Making You Own Cheap Firestaters

Generating a fire is a fundamental survival skill, whether you’re in the wilderness or facing a power outage at home. It’s about more than just warmth and cooked meals; it can be a lifeline against hypothermia, signaling for help, and ensuring your safety.

To guarantee that you can start a fire whenever you need one, it’s wise to carry some reliable firestarters with you, whether it’s in your wilderness gear, emergency bug-out bag, or even tucked away in a kitchen drawer. Personally, I make sure to include a firestarter and a trusty lighter in my everyday carry (EDC) kit, always within easy reach in my right front pocket.

To ignite a fire successfully, you must have three essential components at your disposal: fire, fuel, and oxygen. A shortage of any one of these elements can make fire-making a challenging task.

Your firestarter plays a crucial role by providing fuel in a form that easily ignites and burns long enough to ignite the rest of your fuel source. In some instances, like the one we’ll explore shortly, a firestarter can supply both fuel and fire.

Not all firestarters are created equal; some, especially commercially manufactured ones, require an actual flame from a match or lighter to initiate combustion. However, the most practical ones are designed to work with just a spark. In this guide, we’ll cover both types.

Regardless of the kind of firestarter you use, whether it’s store-bought or crafted at home, they typically consist of two main components: a substance with oil content, such as wax or petroleum, and a wick-like material, such as a string or fine cotton-like fibers. The choice of materials determines whether you’ll need an open flame or just a spark to set your firestarter in motion.

A quick YouTube search for “firestarters” will yield numerous videos showcasing a wide range of wax or petroleum-based products combined with various wicking materials, from strings to cotton to cardboard to duct tape. In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of the most popular and reliable firestarter methods. So, let’s dive into the art of fire-making!

Utilizing Dryer Lint as a Firestarter

In the world of firestarters, simplicity can often be the key to success. One of the simplest and most accessible firestarters you can craft at home utilizes a common household item: dryer lint. This humble material offers a range of benefits, including cost-effectiveness, ease of acquisition, and the ability to ignite with just a spark. However, like any tool, it has its limitations. Dryer lint doesn’t burn as long as some other firestarters, especially those infused with accelerants, and it may not generate as much heat. Nonetheless, it serves as a reliable and handy solution for getting your fire going when you need it most.

Gathering Your Materials:

The primary ingredient for crafting this firestarter is dryer lint, which you can effortlessly collect from your household appliance. It’s a byproduct of your daily laundry routine, making it both cost-free and abundant.

Creating Your Dryer Lint Firestarter

1. The process of fashioning this firestarter is incredibly straightforward:
2. Start by removing the accumulated lint from your clothes dryer after each cycle.
3. Store the collected lint in a waterproof container, such as a snack-sized or sandwich-sized plastic baggie. This step ensures that your lint remains dry and ready for use, even in damp conditions.

Effectively Using Your Dryer Lint Firestarter:

When the time comes to kindle a fire, follow these simple steps:

• Place a small, loosely packed ball of dryer lint next to or beneath your carefully prepared fire lay.
• Generate sparks directly onto the lint, or if you prefer, use a readily available lighter or match to ignite it.
• Once the lint begins to burn, exercise caution as you move it into your fire lay to ignite the tinder. Be gentle to avoid extinguishing the fragile flame.

While dryer lint firestarters may not match the longevity of some commercial options with accelerants, their accessibility, ease of use, and ability to ignite with minimal effort make them an invaluable addition to your fire-making arsenal. Whether you’re out in the wilderness or facing a power outage at home, dryer lint can be your trusty companion in sparking the flames of warmth, comfort, and survival.

Utilizing Cotton Balls and Petroleum Jelly

In the realm of firestarters, versatility and reliability are prized qualities. Back in my days as a young Boy Scout, the rolled cardboard and paraffin firestarter reigned supreme. However, times have evolved, and today, the combination of cotton balls or cotton pads infused with petroleum jelly takes center stage as a favored choice. What sets it apart is its ability to ignite with nothing more than a spark, making it an accessible and efficient option for fire-making.

Gathering Your Materials:

To create this highly effective firestarter, you’ll need the following materials:

• Cotton balls or cotton makeup removal pads (alternatively, you can use dryer lint).
• Petroleum jelly or a liquid hand sanitizer with a petroleum- or alcohol-based formula.

