A Fire Starter should be with us.

[Mountain Man]

In today's world we have little need for starting fires , but I feel that it is very important to have a good fire starter in your bug out bag, 72 hour kit, in your car , back pack , and perhaps many other places.

The Blast Match Fire Starter is my favorite because of the great shower of sparks it produces, and it has a very nice hard plastic case to keep it safe when not in use . Due to today's shipping prices, it would be wise to get several friends together to order several in one order ,or better yet , order one for each family member while they are still available. I purchased mine through the National Rife Association last year , but I recently found a supplier, "Ready Made Resources" which sells them for $12.95 which is about $7.00 LESS than I paid . Every family member should have one , because in "tough times" , who knows how to make a match or even a fire starter ? 100 % cotton , cotton balls work great with the Blast Match to start a fire and some say that adding some vaseline to the cotton ball really helps also. Ready Made Resources sells solar panels and many other things as well. Save the Link , make the purchase and be prepared. Mountain man
http://www.readymaderesources.com/cart/index.php?page=1&act=viewCat&catId=65 (http://www.readymaderesources.com/cart/index.php?page=1&act=viewCat&catId=65)

[Silver Fox]

Dear Mountain Man, The site you refer us to shows this fire started to be selling at $18.95. Have they changed their price or is this an incorrect site? Thanks.

[TheSwally]

I just received one that I ordered off of ebay. I LOVE IT! Such a cool little encapsulated device. I paid $15 + $5.50 s/h. Can anyone beat this price? I would like to get a few more for 72 hour kits.

Swally

[Abinadi]

Blast Match Fire Starter is one awesome fire starter. This will be added to my pack.
I love learning about stuff like this as I don't plan to haul around a bunch of matches.

Abinadi

[mirkwood]

I have the Swedish Firesteel. Same concept and a good idea to have something like this or the blast match.

[level3Navigator]

100 % cotton , cotton balls work great with the Blast Match to start a fire and some say that adding some vaseline to the cotton ball really helps also.

Thanks for the recommendation, Mountain Man. And, yes, Vaseline will work great with the cotton balls, as will bacon grease, or any other animal or vegetable fat. In our health conscious world, we tend to look at fats as "bad" when they can be one of your best resources and food items. Another goof firestarter is that paper towel you used to rub shortening on your cake pan, muffin tins, dutch ovens, etc. Put that in the bottom of your fire with your tinder and you are almost guaranteed a quick and long lasting flame. I've taken to put my used paper towels in a zip lock bag and store it with my charcoal for future use.

[Abinadi]

I am learning to start fires many different ways as I don't plan to use matches.
I had a box of matches on time that was full and I gave it a toss accross the kitchen floor...uh well it stopped as it was smoking. I came so close to having a fire that box of stike anywhere diamond matches...250 count and I am wiser now. Some lessons we learn even after a lifetime of wood heat.

Abinadi

[crazyknitter]

Anyone want to trade some of these for a foam suit?? :l0 (29):

[SNIX]

I am learning to start fires many different ways as I don't plan to use matches.
I had a box of matches on time that was full and I gave it a toss accross the kitchen floor...uh well it stopped as it was smoking. I came so close to having a fire that box of stike anywhere diamond matches...250 count and I am wiser now. Some lessons we learn even after a lifetime of wood heat.

Abinadi

An awesome site for primitive firemaking skills...

http://wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/index.html

I have a fire piston...which isn't the easiest thing in the world to use. I also have a few of those flint and steel things that I picked up from Walmart. I read somewhere where someone said..."Anyone who has made fire using primitive firemaking techniques will never forget their matches again!!". Primitive firemaking is a great skill to have. I have worked through many on the list on the site above. It's nice to have a variety of ways to make fire. Check out what a fresnel lens is if you haven't already....those are neat.

[Rogmo]

I've got one of those Magnesium/Flint/Steel/Wood fire starters and it's awesome. Got it down in Moab for about $15 I think. Want to find some more.

It works great, and is very simple.

[threepercent]

http://beprepared.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_CL%20S015_A_name_E_H-25+Strike+Master+Fire+Starter

this it?

I just started my first fire with flint and steel two days ago. my son who is five used this one and char cloth to catch the spark, then a PJ soaked cotton ball, then a egg carton fire started (these are the best) and started his first fire ever.

[weasel]

I have been thinking of this lately so bought a 5" magnifying glass yesterday... took a few seconds to get the angle right but then it started a pile of wood chips in about 10 seconds. If you take care of them they will never wear out or run out of fuel... I would classify them as a good backup method...although you need to squint or wear sunglasses when using them as the focal spot can reflect enough light to damage your eyes over time.

Weasel

[silverstate51]

TOPS Knives (www.topsknives.com) sells a Ferrocerium/Magnesium firestarter that comes on a dog-tag chain. Also included are a P-38 can opener and a whistle. All for $15.00
They also sell emergency signal mirrors made from a dog-tag blank, 5 for $15.
I wear these all the time. Hope this is of some help.

[Rogmo]

http://beprepared.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_CL%20S015_A_name_E_H-25+Strike+Master+Fire+Starter

this it?



YES! That's the one. THANKS - I'll probably order up a few more.

I like that the steel is attached, and that you can shave the magnesium and the wood from the handle for some of your tinder.

And the amount of sparks it puts off is great. It's also useful as an emergency signal at night.

Here's the pic from the site...
http://beprepared.com/images/250/CL-S015.jpg

[signseeker]

Anybody know how you can make fire with ice? :sosp:

[ghostcat]

Anybody know how you can make fire with ice?

Yeah, it involves taking a clear piece of ice and forming it into a crude magnifying lens first by rough shaping with a knife or other tool and finishing up by using the heat from your hands. The lens is then used to concentrate the suns light the same way you would with a magnifying glass. Not the most efficient or reliable way of starting a fire, but doable none the less.

Here are some sites that show how:

http://www.primitiveways.com/fire_from_ice.html
http://wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/ice/rb/rbfirefromice3a.html
http://www.campfiredude.com/fire-from-sun.shtml

[silverstate51]

Ultimate Survival Inc. has started making Blast Match again. Carried at Sportsman's Warehouse for about $17.00 . Makes a great stocking stuffer!