Mini Waterproof Fire Starter!

by In Actuality

5.3K206

Intro: Mini Waterproof Fire Starter!

This fantastic project is good for fun, survival, or even just a project!
MATERIALS: small flashlight, pliers, flammable material (ie gasoline or bug spray soaked cloth or pine straw), electrical tape, and scissors.
and Preferably a flashlight with minimal cracks, holes, open spaces, etc.

STEP 1: Disassembly

Disassemble your pocket sized flashlight and pull your bulb and stuff connected to your bulb out of its case.

STEP 2: Break Your Bulb!

I know this sounds crazy and incredibly stupid, but the fire starts when the filament gets hot enough. the filament has to be right next to the flammable material. with the bulb in the way, the material can't get hot enough to burn. so CAREFULLY get pliers, a rock, or something and break the bulb. But if you break the filament you have to get a new flashlight. you will probably want to break the bulb over the trash or something. BE CAREFUL WITH THE FILAMENT! That means don't drop, throw, toss, touch, breathe on, or let the filament touch anything! IT WILL BREAK.

STEP 3: FIRE

 Find/make your flammable material. you can use pine-straw, dead grass, 100% cotton rag, 100% cotton rag soaked with bug spray, 100% cotton rag soaked with gasoline, or 100% cotton rag soaked with something else flammable. Remember, you don't need a lot of pine straw or cloth or whatever, and plus you need it to fit in your flashlight, which needs to fit in your pocket!
When you're ready to light, put the flammable material next to the filament. Turn on the light. Hopefully after a while the material gets hot and lights. I won't tell you how to make a fire because that's an instructable on its own!

STEP 4: Waterproofing

to water proof, you need electrical tape and scissors. you will also need to put the material you will burn COMPLETELY in the flashlight case. next, use the electrical tape to tightly wrap around ALL holes, crevices,  cracks, holes, etc. tightly.
IN ACTUALITY, YOU'RE DONE.

6 Comments

shaggydoo121 10 years ago

You actually don't want to break the bulb until its time to use it right ? Because there really is no way to protect that filament , right ?

mrkrmoore 11 years ago

why not just get a waterproof lighter or water proof matches(i went with the matches)

In Actuality 11 years ago

Well, if you have a flashlight, and some tinder laying around you while lost, but no lighters, or matches, then you have the know-how to start a fire with your available supplies.

In Actuality 11 years ago

Hey everybody! If you liked my instructable remember to vote for this instructable on the pocket sized contest and want me to make more instructalbes like this one, thanks!

alhazen 11 years ago

Cool! I remember something like this from Boy Scouts. A couple of flashlight batteries (we used D cells back in those days) would light up fine steel wool. Really fresh batteries would even torch a coarser steel wool pad for cleaning pots once the soapy coating had washed off. The steel wool was consumed in the process.

I'll have to play with some AA batteries to see if they have the umpf to do the same.

I never really thought much of fire starters or pre-made tinder until recently after a prolonged rain I couldn't even get a paper towel or newsprint to light because of the humidity. Finally I resorted to petroleum jelly from a tube of antibiotic salve and a receipt folded in my wallet.