(I look forward to any critiques, suggestions, tips, links or otherwise to this thread. Please post your own kits as well.

I will try to do a better job of vetting those links to products from China below. And get a better idea of shipping costs. Eventually I would like to put this actual kit together. Complete with peanut butter jar?

The idea is to give everyone a plan, with actual links, to a fire kit you can put together yourselves. That is at least affordable and effective.

Lastly, I strongly encourage everyone to make a fire kit with what you have available - RIGHT NOW. You don't need to wait to order all this. Prepping is about doing what you can with what you have - NOW. Because its better to be prepared with just what you have now - rather than not. Put it in a ziplock bag and add it to your grocery sack of old warm clothes by your front door. See. You're prepared!. You can improve it later.)

ENTRY LEVEL FIRE KIT

Majorhavoc inspired me to start this thread based on a ready to go firekit he posted in the bargains section for less than $5. It comes with a waterproof hardcase, cotton and fuel fire starters, firesteel and scraper, carabiner and lanyard.

By adding a small bic lighter and a few storm matches, this is a fine starter fire kit. For those people that just need something off the shelf right now. It could also hold some dry tinder. And maybe a couple other small items.

https://www.fieldsupply.com/2-pack-ust-watertight-fire-kit-1-0-gray.html

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This post also inspired me to take another look at my own fire kit. It's been awhile:

This is my current fire kit. But it is missing two items I thought I had added. But had not yet. One is 2 tea candles that we have bags of (although I'd like to try beeswax.). And the other is changing out the lanyard line on my main firesteel with glow in the dark 550 cord. That I use on any items that might get lost. Including my keys.

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My "main" fire kit includes:

1 fullsize ferro rod. .5x5 inches. With striker, rubber gas line handle, and lanyard.
1 small .25x2 inch ferro rod.
2 fullsize Bic lighters.
1 small amount of dry cotton tinder.
1 bag of Vaseline soaked, cotton dryer lint.
6 storm proof matches in ziplock bag.
1 book of standard matches in ziplock bag.
1 small tube of Vaseline.
1 small bottle of hand sanitizer.
1 silnylon pouch.

These items are split up between my two "last ditch" packs. My USGI fannypack. And my Hill People Gear chest pack. I call these "last ditch" as these are the last two pack items I would ditch. I may ditch or lose my main pack in an emergency. But would always keep these two packs on me. And of the two I would ditch the fannypack last. So the fannypack serves as its own bare bones survival kit.

FIRE KIT STRATEGY:

You may have one main fire kit. That resides in your pack. Which is awesome. But its best to spread some firestarting options on your person or other bags as well. Small ferro rods, matches and small bics are cheap. I buy extras and spread these around my bags and person. I also do this with cheap, tiny button compasses.

BASICS OF A FIRE KIT:

Waterproof container.
Lighter.
Ferro rod & striker.
Dry Tinder.
Accelerant or flammable fuel.
Candle.
Matches.

There are many ways to accomplish this. And more primitive methods of starting fire that are good to learn. This is an "entry level fire kit" though. So we'll leave that for another discussion.

FIRE KIT NOW.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to use what you can afford RIGHT NOW!

Make a fire kit now. At least you'll have one. And you can always improve upon it. And move cheaper items to other areas of your pack as you upgrade. Or to other members of your party. This goes for any part if your bug out system. A grocery sack and some old warm clothes can be a bug out bag. The important thing is to gather those items now. And put them by your front door. You can improve on that in the future.

There is also no perfect fire kit. A bic lighter and some tinder is a fire kit. My grandfather was a master woodsman. All he ever carried was a book of matches and some newspaper. And that saved him many times over.

(Continued.)

BASIC ITEMS TO CHOOSE FROM:

Here are some examples of each item from above for various budgets:

1) Waterproof container can be as simple as a small, empty, plastic peanut butter jar. A ziplock bag. Or a waterproof hard case. Anything that will keep it dry.

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2) Lighter can be a Bic, Zippo, Butane, Peanut lighter or any source of flame that is immediate. Bic is probably best.

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3) Ferro rod & striker. This can be a ferro rod and your knife as a striker. There are cheap ferro rods from China. In many different sizes. That work just fine. You can also upgrade to misch steel. From a place like firesteel.com. With even larger sparks. They are quite expensive. But all you need is a spark. For your main ferro rod I would suggest at least .25 inch thick and 4 inches long. From China.

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4) Dry Tinder. Cotton balls. Cotton dryer lint. Fat wood. Jute rope. Dry bark or plant matter or other tinder found in nature. There are many. Cotton balls or dryer lint are the easiest to prepare. And can be soaked in Vaseline for very good, waterproof, fire starters. You can also make fire starters from saw dust and wax. But they are large and bulky. And mainly used for home or vehicle use.

