How to make simple DIY waterproof fire starters

[@DisisI_M_6514]

Well, this idea got me started thinking, which is never a good thing (just ask my wife)... Started off by testing a whole bunch of substances soaked in a cotton round (olive oil, rapeseed oil, coconut oil, paraffin wax, stearin wax, bees wax, 3 different brands of vaseline, tallow, bacon fat, pine resin etc). Focused my tests on things like burn time (effective [>2" flame height], and total), flame height, messyness, easy to use (tearing), ease to light with ferro rod etc. Found out that no two vaselines are the same, the same for candle wax, different hardness and so. Finally found a combo I really liked; - Cheaper (where I live vaseline is a bit pricey) - Easy to make - One-strike-light with ferro rod - Decent burn time (>7min effective, >8min total, using the thick cotton rounds) - Decent flame height (~20cm) - Waterproof (verified by tearing a round in 4 pcs and keeping submerged in water 1" below surface, made a fresh tear and tested with ferro rod at 1/6/24/96hrs = no probs). - Easy to tear and longer strands of exposed fibers that can take a spark - Floats - Dry to the touch - Less mess when using (seems I always ended up with vaseline all over my fingers when tearing a vaseline core/wax dipped round) Recipe is currently: Core = [1:2] Candlewax : Vaseline - vaseline on it's own is a bit too messy for my taste - possible to substitute up to 50% of the vaseline with coconut oil to reduce price Mantle = [5:1] Candlewax : Olive oil - easier to tear and less prone cracking. A bit more time/effort to produce the two blends, but then it's just the same double-dipping effort. For a longer burn time the mantle mix could be [3:2:1] of Candle wax : Bees wax : Olive oil. Gave me an extra minute. Might try to get a BTU setup going someday, measuring how much the temperature of 1 ltr of water is raised until the round burns out - should add an interesting bit of comparison data. I personally prefer using the cheaper cotton rounds, despite shorter burn time. Cheap (=thin) cotton rounds are easier to tear, soak up less mixture and pack tighter (I can pack 7 cheap ones or 5 expensive ones in the same tin can). Still get 5m30s effective burn time, 15cm flame height. Should light most camp fires. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@jiujitsu2000]

Thank you for the very kind words and support

[@roblamb8327]

Like your improvements. Rather than olive or coconut oil you cold substitute rapeseed or groundnut peanut) oil which are cheaper this side of the pond. Also sliding a friction match into the cotton pad before dipping into the Vaseline would provide a dry ignition source. Finally, after allowing to cool for a while, saving the melted into an ice cube tray for later use could better minimise waste on future melts. And wiping the pans clean with spare pads could pre-prepare future lights and further minimise waste. Alternatively, if small (eg tuna, catfood, or similar-sized) tins are used then just seal the vaseline/wax tins with reseable plastic lids so no need to use ice-cube trays. How this is of help.

[@KENFEDOR22]

Very thorough comparison, thank you! My "in the field" tests reveal that the large cotton material I've been using (recycled denim/cotton "pads" from boxed meals) are very susceptible to humidity and while they take a ferro rod spark easily, they tend to lose their flame quickly (in higher humidity conditions). Exposing the fibers seems to be key for ferro rod igniting with cotton rounds. The wax, obviously, is key to keeping moisture out of the cotton.

[@rubyewiggins4926]

Wow,you sound like a scientist,cool,lot of time invested in your experiments,keep on doin your thing!

[@lorenray9479]

Thanks for the recipes to try.

[@ericlynch4501]

I teach in a classroom for students with severe impairments. We've been looking at different projects/products our students could help create and sell for a classroom "micro-business." These look really cool and easy enough that our students could easily participate in their creation. Great video, too!

[@MsSimpleMovies]

One of the most painful things I've experienced as a human being is to not be able to use my skills, grow and contribute somehow. What you're doing is God's work, and it is not for everyone. I thank you.

