[ka5siw]

Here is a photo of my kit. The bic lighter has a wire tie on it to keep it from accidently being actuated and leak gas. The strike anywhere matches are dipped in candle wax to make them waterproof. Been doing that for over 50 years. The GI toilet paper is for kindling. All that fits into an Altoids tin.

 

[animalspooker]

Good idea...what is the ziptie on your lighter for?

 

[PaleHawkDown]

I have one of these in my car:

 

[animalspooker]

OK PHD! I watched the whole video. What do you consider the benefits of the Rope Lighter?

It just seems there are a lot of better methods out there. It does look really cool though.

 

[PaleHawkDown]

OK PHD! I watched the whole video. What do you consider the benefits of the Rope Lighter?

It just seems there are a lot of better methods out there. It does look really cool though.

It never runs out of fuel, it always lights on the first try, it is windproof, waterproof, small, and it usually starts tinder a lot better than this guy would make it seem.

I have a torch striker in my BoB for many of the same reasons.

It seems like every time I need a match in an emergency, they won't light, or my hands are shaky and I keep breaking the heads. Likewise, fuel seems to magically disappear from lighters when you need them most.

Both of the items I carry are things that can easily be used with cold, wet, hands, and do not rely on any other external conditions.

 

[Dutch]

Here is a photo of my kit. The bic lighter has a wire tie on it to keep it from accidently being actuated and leak gas. The strike anywhere matches are dipped in candle wax to make them waterproof. Been doing that doe over 50 years. The GI toilet paper is for kindling. All that fits into an Altoids tin. View attachment 169903
View attachment 169903

My kit is similar, but the wire tie on the bic to ensure the button doesn't depress seems to be a good idea. Are you able to remove it easily though? With dead cold hands I don't have a lot of dexterity. Just something to consider.

I use dryer lint, saw dust, and candle wax disks as my tinder. But I've used tp to get a fire going in the rain, so I know that works well too.

 

[AK Hunter]

I have one of these in my car:

That looks like a hangman's knot some Nascar driver will protest it. LOL

 

[haramaelatma]

with nice features.

 

[Junction15]

I give my Bic lighter a similar treatment, except that I use a piece of electrical tape instead of a zip tie.
And, not having tried a zip tie, I have to ask: how difficult is it to remove it? The zip tie looks like an excellent and durable idea but I'm wondering how it works with cold fingers? (I'll give it a try)

On the wax dipped matches - also an excellent idea. I've done that since my Boy Scouts days. I keep mine inside a small aluminum tube with a tethered cap that seals with an O-ring. The cap has a small compass in it. I keep a little "pill-bottle cotten" in the cap and tail to prevent rattling.

I also carry a magnesium & flint block that works great. (You do need to make sure you are buying a genuine magnesium block and not an aluminum/magnesium knock off that doesn't work)

I don't carry mine in an Altoids tin, although that's a good idea too. I have one of those Silva compass zipper cases that holds my match tube; the magnesium block; a sturdy Boy Scout-type jack knife; a whistle; a plastic "orienteering compass"; and little aluminum coated mylar "blanket. I sometimes have one of those single AAA cell Maglites in the pouch but that went out on loan to a grandchild and never returned.
This all sounds big and heavy but it isn't. I can fit it into my pocket or use the belt loop.

I do suggest that, when there is a choice of colors, pick a bright one. Any of these items can easly bounce under leaves & debris, and get lost.

 

[Huey Rider]

Magnesium fire starter at Harbor Freight; $1.99. They work good. At that price you can get a dozen of them and stash them all over the place.LOL!

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

 

[ncnascarlady]

Magnesium fire starter at Harbor Freight; $1.99. They work good. At that price you can get a dozen of them and stash them all over the place.LOL!

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

I've got 3 or 4 of them floating around as well as 2 in my camping gear. I'm not very good with them but that's from lack of practice. But they do work great when I do manage to get it right.

 

[animalspooker]

My kit is similar, but the wire tie on the bic to ensure the button doesn't depress seems to be a good idea. Are you able to remove it easily though? With dead cold hands I don't have a lot of dexterity. Just something to consider.

I use dryer lint, saw dust, and candle wax disks as my tinder. But I've used tp to get a fire going in the rain, so I know that works well too.

Dryer lint soaked in cooking oil is miraculous. Use it all the time.

PHD - is there a brand preference of ROPE LIGHTER you prefer?

 

[PaleHawkDown]

Dryer lint soaked in cooking oil is miraculous. Use it all the time.

PHD - is there a brand preference of ROPE LIGHTER you prefer?

That stick type in the video is the one I have. I bought 10 for $12 shipped off of Wish.com. I bought the next batch from a reputable dealer off of Amazon , $20 for 3, and they were the exact same ones when they arrived. Cheaper than Dirt and Bud K have had the exact same ones off and on for a while, too.

As far as I can tell "brand" just means who you buy it from, whether it is in a box or a baggie, and how much you pay. If you have a Wish account, that is the cheapest.