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(Continued.)

5) Accelerant or flammable fuel. Vaseline. Hand sanitizer. Wax. The best are Vaseline and Hand Sanitizer. Both have good burn times. And stick to tinder well. Vaseline does not evaporate. But hand sanitizer is a little like napalm. It's a flammable gel. So it doesn't slide off wood or tinder onto the ground like say gas. And it burns hot. But it must be kept in an airtight container. Vaseline may be more versatile.

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6) Candle. A tea candle or any candle has the advantage of burn time and versatility. In wet conditions it can be very hard to start a fire. But a tea candle can dry out and burn just about any wet tinder. A tea candle will burn for about 3 to 4 hrs. But there are deeper ones out there with longer burn times. And beeswax tea candles burn even longer than traditional wax. Candles are also versatile for simple heat, light and morale in an emergency situation.

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7) Matches. The old school simple match. A small book of paper matches kept in a waterproof bag or container has probably saved more folks than anything else. Nothing wrong with a lightweight, tiny book of paper matches as a backup. But there are improvements. They are called storm matches. They are made of wood. And have a much larger and longer igniting tip. The intitial strike is bigger and lasts much longer. Making it easier to start a fire in the wind. These need to be kept dry. Although some are coated with wax and other chemicals that can keep them dry. Many come in waterproof containers with a striker on the side or in the lid.

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8 ) Magnifying or fresnel lens. This is sort of a last ditch item. That you might use after you've lost or exhausted all other methods of firestarting. At least on this list. But still an effective way to start a fire. I am not proficient in this method. So I don't know whether a fresnel lens or a small magnifying lens works best. But I have burnedany an ant to death with a magnifying lens! Lol!

I did not leave room for another pic. But here is a link to 5 fresnel lenses:

Best Glide ASE Credit Card Size Fresnel Lens Fire Starter and Magnifier Lenses (3 Pack - Green) https://a.co/d/e7Satl2

And here is a link to a couple small magnifying glass:

Leffis 40X Jewelers Loupe Magnifier Magnifying Glasses, LED/UV Illuminated Jewelry Loop Pocket Folding Magnifying Glass with Metal Construction for Close Work, Gardening, Kids, Stamp, Rock Collecting https://a.co/d/9MysvMf

2PCS Upgrade 10X Small Magnifying Glasses for Kids/Senior, Pocket Magnifier for Reading/Close Work, Mini Folding Magnifying Magnify Glass with Protective Sheath, Ideal for Repairing/Hobby/Coins, 1.96" https://a.co/d/2bPwCl2

(Continued.)

So after all that! My goal for this post is to develop a fire kit for first time fire kit builders. Here are some sources for entry level fire kit items:

ENTRY LEVEL FIRE KIT ITEMS:

(Most of these items are from China. Via Alibaba or Aliexpress. Two top level, well known, direct from China sites. I have not confirmed shipping. But I suspect that if you bundle a few of these items you can get free or affordable shipping. But I will try to confirm shipping costs soon. Shipping times are of course longer than normal. It may take a couple months or so to get your items.

I invite anyone to post up sources for these items stateside at a reasonable or cheap cost.)


Waterproof case. This can be an empty peanut butter jar. Which is free. Or you could buy this o-ring lined waterproof case for two dollars.

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US $1.88  45%OFF | Outdoor Waterproof Survival Sealed Box Dustproof Shockproof Plastic EDC Tools Storage Container Case Holder Fishing Tackle Tools
https://a.aliexpress.com/_msgrtLM
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mr5b3Ge


Storm matches. These are not the wax covered waterproof version. But they do come with a waterproof container and striker strip. These can be found stateside for cheap as well.

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https://m.alibaba.com/product/1600430863557/lower-MOQ-wholesale-price-color-outdoor.html?__sceneInfo=%7B%22cacheTime%22%3A%221800000%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22appDetailShare%22%7D&from=Android


Vaseline is my preferred accelerant. You can find it in small travel tubes or in tiny tubes for chapstick type use - at your local drug store. This one is a small flat tin. That would fit nicely in just about anything.

Vaseline Lip Therapy Lip Balm Tin, Original, 0.6 oz https://a.co/d/2o8sV9S

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Hand Sanitizer can best be found locally. In small travel size containers. But heres a link to a smaller bottle.

Germ-X Hand Sanitizer, Original, Travel Size, 2.5 Fluid Ounce https://a.co/d/fDv1rlN

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(Continued.)

