How to Make Mini Straw Fire Starters (easy)

Awesome little WATERPROOF fire starter ready to Go!
Can be used for camping or survival kit (made a survival kit with straw fire starters in it check it out)

Step 1: What you will need

-Straw(s)
-pliers
-Pointy stick has to fit inside straw
-Cotton rounds
-lighter or match

Comments

[ToXiCATOM]

Man! Its COOL!I like you.

[x burn]

add some alcohol to cotton ...

[dasimpson1981]

mix some Thermite and put that in end of the world no need to lock pick lol shove a straw in light and wait

[bcavaciuti]

great idea these are brilliant little survival packages, next project: a straw survival kitwith all the things you need in waterproof straws. maybe you could soak a small portion of the wool in wax or another highly combustible substance(eg dissolved match heads, petrol) then its easier to light and will burn longer with the same amount of wool

[rscheeres]

Great idea! Fav!

[sylar]

vous pouvais également isoler des allumette avec un grattoir dedans pour avoir de quoi allumer le tout seller il ne prendra pas l'humidité .

[hikerdude16]

Great idea! I already made some but I used dryer lint because it was what I had. It works great! I also used a full straw and not just a piece, I just used a nail to compress it down. Thanks again!

[Pichu47]

Couldn't slathering them in petroleum jelly or hand sanitizer or something else flammable possibly make it light better?

[dim20]

you can wet the cotton with some 90' alcohol

[Computer__Geek]

you have to be careful if you do so it does not burst into flames in your hand

[dim20]

im using pliers instead of hands ;)

[BalkanSpirit]

Once again, 5! I made this more than half a year ago, I think when it came out. They work great and I put them in my STR8 survival kit aswell! :D

[SNACKS]

This straw thing is a good Idea I make them with Neosporin in them for a small one time use "cut first aid" - I even put honey in some for fast energy / they hold up nice even in a wallet is a fun little Idea and a must for any Small first aid / survival kit.... Thanks

[TXSabrina]

Honey is also a good topical antiseptic. Small cuts and "road rash", etc.

[Schmidty16]

coild u put pills in them or penut butter or even make a longer 1 and put some edible wheat grans in them very good instructable

[letstormdufield]

There called wheat berries, not grans.

[Schmidty16]

ok and what i meant to say was wheat grains

[MicahelRoss]

thanks

[Schmidty16]

yep

[kelly.]

does this last very long?

[MicahelRoss]

Burn time is pretty short but enough to get a fire started.

[ProjectsWordYo]

Thanks you i have made about 50 so far =)

[MadScienceJames]

Preparing to go live hermit style in the wilderness for a while. (A.K.A moving out of the parents' place and can't pay rent) and I just made a ziplock bag full of these. Thanks a lot!

[BLUEBLOBS2]

This is definitely going in my survival kit!
-BLUEBLOBS2

[Mr.1911]

I just made some and LOVE them. I can't wait to see how they work. Great idea!

[MicahelRoss]

thanks for the comment

[Mr.1911]

You're quite welcome. To test them, I have one sitting in a glass of water. Not only is it waterproof, it floats. These will make a great edition to my camping gear and survival kit.

[hhornburg]

This is a fantastic idea.
Thank you!

[MicahelRoss]

Thanks hope this helped

[User1]

If one was skilled at starting a fire, they would not need to do any of the "tricks" mentioned. Practice and you'll eventually be able to make a fire in wet climate.

[Oroka]

Yes, but in a survival situation, every single little advantage can aid in your survival. Something as small and simple as this could really help.


Now, looking at this, I thought how this could go to the next level. First, include a trimmed down strike anywhere match in every one. Also, maybe include some powdered wax inside with the cotton (or maybe a mix of dryer lint and sawdust).


It is one thing to go out camping to show your survival prowess, but when you pull your bashed self out of a river after losing all your gear to said river, and all you got is what was in your pockets... this little fire starter will be a huge help.

[jd38011]

True. But it wouldn't hurt to have some of these with you so that you wouldn't suffer the embarrassment of dying if your skills, or the available materials, weren't up to the challenge. A spark lighter for a torch as a "one-handed fire starter" would be a lifesaver if you had an injured hand. If, if if . . . I know. But if your hand is injured, the chances you'll need a fire are a little greater.

[turkeydance]

how about dryer lint for the insides?
of course, ours would smell like
dog hair when burning.

[Dan93]

These are quite clever, I like the idea.

Have you considered though, that a tampon would probably serve just as well? I would imagine the wrapper is waterproof or at least splash proof and it contains a fair amount of cotton wool once you spread it out.

[jguffin1]

Speaking as a woman that uses tampons and carries them around in my purse, I would like to say that I have not found any that are actually "waterproof." If you leave them exposed to any kind of elements, as I imagine would happen in a camping/survival situation, you will find they are not indestructible. I would also caution against burning them, because I know they contain chemical agents that help the cotton to be more absorbent. It can't be good to breathe that stuff when it is enfuego.

[bartomccoy]

Speaking for the guys at least, this is one of those great ideas that few guys will ever go for--- even if it could save their life!! :) :)

[LobosSolos]

They also work as field expedient bandages for puncture wounds such as gunshots (first that I heard of them being used for bandages was in connection with seal teams). Sanitary pads will work as bandages for surface wounds.

[MicahelRoss]

Tampons are great fire starters too

[Infinite_minus_zero]

Perhaps score the middle with a pin, in case scissors/pocketknife isnt handy, or add a match in the straw?

This is very clever!

[jd38011]

Good idea; as long as you put it in some sort of container. The split won't be waterproof and will surely leak Vaseline. Ooops, he didn't use petroleum jelly. They burn longer if you do. Blackie says that the ones he made/makes will magnesium burn even longer. I haven't made any like that, though.