Fire Starting

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Not sure how true this is, but I was watching one of those Alaska off grid shows on National Geographic channel and a lady on one of the shows said that corn chips (she used Fritos) can be used as a fire starter.

She also said pretty much any chip with a high oil content will work, but corn chips work the best.

I usually end up eating corn chips and not using them to start fires, but this lady got me thinking about the idea.

Anyone ever heard of this or tried this ?

Yes, I have and they do burn.  Also Pringles burn very well too.

Cool. Once the weather cools down in my AO, I'm thinking of trying this out for myself. Right now it's way too hot to try anything fire-starting related.

[echo83]

Not sure how true this is, but I was watching one of those Alaska off grid shows on National Geographic channel and a lady on one of the shows said that corn chips (she used Fritos) can be used as a fire starter.

She also said pretty much any chip with a high oil content will work, but corn chips work the best.

I usually end up eating corn chips and not using them to start fires, but this lady got me thinking about the idea.

Anyone ever heard of this or tried this ?

I've tried this with Doritos before. Briefly pissed off some people who were counting on them for a snack, but when the edge of Hurricane Sandy is bearing down on your campsite, you do what you need to do. 

Plus they were Cool Ranch. Grow up, guys. I was doing you a favor.

It worked.

[echo83]

One and Done Fire Starter

Burn day today, 50's with a light rain, decided to try an experiment.  5-hour energy bottle with a tampon inside and a loop tied in the string, filled with K-1 kero, and duct tape with shortened strike-anywhere matches.



Wrapped the tape around the bottle sealing the matches inside for a little waterproofing of them (not shown).  Out at the firepit full of wet yard waste, peeled off the duct tape from the bottle completely, removed a couple matches, and reapplied the duct tape higher on the bottle so it was above the level of the string wick.  Really wasn't sure how the thing would burn, but the plan generally was to make sure the plastic bottle caught fire at the rim anyway and duct tape actually burns pretty well.



This is about 45 seconds after lighting. 



Started adding wet kindling at this point, so difficult to see what exactly was happening with the bottle underneath.  About 2 - 2.5 minutes later, good fire intensity.  Just a guess but the bottle was probably completely melted at this point, and the flame is from the burning tampon, lying in a gob of molten plastic and in kero soaked ground.



My thoughts: Overkill for nice weather and dry wood, but the bottle is a good way to carry some Boy Scout Fluid in a BOB anyway.  The 5-hour energy bottles work well for most any fluids for that matter, burst proof and they don't leak.  For rainy (or snowy) days with wet wood this works pretty well as is, and it's fast.  More tinder/kindling around the base of the bottle before lighting would only help I think.  Taping a mini-Bic lighter to the bottle (for lighting only, not to burn it) might be better than the strike anywhere matches, the new strike anywhere matches don't light as easy as those from years past.

Definitely overkill, but that's a pretty awesome, pretty fool-proof firestarter. Bonus points for recycling and making it yourself!

I'm partial to Wetfire tabs, but they're a little pricey. Esbit is awesome, too, but it reeks. I keep it triple-bagged to avoid the stink.

On some of the camping trips I've done, everyone packed in a Duraflame apiece, we started doing that after we hiked in to a location in the snow, and realized how difficult/scary it can be to forage for firewood in the middle of the night.

Duraflame Stax are nice because they're smaller and easier to get going. 

[slipkid42]

Not sure how true this is, but I was watching one of those Alaska off grid shows on National Geographic channel and a lady on one of the shows said that corn chips (she used Fritos) can be used as a fire starter.

She also said pretty much any chip with a high oil content will work, but corn chips work the best.

I usually end up eating corn chips and not using them to start fires, but this lady got me thinking about the idea.

Anyone ever heard of this or tried this ?

I've tried this with Doritos before. Briefly pissed off some people who were counting on them for a snack, but when the edge of Hurricane Sandy is bearing down on your campsite, you do what you need to do.

Plus they were Cool Ranch. Grow up, guys. I was doing you a favor.

It worked.

Cool Ranch are the best, I'd be upset too!  

[Ghost]

Not sure how true this is, but I was watching one of those Alaska off grid shows on National Geographic channel and a lady on one of the shows said that corn chips (she used Fritos) can be used as a fire starter.