[@lanyeroprisca4582]

@@MsSimpleMovies same here that's a good job she's doing,am planning to start up something too.It hurts me so much knowing am too skilled and someone out there needs it

[@yourbae8841]

@@lanyeroprisca4582 teach me your skill senpai

[@dagingflowerchild733]

Cup cake paper fill with wood chip cover w wax.

[@natenutron]

That is one the coolest technique's. Thousands yrs one of man's biggest problems with starting a fire has been water. I just learned one the coolest techniques for survival. Thank you.

[@susanp.collins7834]

This is an OUTSTANDING presentation.

[@mattschwartz915]

I tried these last night. The Vaseline dip before wax is KEY. So much better than only dipping in wax. The Vaseline prevents the wax from soaking into the cotton. So it’s easy to tear open and separate the fibers. Lights very easily. This will be my go-to fire starter! For most cases, half of a cotton pad would be plenty since these burn so long. Cheap, easy to make, lights easily with ferro rod, long hot burn, waterproof (even if the wax cracks), not messy to handle, packs well. Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing this method.

[@jiujitsu2000]

Excellent! Good to hear that you had success with these! Blessings from Arizona!

[@zelaht2778]

FANTASTIC!! I made a batch of these with a friend last night, lit straight away with a ferro rod. The cotton pads we used are 60% cotton, 20% polyester microfibre and 20% polyester. Today my friend lit his wood stove and I lit a coal fire (a small handful of dry twigs under and over the discs and a few lumps of coal on top). 100% Success with just one disc tore in half and and opened up. Brilliant video and instructions!! :D

[@northwind9505]

This was 4 years ago but new to me! Best one yet!

[@Incandescentiron]

I like the fact that Vaseline keeps all the fibers free, able to be ignited. This is a huge improvement over a wax version that has too much wax, too few fibers. Thanks for posting!

[@CoastGord]

Well done!...never thought of heating the pertroleum jam - frickin brilliant! I live in the PNW - a rainforest. I can say these things save lives...if one knows what one is doing. Cheers from B.C.

[@siulseyer8053]

Outstanding. Thank you. Howdy from the great Republic of Texas

[@jiujitsu2000]

Thank you, Blessings from Arizona

[@SniffBackBetter]

A superb idea very well explained and demonstrated.

[@user-wu7rf6kl6j]

That's the best demonstration of making a fire starter I have ever seen. Thumbs up!!

[@jiujitsu2000]

Thank you

[@Sylvan_dB]

The wax from Babybel cheese rounds works well.

[@gazinta]

I have a bagful of those in my camping tote. I put them in a TP tube with dryer lint. Hint: leave the string in it for lighting purposes.

[@Bighorn1478]

Recycling at its best

[@gazinta]

@@Bighorn1478 *Repurposing After it's burned, it can't be recycled again.

[@jonathannilberg8689]

Outstanding presentation from start to finish. I greatly appreciate that you demonstrated a step by step process for theses fire starters from the arrangement of the materials and their purpose, to the final product and how it actually gets employed. Thank you for making a quality video lesson!

[@jiujitsu2000]

Excellent comment thank you so much I've been honestly thinking about redo in this video with a different recipe but these ones that I show in this video still work fantastic!

[@owyheekid7186]

I have been making and utilizing PK impregnated cosmetic discs for over 25 years. I have started fires in extreme conditions with these throughout the mountains and high deserts of California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and mountains of Montana and Alaska. Years ago as a Hunter Education Instructor I spent a significant time on basic survival skills. Part of that teaching was actually demonstrating the proper building and maintenance of fires. My discs have an average usable burn time of approximately ten minutes. God bless!

[@Gundyadventures]

Thanks for the good lesson video. I showed it to my kids and they wanted to make them. We made them and they turned out great. We ended up making 43 of them.

