The ability to make fire is one of the most important survival skills and preparedness tasks that preppers need to be able to do. Fire provides warmth from the cold, light in the dark, ability to cook, and can even be used for defense. I am in amazement of those who can rub sticks together and generate flame. Impressive. I even sell a small fire starting kit that has ferrocerium rods, waterproof matches, butane lighter, petroleum-infused cotton balls, etc. Redundancy is good. Multiple methods with back-ups are good.
My favorite fire-starting tool? Flint and steel with an accelerant. AKA…..the simple butane lighter.
I keep dozens of butane lighters spread around various kits and locations. I buy a 5 pack of Bic’s once in a while and cheaper versions which for the most part work extremely well.
Just imagine in a complete grid-down situation how valuable the simple butane lighter would be.
got fire?
Rourke
I agree, having the means to start fires, especially when cold and wet, is essential. I’ve made the popular cotton ball/petroleum jelly type firestarters before and found them too messy. I came across what I feel is a better way to make firestarters. Go to Dollar Tree or Walmart and buy the round cotton “makeup remover” pads. You can get 80 per pack. Go to a thrift store and buy cheap candles, tongs and a pan. At home, put newspaper on the counter where you’ll be working. I use a small butane single burner camp stove because no matter how hard you try, you will spill some of the wax and it’s time consuming to clean it up in the kitchen. Melt the candle wax in the pan then place the pads in the wax. As you pull a pad out put another in. This let’s them soak up the wax as you rotate through the process. Place the soaked pads on the newspaper. When you’re done and they’ve hardened, I’ve found that they fit great in one of those Lay’s potato chip plastic container tunes (like a Pringle container but plastic). There’s enough room on the side to fit a butane lighter and even a Magnesium firestarter block with ferro rod (found at Harbor Freight $1.99). To use just bend the wafer back and forth then tear that bend half way. This exposes the cotton fibers to ignite. I’ve had these burn for 3-4 minutes with a flame height of 5″. In my experience the petroleum jelly balls burn a little longer but the flame doesn’t reach as high, and they are messier. I’ve made a number of these inexpensive firestarter kits and placed them in all of my BOB’S, 72 hr Kits, Get Home Bags, etc. Just my 2 1/2 cents worth. Myke