Cotton balls. Heres a link to a cheap bag at Walmart. But dryer lint works just as well. You can mix up a bunch of dryer lint and vaseline in a paper plate. And then place it in a plastic bag. Either in pre a made chunks or just one clump that you tare pieces of off.

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https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-Beauty-Jumbo-Cotton-Balls-200-Count/152507105


Beeswax tea candles last longer than traditional wax tea candles. But I have never used them for firestarting. Normal tea candles are cheap at Walmart, Target or your local hobby store. And burn around 3 to 4 hrs. Both beeswax and wax tea candles can be found cheapest locally. Carry at least one for wet weather firestarting.

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100% Pure Beeswax Tealight Candles, Package of 6 https://a.co/d/6AcUQ6x

Realm White Unscented 4 Hour Burn Tea Light Candles (12 Pack) | Smokeless + Long Lasting + Even Burning | Mess Free Candles That Will Light Up Your Home https://a.co/d/iqpMRVV


Ferro rods. I found a few from Alibaba that stood out. This first one comes with a few handy add ons for fairly reasonable $3 not including shipping. I would ditch the pouch and maybe the blow tube. But I like the rod, striker and jute combo.

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https://m.alibaba.com/product/1600359811265/Pocket-Camping-Tool-Waxed-Jute-Rope.html?__sceneInfo=%7B%22cacheTime%22%3A%221800000%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22appDetailShare%22%7D&from=Android


I like this ferro rod for its size. But also the striker that doubles as a primitive knife. I like dual use items. Although the strikers that come with the other ferro rods also have a measurement on the side, crude wrench capabilities and a bottle opener.

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https://m.alibaba.com/product/60761963672/1/2-x-5inch-Amazon-Best-Seller.html?__sceneInfo=%7B%22cacheTime%22%3A%221800000%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22appDetailShare%22%7D&from=Android


(Continued.)

This one is a decent size. And an added bonus is that one strand with the Paracord kanyard is made of firestarting material. I don't know how good that might be. But thought I would include it. 

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https://m.alibaba.com/product/1600356527391/12mm-Traditional-Survival-Outdoor-Backpacking-Multi.html?__sceneInfo=%7B%22cacheTime%22%3A%221800000%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22appDetailShare%22%7D&from=Android


A traditional .5x5 inch ferro rod. This one also has a firestarter strand. With traditional striker. I will say I much prefer a piece of hack saw blade as a striker. They really throw sparks. 

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https://m.alibaba.com/product/1600544825519/1/2x5inch-Custom-Feuerstarter-Bushcraft-Emergency-Survival.html?__sceneInfo=%7B%22cacheTime%22%3A%221800000%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22appDetailShare%22%7D&from=Android

Doesn't  seem to be working. Just says placeholder  where I think you wanted pics to show. 

I just received a box of these so I can add one to each of the ten kits I bought.  That leaves a few left over and I'd be happy to mail you one for addition to your kit.

Quote from: NT2C on February 27, 2023, 06:39:43 PMI just received a box of these so I can add one to each of the ten kits I bought.  That leaves a few left over and I'd be happy to mail you one for addition to your kit.

Yes. I wanted to add this to the list of items. I have not had time yet to find a single lens or magnifying lens. Did you happen to run across any when looking for these?

And yes. Thank you. I would love to have one. PM incoming. 

Quote from: flybynight on February 27, 2023, 05:50:16 PMDoesn't  seem to be working. Just says placeholder  where I think you wanted pics to show.

The placeholders were so I had enough posts to include the entire thread. As each post can only have 4 pics.

This is also a work in progress. I am not done with it. But wanted to get the text and photo parts out of the way.

Doing the last post now. But will be updating. And updating as people make comments and improvements.

Quote from: Moab on February 27, 2023, 06:54:37 PM

Quote from: flybynight on February 27, 2023, 05:50:16 PMDoesn't  seem to be working. Just says placeholder  where I think you wanted pics to show.

The placeholders were so I had enough posts to include the entire thread. As each post can only have 4 pics.

This is also a work in progress. I am not done with it. But wanted to get the text and photo parts out of the way.

Doing the last post now. But will be updating. And updating as people make comments and improvements.

Each post can only have four uploaded attachments.  If the pics are hosted somewhere else and just linked to then they're unlimited.

Quote from: Moab on February 27, 2023, 06:52:47 PM

Quote from: NT2C on February 27, 2023, 06:39:43 PMI just received a box of these so I can add one to each of the ten kits I bought.  That leaves a few left over and I'd be happy to mail you one for addition to your kit.

Yes. I wanted to add this to the list of items. I have not had time yet to find a single lens or magnifying lens. Did you happen to run across any when looking for these?