She also said pretty much any chip with a high oil content will work, but corn chips work the best.

I usually end up eating corn chips and not using them to start fires, but this lady got me thinking about the idea.

Anyone ever heard of this or tried this ?

Yep they make excellent firestarters.

[Z.O.R.G.]

Do you ever get Chinese take-out?  What do you do with all those wax paper eggroll wrappers?  Flatten them out and save them.  To star your file open them up and put your tinder in them, largest in the center smallest near the outside.  They're light weight, waterproof, keep all the tinder together and light with a single match.  

[MacWa77ace]

At the very least I'm going to see about resizing half used toothpaste and other tubes like that. I didn't realize you could weld them like that.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

That's neat.

I've seen similar done with empty deodorant containers, but this seems a lot less likely for leaks to happen in warmer climates than with a deodorant container.

[Lodewijk]

My fire kit leans heavily to the bushcraft side, because I put it together during Bushclass. 99% of my campfires start with a ferro rod or flint & steel.

For "firestarters":

1) Jute
2) Char cloth

3) Everything else

Jute is cheap, multipurpose, easy to get, works great as a flash tinder, and weighs very little. Char cloth isn't fussy to make, can be reproduced right there in the woods with a tin, and you usually don't need to use very much at a time so it can be stretched. 

The downside to these two materials is that they want to be stored in a ziploc baggie so they stay dry.

For emergencies I have a Bic with a Canadian jam knot blocking the plunger, fatwood, and a few Wetfire packets. One of my knives (USMC Ka-Bar) has an ESEE pouch strapped to it with fireplugs and a firesteel inside, but that's meant to be a grab and go setup.

I love flint and steel fires. Picking a rock off the ground, using it with a steel striker to light char cloth and then coaxing a tinder bundle to flames is deeply satisfying. So is preparing your next piece of char to be ready for the next one.

I don't love matches for ignition. For whatever reason I feel like I fight them, and if you're not 'playing the game' for bushcraft purposes you might as well just use a lighter.

I still haven't gotten a chance to play with potassium permanganate. That's on the docket though.

[echo83]

At the very least I'm going to see about resizing half used toothpaste and other tubes like that. I didn't realize you could weld them like that.

That's pretty cool! I've watched this short a few times and I'm still not clear on how he welded that tube. Did he use wax paper and a super hot knife? Or is that transfer tape around the end of the tube? 

[MacWa77ace]

At the very least I'm going to see about resizing half used toothpaste and other tubes like that. I didn't realize you could weld them like that.

That's pretty cool! I've watched this short a few times and I'm still not clear on how he welded that tube. Did he use wax paper and a super hot knife? Or is that transfer tape around the end of the tube?

I assumed it was just the heat and the 'paper' was to keep the vinyl/plastic tube from sticking to the knife.

I haven't tried it yet. My ideas are: soldering iron, vacuum sealer W/out the vacuum, hot knife, clothes hanger.

[NT2C]

Is there some reason you can't just use a squeeze tube of petroleum jelly?  Or one of the "single serve" packets from the FAK?

[MacWa77ace]

Is there some reason you can't just use a squeeze tube of petroleum jelly?  Or one of the "single serve" packets from the FAK?

Apparently this has some 'kindling' premixed with the fuel, in case you want to skip that step in the field. My main interest in this one was the 'welding' of the tube.

I have fuel without 'kindling' in my fire starter kit. In plastic 'straws' that I 'welded' in a similar manor to seal in the fuel. Basically made 'pillow packs' of fuel.

[MacWa77ace]

...

I've rethought alot of my bob preps since ignoring it for a couple years. And then opening things back up. My main emergency radio completely died. And it didnt even have batteries in it. I had Zippos with flint that turned to powder. And zippos that rusted into just about complete nonoperation. Now i only carry one Zippo without dlint or fuel in it. Inside of a sealed rubber zippo case. Which actually does work. It will keep fuel from evaporating for months instead of days or weeks. Like in a typical zippo. Not that zippos even rank in my hierarchy of fire starting tools.

Tactical Lighter Storage Case Box Container Organizer Holder for Zippo Inner Tank Waterproof Anti-Drop https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YJQJRN6/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_GF7X5RHP7GN57F1XEJAD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

A few months ago I bought a plain jane brushed finish Zippo for $13 and a can of fluid for it. This is/was the first time ever refilling one I owned, although I found one once when I was a kid and IIRC it made fire for a long time in kid years. And I have another from my dad that's never been used or filled. This new one was for firestarting.

