Sparks and tinder kit.

[12mp82]

im going to do a little test at some point next week.

im very out of practise at setting fire, so ive made a little simple tin can stove and intend to work out the best tinder that takes a spark, to get the stove started.

im going to test cotton wool balls fluffed up with differing bits on i.e. vaseline, alcohol hand gel...

now this is where i need your expertise please. what else shall i use? wil add feather sticks and dry twigs once its got going, but need to know what items can be stored in an empty 'fizzy vitamin tube' and placed in my BOB to use as my tinder. dont have time to go and get birch bark or pine resin (although will at some point soon)

let me have your thoughts and knowledge please if thats ok?

If you get some cotton wool balls and split them in three then add to a poly bag suspended in boiling water they will absorb the vasaline, then take out one at a time and put them in small zip-lock bags until needed.

Look out for bull-rushes, very good at taking a spark.

Buy some tinder card and break into 1" squares, fold in half and drop in.

Look out for any Black fungus on Ash trees, known as King Alfreds Cake or Cramp ball fungus.

[essgee23]

cheers 12. think i watched video of tinder crad (yours i believe??) on here yesterday.

will grab some bull rushes when next see them (have 2 rivers nearby so should be easy enough)

gonna give the cotton wool/vaseline trick a go, and the fungus is a great idea....thanks again.

[tom2tom]

Just another thought on your wool your testing. Try full up wire wool and get a spark on that it will burn hotter and for longer

Edit: sorry did not see someone had already suggested wire wool but i did a test on it and it catches the spark first time each time =)!

I made a video here =) viewtopic.php?f=33&t=6318

[essgee23]

cheers tom, saw video earlier. nice effect

[tom2tom]

Thanks mate =) Try it. I think you might end up favoring it to cotton wool

[zona5]

hi
i remember seeing 9v battery and some wire wool used on a show , dont remember which one ,
but it really go's up

[essgee23]

Some really useful tips there, thanks.

So what kit for fire making do you all have? What's it stored in? What's your plan?

[The Ace of Spades]

My Fire Kit:

Ferro Rod (with custom Oak handle)
Lifesystems Storm Matches (in original container)
Lighter (with 3 ranger bands wrapped around it)
Small Candle
Cotton Wool in Vaseline X 8 (inside old Paracetamol tub. Striker taped to tub + 2 ranger bands wrapped around tub)
Small Bag of Dryer Lint
Small Bag of Pine Resin
Piece of Birch Bark

This all fits into a Web-Tex Utility Pouch.

Ace.

[essgee23]

My Fire Kit:

Ferro Rod (with custom Oak handle)
Lifesystems Storm Matches (in original container)
Lighter (with 3 ranger bands wrapped around it)
Small Candle
Cotton Wool in Vaseline X 8 (inside old Paracetamol tub. Striker taped to tub + 2 ranger bands wrapped around tub)
Small Bag of Dryer Lint
Small Bag of Pine Resin
Piece of Birch Bark

This all fits into a Web-Tex Utility Pouch.

Ace.

excellent, thanks Ace.

where do you get your resin? (obviously from pine trees but wondered if is the stuff offered on amazon)

[The Ace of Spades]

I collect the resin myself when I'm out camping in Wales. Once collected, and after a little time, it dries into a crystal like state, so it's very easy to keep in a bag without it getting messy.

I've collected quite a few different natural tinders that I keep at home to take out and try sometimes - cedar bark, cramp balls, cattail, etc. Fire is fun.

Ace.