And yes. Thank you. I would love to have one. PM incoming.

Oddly, I was just about to inquire with a company that makes them to see how much they'd charge for 1,000 with our logo and slogan on them.

Even tho I've burned a multitude of ants to death with magnifying lens. I not an expert on lighting fires that way. Is there a preferred lens? Is fresnel or magnifying glass better? Anyone have better links than those I posted?

Quote from: NT2C on February 27, 2023, 07:06:12 PM

Quote from: Moab on February 27, 2023, 06:54:37 PM

Quote from: flybynight on February 27, 2023, 05:50:16 PMDoesn't  seem to be working. Just says placeholder  where I think you wanted pics to show.

The placeholders were so I had enough posts to include the entire thread. As each post can only have 4 pics.

This is also a work in progress. I am not done with it. But wanted to get the text and photo parts out of the way.

Doing the last post now. But will be updating. And updating as people make comments and improvements.

Each post can only have four uploaded attachments.  If the pics are hosted somewhere else and just linked to then they're unlimited.

I didn't know that. I could have used my imgur acct. Will remember that for next time. 

A fresnel lens is pretty much just a magnifying lens, right ?

I've lit paper on fire with a regular magnifying glass before (I was an easily entertained child and I also made sure to have some water close by in case I had a moment of stupidity).

Quote from: Moab on February 27, 2023, 07:10:30 PMEven tho I've burned a multitude of ants to death with magnifying lens. I not an expert on lighting fires that way. Is there a preferred lens? Is fresnel or magnifying glass better? Anyone have better links than those I posted?

For general use, a magnifying glass is better, but a flexible fresnel will work and can be stored in places a magnifying glass can't, like your wallet or slipped down inside that kit.

Pictures are all visible now.  This is an outstanding post!  Love that it is so profusely illustrated and contains links to where to buy items. I especially appreciate the links to the beeswax tea candles.

A few random thoughts:

Glad you saw fit to include Bic lighters.  I get the sense that in a lot of survivalist circles, butane lighters are somehow seen as cheating.  Man (er, humankind) has been perfecting the art of making fire for tens of thousands of years.  The disposable lighter is pretty much the pinnacle of that art.  It seems ridiculous to discount that crowning acheivement of portable firestarting technology simply because it makes the task of producing flame too easy.

But of course butane lighters can and do fail, which is why it's important to have alternate, more failsafe firestarting methods.  One avenue of failure is if the butane fuel is inadvertently released in your pack because something else pushes against the thumb lever.  Much like a flashlight or headlamp accidentally getting switched on in your backpack and you discovering that only when you most need light. 

A ziptie or piece of cord affixed tightly directly underneath the gas release lighter can protect against that.


Somewhere on Youtube there's an old channel by a guy named MeZillch or something like that who shows convincingly that the zip tie method still allows you to pop the zip tie on and off the lighter.  So you don't need to cut it to activate your lighter. And you're still able to pop it back on to put your Bic on "safe". 

I always forget alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used as fuel/accelerant.  Thanks for the reminder.

Finally (for now): beware bargain priced firesteels.  The ones Moab links to all look to be good quality.  But a lot of super low priced options on Amazon and eBay turn out to be thick rods that are mostly plastic, with just a thin diameter rod of actual ferrocerium material embedded on one side.  Enlarge product pictures - especially ones that show the very tip of rod.  It's usually visible when it's not solid ferrocerrium.  And if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

And, just for shits and giggles, I just ordered a hundred more fresnels with 15-day delivery on Aliexpress. I'll mail one to any member that PM's me a name and mailing address.

Quote from: NT2C on February 27, 2023, 07:53:50 PMAnd, just for shits and giggles, I just ordered a hundred more fresnels with 15-day delivery on Aliexpress. I'll mail one to any member that PM's me a name and mailing address.

You're insane, NT2C.   

But a very nice gesture.  I already own about 10 credit card sized fresnel lenses and two larger ones.  So no need to send one to me.

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 27, 2023, 07:14:16 PMA fresnel lens is pretty much just a magnifying lens, right ?

I've lit paper on fire with a regular magnifying glass before (I was an easily entertained child and I also made sure to have some water close by in case I had a moment of stupidity).

I got caught playing with matches when I was a kid. My punishment was manning the burning barrel. Back then everyone had a 50 gallon barrel in their backyard. And you got rid of all your "burnables" buy burning them in the burning barrel.

I used to save up my moms old cans of hairspray. And once the fire was roaring. I'd throw in an old can of hairspray. It would blow up and make this loud explosion that would send smoke and crap flying way up in the air.

I still don't know why they chose that as a punishment. Lmao!! It just made me more of a pyro. Lol.