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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,068
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
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Trioxane tabs and storm proof matches Yes. +1
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,216
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2002
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I've used several of the above for fires and all work. The Bic won't light below certain temps though. Anyone know what temp the liquid turns to burnable gas? Keep some matches or other ignition sources close to you. Some in or on each vehicle may save your bacon some day. A time or two they have been handy to me, even though not strictly an emergency. That Boy Scout manual could be a lifesaver. I'm going to give each of my kids' families one for Christmas. I like to give space blankets and such for gifts. This great grandpa is a softie and has a concern for all things family. Be Well, RZ.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 969
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2001
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,249
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,249 |
If you can't find trioxane, stop by Wallys and get a box of these things. They're fairly cheap and they light and burn great. One will last 15 min or so and they burn hot. They have them with their heaters. Bic lighters: I much prefer a Zippo. They'll light no matter how cold it is and you can set it down to use both hands to get things going. You don't have to keep a thumb on the lever. If your fingers are really cold, you can light it on your leg or coat sleeve. You don't need to take off a glove. You can get them for under $15 and you only have to buy 1. They're guaranteed for life.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,478
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,478 |
I carry a small sack of fir pitch wood, and a baggie of Vaseline soaked cotton balls.You can get pretty damp wood burning with that. I always carry matches and a lighter. Side note: Nothing burns like red pine needles, and I hardly ever build a fire without em. They go up like gasoline, even if a little damp.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,133
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,133 |
I've used several of the above for fires and all work. The Bic won't light below certain temps though. Anyone know what temp the liquid turns to burnable gas? Keep some matches or other ignition sources close to you. Some in or on each vehicle may save your bacon some day. A time or two they have been handy to me, even though not strictly an emergency. That Boy Scout manual could be a lifesaver. I'm going to give each of my kids' families one for Christmas. I like to give space blankets and such for gifts. This great grandpa is a softie and has a concern for all things family. Be Well, RZ. Straight butane vaporizes at about 35*F.
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 795
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 795 |
Spotshooter, I also carry the Orion mini flares. I’ve said it before but after falling through ice while skiing I learned all the cute ways to start a fire don’t work when you need it. There’s a difference between bushcrafting for fun and watching your skin freeze while you try to light a fire.
I’m not an organ donor. I don’t believe in an afterlife, but I’d rather cover my bases in case there is and I need everything. You just never know.
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,650
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,650 |
^ very true!
I learned my "lesson" ducking hunting on the Bighorn River in December, dumped our canoe w/ an air temperature of around 5 degrees- got the canoe to shore an attempted to start a fire, it was a no go (Bic lighter wouldn't spark, we didn't carry any good tinder, matches would go out as the water was dripping off our clothing, lost fine motor skills much quicker than I had previously thought you would)- we paddled our asses off for ~ 5 river miles and luckily made it back to the truck. I was cold for almost three days straight!
Orion mini flare + bombproof tinder = successful fire under bad conditions
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,596
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,596 |
Start with the assumption that you’re alone, it’s dark, snowing or raining, and you just broke a leg. Read London’s To Start a Fire to hammer the point home.
I’ve tended to carry a fresh military trioxane bar, but a duraflame log or flare would be nice too.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,249 |
Start with the assumption that you’re alone, it’s dark, snowing or raining, and you just broke a leg. Read London’s To Start a Fire to hammer the point home.
I’ve tended to carry a fresh military trioxane bar, but a duraflame log or flare would be nice too. In the book, it was something like -70. The all time record cold here in Idaho was a 'mere' -60. While most hypothermia deaths happen well above 0 and a lot of those even above freezing, the extreme cold in the book isn't something most hunters will ever experience.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,408
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,408 |
all my treking gear has a little kit with one of those little starter bars, waterproof matches and a bic. thats really all you need. the bic will work if its not too cold and in a pinch you can put it in your underwears to warm up. the waterproof matches are the backup. the best lighter is a zippo but you have to remember to fill those.
My diploma is a DD214
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,249
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,249 |
A Bic can't start to compare with a Zippo. I put a piece of old bicycle inner tube around mine to reduce evaporation of the fluid. I top it off before each trip for safety. You could also get a small bottle of extra fluid to carry in a pack for a backup. Put a couple oz. in some kind of small bottle that you have around the house.
Try using a Bic when your hands are about frozen. You can't keep your thumb on the lever. You can light a Zippo against your pant leg, sleeve, or anything else while you have your gloves on.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,912
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,912 |
I carry a candle and at least 2 ways to light the candle. Once burning it is a better way to get other tinder going.
I might give Zippo another chance with the innertube. I've had them in the past and they work great for a few days until the fluid evaporates. Instead of the small bic disposable lighter the ones with a longer tip are easier to use and worth the extra size.
Most people don't really want the truth.
They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,317
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,317 |
I love a zippo, and have one in my pocket frequently. But they suck in a "set it and forget it" type kit.
Bics have downsides too of course, but I've lit a lot of fires with them.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,249
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,249 |
The big advantage of the Zippo is that you can light it with heavy gloves on and you don't have to keep a thumb on a lever to keep it going. The inner tube doesn't prevent evaporation but it does slow it down quite a bit. Mine will last a week or more with the tube around it. A strip of tape will almost totally prevent evaporation but then you have to carry a roll of tape with you. Trying to get tape off with frozen fingers is a pain, too.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 10,090
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 10,090 |
Zippo, and ferro/magnesium bars
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 384
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 384 |
normally, the lighter and UCO candle lantern suffice to ignite feathersticks. If you know to embedd your cutting instrument in a tree or log and them use both hands on the split 1/4 of the small log, you can have a lot of feathers in a very short time, made out of the dry center/corner of the log.. I carry a US-made Doan's bar. Shave off a little pile of the magesium part, mix those shavings with wood scrapings, and then ignite the magesium. It burns hot and long enough to ignite the scrapings (even if they are damp) and then the scrapings burn long enough to ignite a featherstick.
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