[@jiujitsu2000]

Excellent! I'm thinking of redo this video, same techniques just shorter video in 4k. Blessings

[@YouTuber-mc2el]

Tried a bunch of different methods and never thought about melting petroleum jelly. I'll definitely give it a try. Personally I have come up with a way that is somewhat unique I feel. I take empty paper towel rolls and duct tape one end shut. Stand them up on that end and partially fill with desired combustible material. Fill with wax (10% accelerant added) to just cover the partially filled tube and repeat until filled. Now you can cut to length according to burntime needed. They work great. Thanks for sharing this method.

[@rebeccasilveous8898]

Why would anyone give you a thumbs down on your video? I thought your video was spot on and how you demonstrated everything was right on key and how somebody could give it a thumbs down just blows my mind I give you a triple thumbs up!

[@mixedmartialnutrition1746]

nice and clear instructional video, best 1 for making fire staters.

[@bartwalker6093]

Awesome video! Just freaking awesome! I've seen lots of videos on how to make fire starters and how to use them and store them etc. etc. etc but this is one video that proves just how versatile / useful / waterproof the combination of vasoline and wax is. You had plenty of time to add twigs and it took the spark the first or second try each time you started them up. I've used older variations of this for decades like a battery with steel wool or cotton balls dipped in vasoline, same with dryer lint dipped in vasoline. Liquid hand sanitizer and cotton balls, and lip balm and cotton balls. They all work well. This video took it all the extra step and made the fire starter easy to transport in the tin, and actually waterproof by dipping them in parafin wax. It's a great idea. I'm going to try this today. Thanks for the idea and for a great video.

[@bucmeister7713]

The melted Vaseline pre-soak is an interesting twist on waxed cotton rounds. Thanks for a new variation for experimentation.

[@devincarter801]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I've never thought about how these were made. Now I'm going to be store to get some materials to make some of these. Appreciate it brother..

[@dtoscano6743]

Next time I have a candle melted in one of those candle warmers and the scent runs out, I know how I can use the wax! Awesome video, I love knowing that I don’t have to buy firestarters, and that I can repurpose stuff I have laying around for such a great use! Thank you!

[@fanof3t]

Was just thinking the same.

[@rosewood513]

I love this idea. I must make these since I am having trouble fast starting a fire.... Thank you.

[@jiujitsu2000]

Thank you! Blessings from Arizona!!

[@Chilled-Canadian]

Awesome, thanks for sharing

[@eduardozepeda9930]

I watched plenty of videos on KZbin, by far your technique is simple but yet so effective. Thanks for the advice ill be doing mine this way, great stuff!

[@jiujitsu2000]

Thank you so much!

[@ORflycaster]

Awesome project! In my narrow-minded thinking, I tried working Vaseline into the rounds by hand, like I do with cotton balls. Your way is MUCH better! The wax water proofing is also brilliant. Now I know what I'll be doing tomorrow.

[@lorenray9479]

I made jute match tubes with wax! Great tiny torch candles. These discs seem like a great asset also!

[@zelaht2778]

I'm making some atm :D

[@mikeo3467]

Well done , I personally would only dip the pads once in wax as the petroleum jelly adds much waterproofing as it is , great idea . I’ll be experimenting with super fine steel wool as a starter heat source after this !

[@bob_btw6751]

Mar. 23 Watched vid on Pathfinder kits and saw your ref to homemade fire disks. Watched that tonight. Wonderful. I'll make some and store in old shoe polish tins, which can also be used to make char cloth or store it. Also good for holding a coiled wire saw. Watched a vid elsewhere by someone who used jute twine coated in wax and fed through a short stainless drinking straw. Maybe dipping the twine in petroleum jelly would improve it. As a Scout in the 1960s we used waxed celatex ceiling tile pieces for fire starters. Saw a pic in your intro of Navy hat. I was Navy airdale AM myself. Learned how to use flint & steel 1800s style as blackpowder buckskinner. Those ferro rods are easier. Thnx for the vid. Will make and add some to my get home pack. Hope all is well with you, all things considered. Bob_BTW

[@timothyaguilar7727]

When U Pour The Liquid Vaseline Back In, Put It in A Shallow Cool Water Bath

[@adamdupes2574]

@Lucian Rylan bro I seen this comment befor stfu you bot

[@richardelliott9511]

The layering of the two fuels is a major step up from using them individually.👍 I'll be trying it on cotton balls, since I seem to have a bunch left over from other projects. The last cotton balls that I bought weren't really balls at all but rolled up strips, maybe I'll try unrolling some for fire starting fingers or chop them up for nuggets, lol.

