fire trick

[scubabob]

i was recently watching some You-Tube vids on bushwalking (nothing on tele) and on one of them a chap suggested taking bits of dry stick with you when you go so that if you get stuck and its raining, then at least you will have dry stuff to light a fire with. Not a bad idea i thought but as i carry a Hexi stove as an "out of fuel'' back up, Hexi tablets do the same thing. however rather than carrying sticks, the best stuff i would carry is the fluff from the clothes dryer!! Most certainly dry and kept in a zip lock bag, will remain so and it burns furiously!! Plus there is the weight factor, it weighs nothing

[Macca81]

with most walking in tas done in nat parks/conservation areas, i would hope that there is no need for a fire fuel stove only

[Earthling]

with most walking in tas done in nat parks/conservation areas, i would hope that there is no need for a fire fuel stove only

Ahhh...but this is an Australian Forum.....so its re:Australia....

[Franco]

Beware that some of your lint from the clothes dryer maybe synthetic, not the healthiest stuff to burn.
I would suggest cotton balls (real cotton...) and if you are like me and carry olive oil, you have your emergency fire starter.
Franco

[sthughes]

Why not just carry fire lighters?

[abowen]

Lint from the clothes dryer doesn't work as well as expected. Tried this at the designated fire pits on the south coast track and the balls of fluff failed miserably.
However, what does work well is the alcohol swaps found in first aid kits (double purpose). These light first time and burn with enough time and energy to ignite small twigs, leaves (even if they are wet). I have ditched the balls of fluff and gone with extra swabs.
Mosquito coils also work well, but lack the energy to ignite anything other than very dry paper. But as sthughes has said if you are going to carry dry sticks you may as well carry fire lighters.

[Franco]

For me it is the multi use thing. Combining what I have for different uses.
Cotton balls
lighting fires (with olive oil or Vaseline)
cushioning sores/blisters, helping to stop bleeding (with bandaid or gaffer/duct tape)
applying ointments/olive oil to tender areas.
as ear plugs
(for sore ears also a bit of warm (not hot...) olive oil in the ear canal (plug with cotton after pouring in ) helps.
also makes it easier to paint my toe nails, but that is another story.
Franco

[Liamy77]

Your better off using cotton wool - doubles up as a first aid supply too- also its a natural product so no noxious fumes or smells
lichen can work as a tinder but a few flakes of firelighter or hex fuel ontop of fluffed out cotton wool put smalltwigs ontop to dry as the fires goes (split the sticks in half or quarters and the dry inside will burn more easily too.... IMHO

[Macca81]

However, what does work well is the alcohol swaps found in first aid kits (double purpose). These light first time and burn with enough time and energy to ignite small twigs, leaves (even if they are wet).

just make sure they are infact alcohol ones, my scouts got caught out with this when they used ones from the first aid kit that were nothing more than soapy bits of paper, much the same as the KFC style towellettes... was actually quite amusing watching them try and try to get it going, as i worked out what the problem was a good 15 mins before they did

[Liamy77]

and most swabs around seem to have a percentage of water too - these wont work of course either - read the packaging closely... still easier with cotton wool i think

[Lizzy]

or alcohol handrub gel if you happen to be carrying it...

[corvus]

Anyone heard about "Bulls Wool" or "Rabbit Grass" both make good natural fire starters in non fuel stove only areas.
However I must agree that pure cotton wool balls should be fail safe with your fire steel,with or without Olive Oil.
corvus

[WarrenH]

I like the finely pulped big ends, those thick ends, of the fronds of a Cabbage Tree Palm (Livistonia australis), when no one is looking. Only pulped by a well warn river pebble hammer stone. It is traditional.

When finely pulped, Livistonia goes right off, a bit like napalm, well it is a palm. "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning". Arrh! that brings back memories ... of watching too many US war movies.

The Old People knew what to do, they knew how to keep their Livistonia pulp smouldering. I'm tempted to do it ... just for the spectacle. I'll see if I can find a Livistonia frond during the next few days. I'm going to the big smoke tomorrow to my old neighbourhood, there are a few Cabbage Tree palms there.

Warren.