There are other styles, but I'm pretty sure there is only one maker of that particular style. If you want something cool, Bowers and Wind King both made rope lighters that were issued to American and British troops in WWII. One will run you at least $25, but they are really cool.

WWI soldiers also used to make these out of shell casings, especially .303 and 8 Mauser casings, and there are several places online that teach you how to make your own.

A friend of mine has a Civil War-era naval one where the excess rope is protected in a sort of flask, but there are different versions going back to the 15th Century, at least. All you need is a tube long enough the keep at least two inches of rope dry, a striker to set it off, and a cap to snuff it out.

There is some pretty cool history on these.

 

[blue fox]

Thought I would add to this. I had one of those Harbor Freight cheap flashlights go bad on me. Initially I was going to just trash but decided to turn it into a match case. I removed the switch but left the rubber cap in place and glued it in. I also filled the bulb end with a clear glue (E600) I intend to fill it with matches and dryer lint then clip it to the homemade canteen I have. You all know those flashlights, the aluminum ones that you get for a couple of bucks at HF. I will likely add a metal nail file as a spare striker.

 

[AK Hunter]

Magnesium fire starter at Harbor Freight; $1.99. They work good. At that price you can get a dozen of them and stash them all over the place.LOL!

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

I like those fire starters because they are so easy to use. I find a dry leaf & scrape the magnesium with a little of the rod savings in a pile on the leaf, then one good swipe on the rod down into the pile then you will have a fire.
I carry one in my hunting pack & a few in my boat.

 

[Cyrano]

Dryer lint soaked in cooking oil is miraculous. Use it all the time.

I find I get better results with dryer lint saturated with petroleum jelly. Only thing is, you have to make an envelope of aluminum foil to store it in the Altoids tin. (It will eat through sandwich bags in time, both being petroleum-based.) My personal emergency kit has that plus a magnesium fire starter, on the theory that a magnesium fire starter won't run out of gas when needed most. I have waterproof matches in my kit as well, but I have never had good luck with them.

 

[Ranger4]

Magnesium fire starter at Harbor Freight; $1.99. They work good. At that price you can get a dozen of them and stash them all over the place.LOL!

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

I think they are $2.97 now. I have one that is rubber banded to a pill bottle that is about 3 inches long. Inside the pill bottle is a Bic or 2 of the little Bics and a cotton puff at the bottom and paper wrapped around the inside. The paper and cotton are just back ups to the Bic and the HF striker is a backup to those two....always redundant, and I have a candle in the pack....the cotton ball is soaked in Vaseline.

About 5 years ago a freak snow and ice storm made some local roads impassable. We do not get much snow in Oklahoma but this one had drifts 5-6 foot tall and lots of ice and 40-50 mph winds. A person slid off the road into the ditch and snow plows and such could not see the car. The fellow just ran his car until it ran out of gas and waited for help, we assume he had no phone or it did not work. He froze to death after his car ran out of gas. They did not even find the car for a couple days. The snow plows just throwed more snow on top. Just a few candles and perhaps a sleeping bag in the car would have save him.

So, I keep candles and Bics in all the cars and trucks.

 

[Ranger4]

Just to be clear, you are talking about the blue line of Bics, right?

 

[rangerjd]

I taught survival for the Army and the best tinder I've ever seen is cotton balls soaked in Vaseline. Take about 20- 30 cotton balls, cover them in Vaseline and store them in a ziplock bag. One spark from a flint and they will burn for 10-20 minutes, long enough to get your tinder burning. Even in the pouring down rain of the Pacific Northwest, they work great. Our standard for starting a fire was: a canteen cup size fire in ten minutes, that's starting with nothing but the tinder in hand. Each cotton ball starts one fire.

 

[Ranger4]

I taught survival for the Army and the best tinder I've ever seen is cotton balls soaked in Vaseline. Take about 20- 30 cotton balls, cover them in Vaseline and store them in a ziplock bag. One spark from a flint and they will burn for 10-20 minutes, long enough to get your tinder burning. Even in the pouring down rain of the Pacific Northwest, they work great. Our standard for starting a fire was: a canteen cup size fire in ten minutes, that's starting with nothing but the tinder in hand. Each cotton ball starts one fire.

How old are you? I mentioned that in post #17 above. You must have taught me that. back when I was a young troop. I carry them in that little medicine bottle. now. I think you also taught me that you could use them for a wound dressing, chap stick or even wipe down that rifle. I don't remember if I learned it there or dreamed it but you can put a half dozen fish hooks in that bottle with them and not hurt a thang. And a couple sewing needles fit in there and do not hurt a thang either. And as Nascar Lady has reminded us, you can wrap that high strength braided 50 pound fishing line around that little bottle and get 40-50 feet on there in no space at all. It work great for sewing and of course, fishing. and I suppose snares and you always need to hang stuff but do not want to use up your paracord.

I do still have some 40-50 year old purple fuel that we heated our canteen cup with, you remember them I am sure.....memories..