[@thaddeusmikolajczyk9055]

Good info those cotton pads could probably be used to make char cloth I am going to make both.

[@Dino-yq8jo]

Simple and effective 👍🏼

[@ORflycaster]

Well after a few house projects and a Coleman stove disassembly/assembly (thanks to another of your vids), I bought the required stuff to build these fire starters. I made 32 of them. Each got four total coats of wax. It took longer than I anticipated, but I didn't make a mess! I'm going to bum emtpy snus cans from a few co-workers. I think they'll be the perfect size.

[@stephengerwitz7862]

Going to show these to my friends so they can share with their scout troops

[@PeterSzymanski]

Cool idea. What I've done in the past were cotton balls dipped in old candle wax only. Same principle, wax protects the starter from the elements.

[@davidrubelowsky5608]

That is awesome ! I pick those up at the dollar store and use them for gun cleaning patches too.

[@ajazmin68]

What at the dollar store?

[@rebeccawoosley8241]

Dollar Tree. General Dollar. Everything for a $ store. Stiff is available at Wal-Mart too.

[@jeddiajones4570]

Vaseline is a brand name of petroleum jelly. Great video!

[@stevenhall1097]

As a boy scout we did this with wood shavings. Worked very good.

[@WontSeeReplies]

Brilliant demonstration. Thanks

[@jiujitsu2000]

Thank you

[@conneolvera2886]

Muchas gracias por compartir es magnífico te felicito muy buena idea otra vez gracias!

[@Slumberjacksix]

Another really cool video.

[@icemasterqueen1]

I really enjoy this video and the awesome presentation. Love your tips on how to restore and reuse the material. Very helpful. May I suggest using a old mason jar to restore vaseline so it may never crack. Going to start my project now too!!

[@AdamTorres-bk6yf]

The best video presentation on this subject! 👍 Thanks for posting!

[@alexcolon9965]

Great video you made, I would make 50 of them and give or sell them to campers, lol.

[@jiujitsu2000]

Thank you! They work great!!

[@punknhead23]

I have a dedicated little pot for my wax. I just leave it in the pot, when it's cool I cover it with foil. Warm and add to it the next time. Not too worried about contaminants I guess. Nice video!

[@liljoe2592]

Thanks for making this , I was wondering about doing it this way. I also wonder if you could cover it I. Saw dust

[@leegranite2920]

Thank you. Very practical.

[@mattschwartz915]

I’ll have to try this! I’ve made straight was dipped cotton pads before but the wax completely penetrated the cotton which made it difficult to expose fibers to light with a ferro rod.

[@tomsmith6094]

Oil and candle wax it works great too

[@tom_olofsson]

Very nice work.

[@w.hamilton3327]

awesome thank you!!! Hubby and I are going to give it a try. Saved up lots of lint and old candles.

[@davidjohnston787]

i have some of them left but there really nice to have when you are in trouble with the cold but thanks for this video sir you are welcome sir great video thanks again

[@benwarren2559]

I'm going to Dollar tree. when I get done working on my anvil I'm going to make me a bunch of fire starters. thank you so much for all the video

[@josezavalapina7392]

thanks for the tip!!! Now I gotta do this myself!!

[@jiujitsu2000]

Please do!

[@chrkopats4200]

Congratulations for your helpful video. How long they burn? Is enough one of them to boil 250ml water? Thank you.

[@SherryStillwell]

Storing them in large plastic medicine bottles..added these to my emergency kit in my truck as well ❤

[@childofgod5115]

Awesome tinder hack ! I'm getting ready to make a fire kit and this is #1 on my list now thanks.