[corvus]

Been playing pyromaniac and my large fire steel will ignite kitchen towel after about 4 or 5 big strokes,it glowed then flamed when picked up,final test lit a candle with a small bit of kitchen paper leaning on the wick and around 8 big strokes there was light .
Good little tool and I will never be without one in my pack now and I guess it could stand the bucket of water test but that is for another day as Mrs corvus has ordered me out of kitchen muttering fire and brimstone and something to do with a thick ear
Word of warning do use disposable foil and not ceramic bowls or plates as the Magnesium shards weld to them
corvus

[Son of a Beach]

Lol - good luck to you in the kitchen with the missus there Corvus!

I've found that cheezles make excellent fire starters in the back yard and in the BBQ but I've never carried them bushwalking. Also, they don't usually last long enough to be available in emergency situations.

[Liamy77]

Bull Rushes seed fluff works really well once fluffed out same with that green beardy lichen (dunno the scientific names sorry), paperbark powdered / fluffed out - peel off the wet outer layers and it can be dry inside layers in the rain.... Cheezels eh?... wonder if maltesers work... probably not but i think i better buy a bag and "check" u know - just to be sure!

[Nuts]

Was reading this forum topic about thermite (using sparklers), sounds interesting: http://www.trailspace.com/forums/gear-s ... 72845.html

[corvus]

Guess who will be picking up a packet of sparklers from Woolies tomorrow
corvus

[Nuts]

Yes, how do they really survive the bucket of water test ?

[corvus]

You know me will be tried
corvus

[Liamy77]

good luck... i tried powdered sparkler and it works but is crappy if you let it get damp.... takes a bit of heat to get it started too... still untill i find something better i have gone back to cotton wool and flakes /shavings off of a solid fuel cube or firelighter (just as good wet).... more forgiving practically.... watch out for the missus and keep the kitchen in one piece eh Corvus?!

[tasadam]

I cannot imagine needing to light a fire unless in an emergency situation. Two items I usually have with me are fuel for my stove (overnight walks), and toilet paper which to date I haven't lost to water, normally triple-bagged with rubber bands.
I use a shellite stove, this fuel is highly volatile so extreme care would be needed if using a liquid fuel around fire.
Metho a bit safer but you cannot see it burning so that's a hazard, kero safer still. Actually, ignore "safer" and replace with "a tad less dangerous".
Rubber works well so if your kit has a heap of rubber bands... I have heard people taking part of a bicycle inner tube for this purpose.

[corvus]

I cannot imagine needing to light a fire unless in an emergency situation. Two items I usually have with me are fuel for my stove (overnight walks), and toilet paper which to date I haven't lost to water, normally triple-bagged with rubber bands.
I use a shellite stove, this fuel is highly volatile so extreme care would be needed if using a liquid fuel around fire.
Metho a bit safer but you cannot see it burning so that's a hazard, kero safer still. Actually, ignore "safer" and replace with "a tad less dangerous".
Rubber works well so if your kit has a heap of rubber bands... I have heard people taking part of a bicycle inner tube for this purpose.

There are some areas where you are allowed to light fires and it a rite of passage IMHO for a child to experience a real campfire and billy tea brewed on that campfire perhaps even toast bread or marshmallows or make damper or twist:)
Hope you did not miss out on this as we are long time dead and I would hate to think you were deprived
corvus

[Nuts]

yer, i agree, campfires are something i do miss now and then.
I fall into line for the realisation that 'the general public' would be better off not trusted with campfires though thats about it. I baulk at the political correctness that seems to make more of these issues than there really is. I guess its this encouragement of 'shame'' that keeps the majority in line though so I guess it serves a purpose.

I for one wouldnt hesitate if its a matter of safety or in an area where it is safe(and yes; 'legal') to do so.

[Nuts]

Hiya Corv, how'd those sparklers go?

[sthughes]

Well being deprived of the billy tea wouldn't be such a great loss :p

[Nuts]

I did say 'now and then', finding wood, balancing pots, smoke in eyes, smell in everything, scar left behind... all not missed...

(Do like billy tea though )

[corvus]

Hiya Corv, how'd those sparklers go?

Senior moment forgot to buy them today
Corvus

[corvus]

Only ever do it where safe and legal ( the paddocks for instance) and would rather the smell wood smoke than Shellite.
corvus

[Liamy77]

yup i think there is something deeply satisfying in knowing that even if you don't do it often you are ABLE to start a fire from scratch and fix a brew, and build a shelter... come on we've all got a little neanderthal in us somewhere yeah?!