp then the moisture will just wick up the wood and ruin the match. You've probably experienced that at some stage, the match head just seems to flake off whenever you try to strike it.

The trick is apparently to pinch the ends of the wax on the stick to form a tight seal, haven't verified this though.

ShadowFox

Doc Ruby wrote: »

I am finding strike anywhere matches inexplicably hard to buy, which is a pain since you need to keep the lighting strip for the matches in your waterproof container, and it wears out as well as being very fiddly. Maybe they are illegal in Ireland?

Anyway problem solved, here's an amazingly simple tutorial on how to make your own strike anywhere matches. Basically sand off the strip on the matchbox, dip the matches in it and then dip them again in ground match heads.

As an added bonus, dip them in candle wax and you now have waterproof matches as well, for half nothing!

Strike anywhere matches can be got on eBay from america but not for long as most states are banning them stating they are too dangerous

Mick7_62

grapeape wrote: »

Strike anywhere matches can be got on eBay from america but not for long as most states are banning them stating they are too dangerous

One day, a few years ago, they became impossible to find. Our biggest issue here in the States is not bans, but that 99% of suppliers of that sort of thing (matches, lighters, torches, lanterns, even camping gear) has their biggest sales contracts with Wal-mart. So, if Wal-mart deems strikes anywhere matches unsafe, the suppliers stop making/importing them. Since the same company that supplies to Wal-mart also supplies to Cabelas, Sports Authority, etc., and they drop the item from inventory, they can't be found anywhere.

Same with most camping gear. Wal-mart pressures all suppliers to keep prices as low as possible, and even has a team that helps suppliers outsource to China, Malaysia, Vietnam, etc. So, most of the commercially available gear here is total junk. I think I buy a new tent every year! Had the same tent from 1977-1999, now can't keep a tent in serviceable condition for more than a year. Really pisses me off.

I don't even shop at Wal-mart, but I'm still affected by their business model.

Doc Ruby

Second batch didn't work out so well, I think too much water again. I'm getting little sparkles so something is happening, there just isn't enough phosphorous being applied to the tips. Just half a drop of water next time.

Grizzly 45

Doc Ruby wrote: »

I am finding strike anywhere matches inexplicably hard to buy, which is a pain since you need to keep the lighting strip for the matches in your waterproof container, and it wears out as well as being very fiddly. Maybe they are illegal in Ireland?

They are..:rolleyes::( Reason because of the compound of the strike anywhere match head it can be used as an improvised primer compound for cartridges.Albeit an extremly inefficent one and a major PITA to reload as well.But thats Ireland for you!!!:rolleyes:

Doc Ruby

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

But thats Ireland for you!!!:rolleyes:

Nah, from what I can gather there was a risk they would light up by themselves, hence are if not banned at least not sold in most of the US, EU, and the rest of the world. They're definetely banned from all aircraft and are treated as a hazmat.

Still that won't matter if I can get the third batch working! I won't store them unless dipped in wax and a second layer of match head though, for the abovementioned reasons.

baords dyslexic

Swan Vesta's now on my buying list for next time I'm in the UK.

robdsherlock

have two zippo lighters and use white spirits for the fuel(have about a liter of it) that reminds me i must get some flint for it.
fire steal
2 lighters with naked women on them, something to light'n up the spirit with when i get lost somewhere:D
cotton wool soaked in vasaline

baords dyslexic

Couldn't resist posting this firemaking link, not sure it would work well in Ireland but still worth knowing about Fire from a Can of Coke and a Chocolate Bar

cruizer101

Potassium Permanganate and Glycerol (also know as glycerine and glycol) when added together have an exothermic reaction which will ignite some tinder like cotton wool or that.

It also has other uses potassium permanganate can be used in varying dilutions to purify water or as a disinfectant for cuts.

Glycerine has lots of uses as well, it can help treat burns and bug bites, be uses as moisturiser, a laxative, and is also sweet so can can be added to food to increase flavour and for its calorific content.

Doc Ruby

The latest and greatest in firemaking technology to come out of the lab is called Ready Fuel Gel.

Ready Fuel is a lightweight gel that burns clean and hot enough to act as fire, as well a fire starter. Tested and approved by the U.S. military, it is a versatile solution that can serve as an emergency survival tool, primary fire starter or a cooking fuel.

... it not only starts a larger fire, it can act as its own fire, boiling a cup (237 ml) of water in about 5 minutes. One packet used judiciously provides enough burn to boil 4 cups (0.95 ltr) of water. It can also cook food and dry wet clothing.

Unlike some other fire starters you might have used – gasoline and lighter fluid come to mind – Ready Fuel is non-toxic, smokeless and odorless. It burns down to a gritty, sand-like residue that is easy to brush into the garbage. Its other by-products are simply carbon dioxide and water.
In addition to its duel tinder-fuel use, Ready Fuel has several other qualities that make it ideal for outdoor use. It burns at temperatures as cold as - 23°F (-30.5°C), altitudes up to 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), and doesn't freeze, evaporate or melt. It has a 30-year shelf life, so it is ready to go for your next adventure.
According to its distributor, The Ready Project, it is non-explosive and not subject to EPA restrictions, unlike other camping stove fuels. Each packet is lightweight and nearly flat, making it ideal as an ultralight primary fuel or emergency fire starter.



Ready Fuel has previously been used by the military but is new to the consumer market. A pouch of four packets costs US$14.95, and a 120-count case costs $239.95. The Ready Project also sells the $25 folding Ready Stove, which can be used with the fuel.

The Ready Project.

long range shooter

Doc Ruby wrote: »

The latest and greatest in firemaking technology to come out of the lab is called Ready Fuel Gel.


The Ready Project.

It's a good fire making tool,but very expensive:eek:
There is a cheaper alternative called greenheat

http://thekeytosurvival.com/bcbinternational/gelfuel.html

http://youtu.be/tfQA7MvJLRg