[@Spoonwranglerz]

This is amazing I am saving a bunch of your videos in my DIY and Survival folders

[@texaslonestarrider]

Quick and Easy! Fantastic Video! Thanks For Sharing! 🤠

[@jiujitsu2000]

lonestarrider down, dirty and effective... the way I like it! :-)

[@jiujitsu2000]

lonestarrider thank you!

[@jeepnicc]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@bisonuberti]

Very informative. I'll have to share this one with my son. He is currently working on his Eagle Scout project. He is building a shooting range for the Boy Scouts rifle training. His Boy Scout nick name is fire-starter. He is number one in fire starting in his troop. He can start a fire with snow if he tries. He'll enjoy this video. Thank you.

[@jiujitsu2000]

bison uberti thank you, hell live this one because they work great on snow too! have a beautiful day!

[@beardedseabee82outdoors]

Double dip, nice tip! Ive really gotta make some now. looks like trip to dollar store tomorrow!

[@michaelbrunner6654]

I'm gonna have to make some like that.

[@dennisleighton2812]

Wow! That was quite impressive! I have a hack that could possibly be a viable alternative, and save an awful lot pf hard work. I'd also start with the cotton pads (we call them make-up remover pads in UK (in tubes of 100 - dirt cheap!). However, I'd not process them like you did. Instead I'd divide them up into 10 batches of 10 pads each, and put each batch into a small Zip-loc bag - thus 10 Zip-locs. To use for tinder, one removes 1 or maybe 2 pads from the Zip-loc bag, and rub a blob of hand sanitiser gel (not fluid) into each pad, fluffing it out as you did. This one can then light with a ferro-rod (or lighter) just as you did. It will ignite readily with the first spark to hit it. [One of the few benefits of the Covid pandemic, as hand sanitiser is now universally obtainable!] The pads are protected from water at all times and the process is simple and works every time. [Note: If conditions are such that it is difficult to get fire going, one can always use a flame extender, namely the humble candle! Once the pad is lit, light the candle from it for a strong, hot flame to light your waiting kindling! One can now buy candles which are resistant to windy conditions, and one can also get Army Surplus Arctic Survival candles, which are almost indestructible, and even edible!] I'd welcome your comments on my thoughts. Cheers mate!

[@Spyross12]

You can also try "magic candles" for children's party . Once they lit , even if blown out , they ....."magically" restart the flame . Keep some along with those fire-starting pads and once you make a flame with a fero rod , then light the "magic candle" to make sure that your flame is a truly ..... "die hard" flame , a very useful feature in a wet and windy environment .

[@dennisleighton2812]

@@Spyross12 Sounds very interesting, but not something I've come across. Expensive? But, yeah, very useful, especially in windy conditions! Thanks for the contribution!

[@KaylynnStrain]

I used spent candle wax to dip dryer lint, sisal rope and cardboard squares

[@brianj123458]

I've never seen these things my whole and in the last 4-5 days I have seen lots of videos on these so I guess I need to try and make some for my bug out bag thanks for video and thanks for sharing great video great info God bless you

[@jiujitsu2000]

Thank you. I've been making these for years. Shared them with my bro Jason Williams and he made a really cool vid on them, Then my other brotha Plumpyman made a video too. I thought well, I better dust of this old vid and release it. LOL God bless you too!

[@jiujitsu2000]

brianj123458 they work well!!

[@campnoutdoors1621]

I'm a bit late to this party....Lol Most videos show useing wax only or Petroleum Jelly only. The two combined together light far better with a Ferro Rod! You are one of the few who got it right! Im curious, have you improved on this or still useing the same method! Thanks for your time and the video

[@jiujitsu2000]

Thank you for the kind words and support that you give my channel. I'm still using this method and it works great

[@campnoutdoors1621]

@@jiujitsu2000 I subscribed and hit the like button! I can appreciate your username as well. Back in 2003 when UFC fighting was pretty new I was the WPKO ultimate fighting welterweight champion. I used to fight around spokane Washington some. I eventually give it up due to the violent content I felt it promoted but was undefeated when I quit! Things have changed a lot since than and now I prefer backpacking and somewhat extreme camping scenarios.....Lol

[@sherizuech6562]

Great idea!

