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Backpacker Magazine – September 2008
Reader Tip: Create a Fast Flame
Make a fire fast with this pocket-sized tip
Photo by Julia Vandenoever
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Tags:
- Build a fire |
If you need a fire in a hurry, look to your first-aid kit. An alcohol prep pad that I sliced open and lit with flint-and-steel burned for more than a minute. Plus, there's none of the mess you get from cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly.
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READERS COMMENTS
If you use hand sanitizer to start a fire, add a little salt. It makes it more liquid then gel and spreads easier.
Posted: Mar 06, 2010 Doc
EASY PEASY... Ziploc snack size baggy, fill with cotton balls, pour isopropyl alcohol over the cotton balls until saturated... That's it! one cotton ball burns for about 20 seconds, long enough to start a fire. Not messy like petroleum jelly, plus, they can pull double duty for a sterile wipe... One of the cheapest options.
Posted: Nov 04, 2009 Mister Smith
Hand sanitizer works great for a fire starter.
Posted: Mar 25, 2009 WetDog
Hand sanitizer works great for a fire starter.
Posted: Mar 25, 2009 WetDog
TIP on stokong a fire
Get a mini pocket fan. If your just waking up and need to get your fire back up fast,just throw on some brush and point the fan on the coals. Good to get a fire going to very effective. you'll have fun with it so bring xtra batts.
Posted: Feb 23, 2009 robb
Heres an idiea, ever wonder what you could do with all the drier lent? I eat lots of Altoids so natuarly I've acumulated many cans that they are distrabuted in. Take the lent place it in the can and light. It burns for anout 30 sec. plenty of time to start a fire and its very cheap. Also it gives some us to an otherwise useless biproduct.
Posted: Jan 22, 2009 Darrin
Forgot to send my email about the Carmex
fjcordova@msn.com
Colorado Springs, Co
Posted: Nov 27, 2008 Frank Cordova
Better fire stater tip, Use Carmex in a tube it contains petrolatum (get it, a petroleum based chem)same as Vaseline that is why I as an RN don't recommend it to people who are on oxygen or smoke.
Posted: Nov 27, 2008 Frank Cordova
Of course, this assumes you carry a first aid kit with prep pads. Mine is just a few bandaids and neosporin. I'll stick with tree sap.
Posted: Nov 22, 2008 El
I couldnt get one to burn for a minute but if you have dry kindling and wood than this is a great way to start it.
Posted: Nov 17, 2008 Kurt
GremX on a cottn ball works pretty good and a lot less messy.
Posted: Nov 13, 2008 Doug
The pad doesn't burn half as long as a cotton ball with petroleum and the cotton ball lights alot easier, but not a bad backup
Posted: Nov 13, 2008 Zoneous
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