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Build A One-Match Fire... The One-Match Fire
Always try to light a fire with a single match- even when an entire box of matches is at hand. This skill could someday mean the difference between a warm, comfortable camp and a chilly, miserable one. Place a softball-size piece of tinder on dry bark or on the ground. Good tinder ingredients include lint (check your pockets and belly button), cotton threads, dry-wood powder, bird or mouse nests, dry shredded bark or pine needles. Around the tinder, pile a handful of dry twigs. Over this nucleus, lean a few slightly larger, seasoned branches in tepee-fashion. Over the branches, lay some bigger pieces of deadwood. With the pile sheltered from wind and rain, ignite the tinder so the flames eat into the heart of the pile. Once the fire gets going, shape it however you want. Photo by Outdoor Life Online Editor AdvertisementRelated PhotosSUBMIT YOUR PHOTOSADVERTISEMENT |
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Photo Gallery Comments (7)
To find dry kindeling even in wet weather look up not down. Fallen dead limbs caught in lower limbs are your best bet to start a fire.
Good hints.
I don’t know if that mouse trap will work. If the jar is not deep enough I would expect the mouse to jump out.
I do know if you take a 5 gallon bucket and fill it half way full of water, run a wire across the top to an unstable platform (leaf will work) with peanut butter on it. The mouse will jump to the unstable platform and end up in the water where it will drown.
And unlike snap traps will continue to collect mice until you get to it.
Another hint that I've used is to run my knife over my socks. Pick off the loose lint and use it as an excellent fire-starter. Be careful if you're doing this with your socks on! You wouldn't do yourself any favors cutting yourself!
the inner bark of most trees remain dry even after a downpour lint from your pocket also makes great tinder
Try collecting dryer lint and keeping it in either a 35mm film canister or zip lock bag. Carry at least one (I carry 3-5, depending on where I'm going) flint and steel fire starter. Take your pick, the magnesium bar, Strike Force, Blast match even a homemade tool, if it works. Then OOOO steel wool kept in a zip lock bag takes a spark well. as does the dryer lint. Dip cotton balls in Vaseline, they're waterproof. Just practice the stuff before you go out.
Take an 8x8 3-4mil tarp with you. I use paracord for a whole lot of stuff, but it makes a decent shelter if the situation arises.
These things are like an American Express card. Don't leave home without them.
But PRACTICE doing it at home when it's fun. If you've never done it before, trying to do it under stress is not a good time to learn it.
Another firestarter I had forgotten about is the alcohol foam used by hospital personnel. You might be able to buy some at a pharmacy like Walgreens or CVS, just make sure it has isopropyl alcohol in it. Spray a little glob, ok use a big one, and strike a spark to it, it won't burn a long time but in a pinch I have used it to start my propane coleman camp stove when the wind kept blowing the matches out. Works pretty good, leaves a wet residue, water that is in the mixture, mostly, but it evaporates pretty quick. I keep some in my truck for cleaning my hands.
Another good starter is the shaving of a pencil. Save this after your sharpner is full and store in film cannister of plastic bag. This shavings are light weight and will start a fire right off. I even like to take a fire log starter you buy in a store and break it up into small peices and use a small amount with the pencil savings and this will allow a fire in most conditions. Hope this helped. Take care and may GOD bless.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)
To find dry kindeling even in wet weather look up not down. Fallen dead limbs caught in lower limbs are your best bet to start a fire.
Try collecting dryer lint and keeping it in either a 35mm film canister or zip lock bag. Carry at least one (I carry 3-5, depending on where I'm going) flint and steel fire starter. Take your pick, the magnesium bar, Strike Force, Blast match even a homemade tool, if it works. Then OOOO steel wool kept in a zip lock bag takes a spark well. as does the dryer lint. Dip cotton balls in Vaseline, they're waterproof. Just practice the stuff before you go out.
Take an 8x8 3-4mil tarp with you. I use paracord for a whole lot of stuff, but it makes a decent shelter if the situation arises.
These things are like an American Express card. Don't leave home without them.
But PRACTICE doing it at home when it's fun. If you've never done it before, trying to do it under stress is not a good time to learn it.
Another firestarter I had forgotten about is the alcohol foam used by hospital personnel. You might be able to buy some at a pharmacy like Walgreens or CVS, just make sure it has isopropyl alcohol in it. Spray a little glob, ok use a big one, and strike a spark to it, it won't burn a long time but in a pinch I have used it to start my propane coleman camp stove when the wind kept blowing the matches out. Works pretty good, leaves a wet residue, water that is in the mixture, mostly, but it evaporates pretty quick. I keep some in my truck for cleaning my hands.
Another good starter is the shaving of a pencil. Save this after your sharpner is full and store in film cannister of plastic bag. This shavings are light weight and will start a fire right off. I even like to take a fire log starter you buy in a store and break it up into small peices and use a small amount with the pencil savings and this will allow a fire in most conditions. Hope this helped. Take care and may GOD bless.
Good hints.
I don’t know if that mouse trap will work. If the jar is not deep enough I would expect the mouse to jump out.
I do know if you take a 5 gallon bucket and fill it half way full of water, run a wire across the top to an unstable platform (leaf will work) with peanut butter on it. The mouse will jump to the unstable platform and end up in the water where it will drown.
And unlike snap traps will continue to collect mice until you get to it.
Another hint that I've used is to run my knife over my socks. Pick off the loose lint and use it as an excellent fire-starter. Be careful if you're doing this with your socks on! You wouldn't do yourself any favors cutting yourself!
the inner bark of most trees remain dry even after a downpour lint from your pocket also makes great tinder
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)