After playing with it for a few weeks, I've come to the conclusion that these are no good for storing in any kind of emergency 'kit'. Having no experience whatsoever with this type of liquid fuel lighter I did NOT expect the results I got and I musta forgot or misread Moab's post here.

I'm literally getting less than two weeks life out of this thing after 'overflowing' it with fuel. And then lighting it once every couple of days just to 'see' if it still has fuel. It uses just about as much fuel to not use it as to use it I guess.  [I leave it standing vertical on my desk when not 'testing' if it lights]


Anyhow this 'outer' for zippo [linked below] says 'less evaporation' in the description for 3x the price, where i can't find that mentioned in Moab's linked item. Although one customer review says they went from filling weekly to every three weeks.

https://www.amazon.com/PyroVault-Compatible-Protection-Evaporation-Retention/dp/B0BLTG44N6/ref=pd_ci_mcx_di_int_pref_dp_d_d_sccl_2_1/132-7376526-5783842?pd_rd_w=mqnbz&content-id=amzn1.sym.9c9ed4e5-2a18-4e6a-abb7-6146d9caf259&pf_rd_p=9c9ed4e5-2a18-4e6a-abb7-6146d9caf259&pf_rd_r=XR7AFVMBZ3421KCZVVTT&pd_rd_wg=GEMwD&pd_rd_r=997988cd-f672-434e-8225-fabd50401819&pd_rd_i=B0BLTG44N6&th=1



I love the smell of lighter fluid burning though. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Zippo makes a butane insert for their lighters now. There's two or three butane ones and one rechargeable version.

Here's the link for them on Knife Center.

https://www.knifecenter.com/series/zippo-lighters/inserts

[Moab]

...

I've rethought alot of my bob preps since ignoring it for a couple years. And then opening things back up. My main emergency radio completely died. And it didnt even have batteries in it. I had Zippos with flint that turned to powder. And zippos that rusted into just about complete nonoperation. Now i only carry one Zippo without dlint or fuel in it. Inside of a sealed rubber zippo case. Which actually does work. It will keep fuel from evaporating for months instead of days or weeks. Like in a typical zippo. Not that zippos even rank in my hierarchy of fire starting tools.

Tactical Lighter Storage Case Box Container Organizer Holder for Zippo Inner Tank Waterproof Anti-Drop https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YJQJRN6/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_GF7X5RHP7GN57F1XEJAD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

A few months ago I bought a plain jane brushed finish Zippo for $13 and a can of fluid for it. This is/was the first time ever refilling one I owned, although I found one once when I was a kid and IIRC it made fire for a long time in kid years. And I have another from my dad that's never been used or filled. This new one was for firestarting.

After playing with it for a few weeks, I've come to the conclusion that these are no good for storing in any kind of emergency 'kit'. Having no experience whatsoever with this type of liquid fuel lighter I did NOT expect the results I got and I musta forgot or misread Moab's post here.

I'm literally getting less than two weeks life out of this thing after 'overflowing' it with fuel. And then lighting it once every couple of days just to 'see' if it still has fuel. It uses just about as much fuel to not use it as to use it I guess.  [I leave it standing vertical on my desk when not 'testing' if it lights]


Anyhow this 'outer' for zippo [linked below] says 'less evaporation' in the description for 3x the price, where i can't find that mentioned in Moab's linked item. Although one customer review says they went from filling weekly to every three weeks.

https://www.amazon.com/PyroVault-Compatible-Protection-Evaporation-Retention/dp/B0BLTG44N6/ref=pd_ci_mcx_di_int_pref_dp_d_d_sccl_2_1/132-7376526-5783842?pd_rd_w=mqnbz&content-id=amzn1.sym.9c9ed4e5-2a18-4e6a-abb7-6146d9caf259&pf_rd_p=9c9ed4e5-2a18-4e6a-abb7-6146d9caf259&pf_rd_r=XR7AFVMBZ3421KCZVVTT&pd_rd_wg=GEMwD&pd_rd_r=997988cd-f672-434e-8225-fabd50401819&pd_rd_i=B0BLTG44N6&th=1



I love the smell of lighter fluid burning though. 