Crafting Your Cotton Ball and Petroleum Jelly Firestarter:

Creating this firestarter is straightforward and can be done in two ways:

Method 1:

1. Scoop out a portion of petroleum jelly from the container.
2. Work the jelly deep into the cotton ball or pad until it becomes thoroughly saturated.
3. Store the prepared cotton balls in an empty film container or pill bottle, keeping them ready for your fire-making adventures.
4. Alternatively, you can store the cotton pads in a snack-sized plastic baggie or a small container, such as a compact Altoids tin.

Method 2 (Alternate):

1. Instead of manually saturating the cotton, you can opt to melt the petroleum jelly using a double boiler.
2. Submerge the cotton ball or pad in the melted petroleum jelly to ensure better saturation.
3. This method results in a firestarter that burns for a more extended period. However, exercise caution as the melted substance will be extremely hot and can cause burns if mishandled.

Effectively Using Your Cotton Ball and Petroleum Jelly Firestarter:

Before igniting, gently pull apart the cotton ball or pad to expose its fibers, creating a fuzzy surface that facilitates ignition when struck by a spark.

• If you’re using a sparking tool, make a designated space in your fire lay for the firestarter.
• Strike sparks onto the prepared firestarter, and once it’s lit, carefully place it into your fire lay.
• If necessary, gently blow on the firestarter to help ignite your tinder and kindling.
• Alternatively, if you prefer to use a match or lighter, you can follow the same approach or simply light the firestarter within your fire lay.

Cotton balls and petroleum jelly firestarters have earned their popularity due to their simplicity, reliability, and ability to catch fire easily with minimal effort. Whether you’re in the great outdoors or facing an emergency at home, these firestarters can be your trusted companions in kindling the flames of warmth, survival, and comfort.

Utilizing Paraffin and Cotton

When it comes to firestarters, simplicity meets effectiveness in the form of a cotton makeup removal pad soaked in paraffin. This method offers an alternative to the messier but equally potent cotton ball and petroleum jelly firestarter. Crafting it is a breeze, and it’s easy to store for your fire-making needs. However, unlike its petroleum jelly counterpart, this firestarter requires an open flame to ignite.

Materials You’ll Need:

• Cotton makeup removal pads (or alternatively, cotton balls, sawdust, or any fine, combustible material).
• Paraffin (readily available in various places) or candle stubs from your home, or even tea candles.
• A metal container, such as an empty 20-ounce tin can.
• A pot large enough to accommodate your metal container.
• A stirring tool.
• Pliers, hemostats, clamps, or tongs to handle the cotton pads when they are hot.

Crafting Your Paraffin and Cotton Firestarter:

1. Prepare the paraffin for melting. If you have a block of paraffin, you can either melt a portion or speed up the process by shredding or flaking it with a knife. If you’re using candle stubs or tea candles, cut them into chunks, and remember to remove the wicks before melting the wax.
2. Place your prepared paraffin into the metal container.
3. Set the metal container inside the pot and add enough water to the pot to submerge the paraffin in the metal container.
4. Heat the water over medium heat to melt the paraffin.
5. Stir the paraffin periodically as it melts to ensure that solid pieces fully dissolve and to eliminate any cool spots.
6. Keep an eye on the melting paraffin to prevent overheating or splattering.
7. Once all the paraffin has melted, keep it on the heat source to prevent it from solidifying.
8. Using your clamp or tongs, dip a cotton ball or pad into the molten paraffin, ensuring that it gets fully coated on both sides. Allow it to soak up the paraffin.
9. Remove the soaked cotton ball or pad and place it on wax paper or plastic wrap to cool and dry.

Effectively Using Your Paraffin and Cotton Firestarter:

• Gently pull apart the cotton ball or pad to expose its inner fibers, which will act as a wick when ignited.
• While sparks may potentially ignite it if they strike the right location, the most reliable way to light this firestarter is with a flame from a match or lighter.
• Once lit, carefully position the firestarter into your fire lay and blow gently to help ignite the tinder and kindling.

This paraffin and cotton firestarter offers a mess-free, efficient, and easily stored solution for kindling fires in various situations. Whether you’re in the wild or experiencing a power outage at home, this firestarter can be your dependable ally in igniting the flames of warmth, safety, and comfort.

Crafting Special Matches

When adverse weather conditions, especially strong winds, challenge your fire-starting endeavors, a super match can be your saving grace. Super matches emit an impressive flame for an extended duration, making them highly effective even in inclement conditions. While they require a bit more effort to craft, their performance is worth it.

Materials You’ll Need:

• Wooden matchsticks, either strike-anywhere matches or strike-on-the-box matches.
• Toilet paper, with a preference for fluffier varieties.
• Paraffin (as described earlier).
• Equipment for melting the paraffin (as described earlier).

