How to Make Firestarters Cheap AND Effective!

Here’s a tried, true and inexpensive way to make firestarters, using common cosmetic items! DirtFarmerJay explains!
#fire #firestarters #firestarter #campfire
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You can make firestarters for the fireplace, wood stove, emergency road kit, or campfire from two common cosmetic supplies: cotton balls and petroleum jelly. These firestarters ignite readily with a ferro-rod sparker, match, or lighter.
Because petroleum jelly is, well, petroleum, it repels water and remains easy to ignite. The more petroleum fuel is in the cotton ball, the longer it will burn. However, even a partially covered or saturated cotton ball will burn long and intensely enough to light tinder and twigs.
There are two approaches we’ve used to make these firestarters: cold and warm.
The cold method is simply working a large dab of petroleum jelly into each cotton ball using latex or rubber-gloved hands. Then each firestarter is put into a container of your choice. This can be a small tin, medicine bottle, jar, plastic bag, or plastic storage container.
This method tends to have the most fuel and burn duration, but they are messy and you will get some of the jelly on your hands when you use them. You can get around this by using some type of tongs to dispense the firestarters.
The warm method is to use a small glass bowl that can be used in the microwave oven. Place a large dab of petroleum jelly in the bowl, and microwave it in short bursts until the jelly is melted. You need to be cautious because the jelly is flammable. If you want, you could do the same thing using a double boiler where the top container is suspended either above or in boiling water. The point is, to be careful with this step. Proceed at your own risk!
Now that you have liquified petroleum jelly (it’s no longer “jelly” at this point!), you can dip the balls of cotton into the liquid and soak the bottom half while keeping the top part you are holding onto free of the fuel. After cooling, containerize them using the method of your choice. This is cleaner, but they will burn for a shorter time than the cold-method version.
If you want a great firestarter product you can buy, check out this episode where we reviewed wax-infused cedar sawdust “pucks” that have become our “go-to” around here for convenience, good economics, and great performance. You can check them out here:
• The Best Fire Starters...
JUST DO IT YOURSELF!
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[@AmyLouiseDens]

excellent idea! I sometimes use toilet paper rolls stuffed with dryer lint.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Great tip!

[@pattyoconnell1953]

I save dryer lint too! Now will save rolls!

[@markd9105]

I started doing that last year and have saved a lot of money. I used to buy those pucks.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

We use one every morning when we start the shop stove. Easy and cheap!

[@TheTravelerMan]

Interesting, I never knew.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

I just used one this morning to start the shop woodstove. Thanks for watching and writing! Best, DFJ

[@slimwantedman6694]

Good morning from Southeast South Dakota

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Morning!

[@chadheadlee915]

Empty pill bottles are a great way to store these.

[@IWannaBeLikeJesus]

Where is the best place to store them? I am little concerned about storing them in a shed or garage because of heat and combustion?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

If they are deprived of oxygen, they can't ignite. Metal can with lid, sealed baggie, etc., should do the trick.

[@pattyoconnell1953]

Could I use Vapor Rub as a substitute?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

You can, but it will be quite aromatic! Vapor rub uses petrolatum as its base, like petroleum jelly.