[@alexkkkkkk]

Guy is underated👍

[@ricker76er]

Ingenious!!!

[@crerar01]

What ferro rod and striker is that? Great video! Ever messure burn time for those pads?

[@jiujitsu2000]

It's called a lightning strike. I have videos on it. theyburn for a few minutes... thank you

[@jercon2415]

Super helpfull

[@barbaraingram5013]

Amazing this is such a helpful idea for in the end of days and just for camping or even in your fireplace in the house wonderful thank you for sharing be blessed in Jesus name amen

[@stevenward3376]

can also get cheap candles from thrift stores too

[@danielmatthews3420]

Great tip

[@GRockBlues]

Totally awesome

[@rdiehl7809]

Good job NAVY !!!

[@paulaclark7989]

Thanks, great idea 💡

[@AlirezaMoeini]

Hi Thanks for your good video tutorial. Please tell me what was the first liquid and what was the second red liquid? Very thanks

[@gurojwbrown]

Very good and helpful information. I tend to like making my own stuff as opposed to my buddy who likes trend buying stuff like this.

[@ricksorber9562]

I made some of these today. The wax didn't get gard. It's still soft and mushy. They light nice and burn pretty long. Just not hardening like they should.

[@agoogleuser4354]

I did this with an Altoid tin, cotton flannel patches for a .22 barrel, and baby oil. Not quite as baller as yours, but a single 1 inch x 1 inch baby oil soaked patch burns for 2-3 mins even wet, and I was able to fit 40 of them into the altoid tin

[@timothyaguilar7727]

Great Ideas!! great Video!!!

[@danalight4715]

Genius! ThQ so much 🥰💖🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@jiujitsu2000]

Thank you!

[@Nathan-H]

Very informative, claerly presented and demonstrated. I've made a few of these, but never used Vasline, what a great idea, thanks for sharing

[@tacobelle6680]

Thank you for sharing!

[@MasterK9Trainer]

That terrific. You are using Vaseline and sealing it with the outer coating of wax which should prevent it from drying out or making a mess of any kind. Now that I think of it, Goodwill always has baking molds. If I find some reasonably priced, I could use them.

[@rebeccawoosley8241]

You could use the silicone cupcake molds too.

[@sizzorjack]

Awesome! Tried it and it works

[@mccalltjtm]

Great video...I’m going to make some today..

[@kimberlypreston4641]

I made these today. I got 42 fire starters out of 1 jar of Vaseline and one candle. Pretty cheap huh! Going to try one out later :)

[@Gmannfrmdasouth]

Great video 👌

[@crazyhorseranchaz]

THIS OLD TRICK DOES THE JOB VERY WELL. IF NEW TO FIRE STARTERS, YOU CAN USE THE SAME VASELINE, AND WAX ON ABOUT ANY ITEM. I'VE USED ON STICKES

[@mauriziobarbati9081]

Bellissimo video,complimenti. Ps... era vaselina? O petrolim gel? Grazie

[@mojobartle817]

Bloody good video thanks.

[@jiujitsu2000]

Thank you!!

[@toml.8210]

The DollarTree has everything but the cotton rounds, and the cute pans. Do you have a tutorial for making a pot or pan with a handle? You can also use a plastic bandage container for storage., and store re rest in a zip-top bag. Always have a tinder pile, and some bigger fire pieces ready and next to the fire lay BEFORE you set fire to the starter.

[@lindalee3729]

What was the paraffin wax to left over candle residue ratio? Love the idea and simplicity! TY

[@TimsBitsnPieces]

A shoe polish tin works great also for storing them in....(when it's empty of course...lol...) or used tea light candle tins.

[@kirkwesterveltoutdoors]

well done........very good videos

[@jiujitsu2000]

+DicksTaxidermy Thank you!