The one I linked will give you "months". I tested it and got at least three months. They are $5 on AliExpress. A bit more on Amazon. They are completely sealed with rubber o-rings.

About two weeks is normal for the fluid to evaporate. There are also many different zippo parts in AliExpress. Including o-rings and different flints with different characteristics. Like large sparks or longer lasting. You can literally build an entire zippolighterfrom parts on AliExpress.

I highly recommend the case I linked. I never considered a Zippo prior. Because of the evaporation issue. This case and having the ability to use refillable fuel - unlike a bic - is a nice shtf or paw option.

Both of these are the exact same thing btw. It's basically a sealed case that holds the innards of a stock Zippo lighter. Which once filled with fluid prevents it from evaporating. I think $35 is a bit much for what it is. So is $15 on Amazon. But if you can wait a couple weeks the $5 one is the same thing.

[Moab]

Here's the one on AliExpress.

Just found this amazing item on AliExpress. Check it out! 
$19.13 | Tactical BP-72 Lighter Storage Case Universal Portable Box Container Organizer Holder For Zippo Inner Tank Outdoor Camping Hik
https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0y0lXq

[Lodewijk]

...

I've rethought alot of my bob preps since ignoring it for a couple years. And then opening things back up. My main emergency radio completely died. And it didnt even have batteries in it. I had Zippos with flint that turned to powder. And zippos that rusted into just about complete nonoperation. Now i only carry one Zippo without dlint or fuel in it. Inside of a sealed rubber zippo case. Which actually does work. It will keep fuel from evaporating for months instead of days or weeks. Like in a typical zippo. Not that zippos even rank in my hierarchy of fire starting tools.

Tactical Lighter Storage Case Box Container Organizer Holder for Zippo Inner Tank Waterproof Anti-Drop https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YJQJRN6/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_GF7X5RHP7GN57F1XEJAD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

A few months ago I bought a plain jane brushed finish Zippo for $13 and a can of fluid for it. This is/was the first time ever refilling one I owned, although I found one once when I was a kid and IIRC it made fire for a long time in kid years. And I have another from my dad that's never been used or filled. This new one was for firestarting.

After playing with it for a few weeks, I've come to the conclusion that these are no good for storing in any kind of emergency 'kit'. Having no experience whatsoever with this type of liquid fuel lighter I did NOT expect the results I got and I musta forgot or misread Moab's post here.

I'm literally getting less than two weeks life out of this thing after 'overflowing' it with fuel. And then lighting it once every couple of days just to 'see' if it still has fuel. It uses just about as much fuel to not use it as to use it I guess.  [I leave it standing vertical on my desk when not 'testing' if it lights]


Anyhow this 'outer' for zippo [linked below] says 'less evaporation' in the description for 3x the price, where i can't find that mentioned in Moab's linked item. Although one customer review says they went from filling weekly to every three weeks.

https://www.amazon.com/PyroVault-Compatible-Protection-Evaporation-Retention/dp/B0BLTG44N6/ref=pd_ci_mcx_di_int_pref_dp_d_d_sccl_2_1/132-7376526-5783842?pd_rd_w=mqnbz&content-id=amzn1.sym.9c9ed4e5-2a18-4e6a-abb7-6146d9caf259&pf_rd_p=9c9ed4e5-2a18-4e6a-abb7-6146d9caf259&pf_rd_r=XR7AFVMBZ3421KCZVVTT&pd_rd_wg=GEMwD&pd_rd_r=997988cd-f672-434e-8225-fabd50401819&pd_rd_i=B0BLTG44N6&th=1



I love the smell of lighter fluid burning though. 

Yeah, pouring it in a container that isn't sealed leads to evaporation. Crazy, right?

The little keychain vaults Zippo sells are the best solution I've found for portable fuel storage. I have one clipped to my EDC bag that has been there for more than a year and it's still full.

Ranger bands are a pretty common way to seal the lid. I haven't tried that myself.

[MacWa77ace]

[EBuff75]

@MacWa77ace  I just saw those videos recently (both the updated one linked here and the previous version) and saved them to try out for a future project.  It's all fairly straight-forward, although making the mold for the wax was just sort of bypassed.