How to Make Homemade Fire Starters

How to Make Homemade Fire Starters

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Many homemade and commercial fire starters are made with wax and a flammable solid such as wood chips or lint. Although these fire starters burn quite well with a match, many of them cannot be ignited with a spark, which can make them less than ideal for outdoor use. Petroleum jelly-based fire starters, however, can be lit with flint and steel, embers from a fire piston or anything else that produces heat or a spark.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:
  • Cotton balls, dryer lint or cattails
  • Scissors
  • Tray
  • Petroleum jelly
  • Spoon
  • Food storage bag or film canister
  • Paper and string (optional)
Step 1
Get cotton balls, dryer lint or some other soft, flammable material for a wick. If you live near wetlands, cut the ends off a few cattails.
Step 2
Place your wick material onto a tray. If you are using cotton balls, separate them on the tray. If you are using lint, form it into pieces about the size of cotton balls and space them out on the tray. If you are using cattails, crumple them and divide them into small piles.
Step 3
Scoop a dab of petroleum jelly onto each "wick" or pile of fluff. Coat the wick completely, and scoop away any excess jelly using a spoon.
Step 4
Store the fire starters. You can place each in a food storage bag or store several together in a film canister or other small case. Alternately, you can wrap each fire starter in a small piece of paper, tie it closed with a string and then store them together in a bag.

Article Written By Isaiah David

Isaiah David is a freelance writer and musician living in Portland, Ore. He has over five years experience as a professional writer and has been published on various online outlets. He holds a degree in creative writing from the University of Michigan.

Write for Trails.com
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