Crafting Your Super Matches:

1. Begin by melting your paraffin, following the instructions provided earlier.
2. Cut the toilet paper into strips that are as wide as the matchstick is long from one end to just below the match head. For instance, if the distance below the match head is 1.5 inches, cut the toilet paper squares into strips measuring 1.5 inches in width by the length of the toilet paper section.
3. Optionally, you can use two or three matches for each super match, especially if you anticipate windy conditions that might extinguish a single-match firestarter.
4. Wrap the toilet paper strips securely around the matchstick.
5. Dip the matchstick wrapped in toilet paper into the melted paraffin, ensuring that you seal each end of the toilet paper.
6. Submerge the entire assembly in the paraffin, allowing it to soak into the paper for approximately 15-30 seconds.
7. Using your tongs, carefully remove the super match from the wax and set it aside to cool and dry.

Effectively Using Your Super Matches:

• Before lighting, clean off any wax from the match head.
• Strike the match, igniting the wax-covered toilet paper.
• Position the burning super match into your fire lay, allowing it to ignite the tinder and kindling.
• Super matches burn for several minutes, offering a significantly longer burn time compared to a regular match, which typically burns for a minute or less.

Super matches are your ideal companions when battling challenging weather conditions. Their ability to produce a sustained flame makes them a valuable addition to your fire-starting toolkit, ensuring that you can conquer the elements and find warmth, safety, and sustenance in the outdoors or during unexpected power outages.

Creating a Pine Resin and Birch Bark Firestarter

In the wilderness, sourcing natural firestarters can be both practical and effective. One such option involves using pine resin and birch bark, readily available in many forested areas. Pine resin acts as a highly flammable fuel, while birch bark serves as an excellent tinder material.

Materials You’ll Need:

• Pine resin (collected from pine trees).
• Birch bark (easily obtained from birch trees).
• A small container for carrying the prepared firestarter.

Crafting Your Pine Resin and Birch Bark Firestarter:

1. Begin by collecting a sufficient amount of pine resin from pine trees. It can often be found in crystallized form on the bark or as droplets on the tree’s surface.
2. Next, gather birch bark from birch trees. Look for dry, papery pieces of bark that can easily catch fire.
3. In your container, place a layer of birch bark as the base of your firestarter.
4. Melt the pine resin. You can do this by placing it in a heat-resistant container and heating it gently over a fire or a portable stove. Be cautious as pine resin can ignite if exposed to direct flame, so use indirect heat.
5. Carefully pour the melted pine resin over the birch bark, ensuring that it soaks into the bark.
6. Allow the resin-soaked birch bark to cool and solidify. Once it has hardened, your pine resin and birch bark firestarter is ready for use.

Effectively Using Your Pine Resin and Birch Bark Firestarter:

• To use your firestarter, scrape or cut off a small portion of the resin-soaked birch bark. This will serve as your tinder.
• Position the birch bark tinder within your fire lay, ensuring that it’s surrounded by additional kindling and fuel wood.
• Use a sparking tool, a match, or a lighter to ignite the birch bark tinder. Birch bark is highly flammable and will readily catch fire.
• Once the birch bark ignites, it will burn hot and help ignite the surrounding kindling and fuel wood, starting your fire.

Pine resin and birch bark firestarters are excellent choices in a wilderness setting, especially when you have access to these natural materials. They provide a reliable and sustainable method for igniting a fire, essential for warmth, cooking, and survival in the great outdoors.

A closing word

These firestarter methods offer versatile solutions for kindling fires in a variety of settings, whether you find yourself in the wilderness, facing adverse weather conditions, or dealing with unexpected power outages. From the simplicity of dryer lint and cotton balls combined with petroleum jelly to the resilience of paraffin-soaked cotton or pine resin-infused birch bark, each firestarter has its unique advantages.

These firestarting techniques not only provide you with warmth and sustenance but also instill a sense of self-reliance and preparedness. Whether you opt for the convenience of commercially available firestarters or choose to craft your own using everyday materials, the ability to ignite a fire when you need it is an essential skill.

By understanding and mastering these methods, you equip yourself with the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive in various scenarios, whether you’re exploring the great outdoors or simply facing an unexpected challenge at home. So, whether it’s a super match, cotton balls and petroleum jelly, or any other firestarter, may these techniques serve as your trusted allies in igniting the flames of comfort, safety, and survival whenever the need arises.

Suggested resources for preppers:

A few unusual fire starters to get a campfire going

The #1 food of Americans during the Great Depression

Tips for starting a fire in any conditions

If you see this plant when foraging, don’t touch it!