How to Start a Fire in Rain or Wet Conditions Part 1

[@qssneaky]

Whenever trekking into the deep wilderness for extended periods of time, I highly recommend sucking it up and bringing along a couple bic lighters and a handful of candles. Of course you can still bring matches or a fire rod because it's always a cool thing to light a "one match fire" or start a fire with a spark...but just in case things go bad, you've got the lighters and candles. Take one candle and place it under the kindling and use the other candle to light it. The nice thing about using candles to start a fire is that you can have a continuous flame going until things start to dry out. Once the candle under the kindling is lit, it will slowly burn, hence, drying out the kindling. A good type of candle to use is a standard 6 inch white candle about the diameter of your thumb. Birthday candles work too.. You can even cut shavings off the candle and sprinkle them over your kindling. The melted wax from the candle will continue to burn for a long time, drying out the kindling. Believe me, trying to get a spark from a fire rod in wet weather can be a real pain- and could even cost your life in a emergency situation so I never go into the wilderness for an extended time without a couple of bic lighters and a handful of candles. Worst case scenario, if you can't get a fire started, you can at least light the candle, sit down and lean over it. It's amazing how much warmth a single candle will give off and how much light it will provide when it's pitch dark.

[@Martyntd5]

I prefer a zippo to a Bic, they are more reliable. I carry a little 1 oz plastic bottle of fuel that is good for about 6 refils. If everything is damp or conditions are bad, a few drops of zippo fuel on your tinder and it'll go right up. I dont know of a quicker or easier way of starting a fire really, short of thermite. :D

[@joeroganofficial5433]

Martyntd5 yee

[@steveleatherland8397]

Absolutely amazing. Very clear instructions and easy to follow out. Good work guys

[@Fogyt121]

Awesome video. Packed full with important information and no unnecessary talk.

[@2151abell]

Great teaching video... No fluff,no mocho BS, Just the facts... Thank you !

[@davetimm]

Thanks

[@jbennett8000]

This is an excellent video. It provides details on both simple fire starting (ie with dry wood and pre-prepared materials) and then goes on to fire starting "in the real world". Cheers Dave! :D

[@davetimm]

Thanks Josh! We have a part 2 planned when I can find a day off, with a baby sitter and rain, so far it's been rough to line all of those requests up :). Also I am planning a video for fire starting in the snow as we have no shortage of that currently in northern MN. Take care -Dave

[@THEfromkentucky]

Great video. I really like your style. Great distance from the camera, showing a nice, relevant background, instead of shoving your face into the camera. Volume and cadence were perfect, and I really appreciate that you only spent a few seconds on the intro before diving right into the relevant information. Please make more.

[@CatVomitX0]

I really like this video, it's straight to the point and I didn't have to skip ahead.

[@davetimm]

Thanks!

[@reversefulfillment9189]

I've noticed there are a lot of Dave's producing fire related, how to videos, at least all the good ones. Anyone else notice this connection? Nice job Dave and camera man.

[@davetimm]

Thanks! Ben says thanks too. -Dave

[@wolf1066]

Nice seeing how well the firesteel works with the various tinders. I've definitely got to get myself one. Thanks.

[@davetimm]

You will love it, get a good one and don't look back.

[@wolf1066]

I plan to. I saw on another youtube channel where they were even able to light shavings from a ranger band with a firesteel.

[@SolutionsNotPrayers]

Thank You, I learned something. Dead Wood Standing and leaning tinder on a log. It makes sense now that you explain it. I will not forget this.

[@davetimm]

Thanks for watching!

[@tetsuo935]

i like the quality and presentation you provided. inclusive, and very to point without excess info. very approachable host. more videos please, ive seen good ones and this is up there

[@davetimm]

+John Felix thanks for the kind words. This project has unfortunately taken a back seat to others. Someday...

[@davidf9830]

Amazing video. It had the perfect amount of explanation and hands on experience from yourself. Great finish with the video too. The fire kept things looking really nice.

[@davetimm]

Thanks!

[@Edmund0804]

Nice video!

[@sparkyswearsalot]

Nice video. I really like the real time striking test. I think I'm finally sold on the Vaseline cotton ball technique. But birch bark will always be my favorite because I love the way it smells.

[@davetimm]

I agree, we just made a video on cotton balls but birch bark always is my favorite too. Reminds me of hiking as a kid

[@nelsonh.568]

Awesome video brother. I appreciate people like you that are willing to share their knowledge with the world. I've had to use sock lint before LOL. Keep putting up these great videos.

[@davetimm]

Thanks for the comment. Its funny you mention sock lint as it is one of the reasons I wear wool socks and it is something we are going to be bringing up in future videos. I have used sock lint too with chapstick and it works great.

[@jaktfiske8288]

Im very impressed how well you set things up!!

[@davetimm]

Thanks I think :-)

[@Prairie7777]

Thank you very much sir. Very good information. I especially like the different methods that you demonstrated. Very USEABLE INFORMATION!

[@kane_of_light]

Very well narrated and edited. Great informational video thanks for your knowledge.

[@IsaacNewton1966]

The weber grill fire starter you mentioned is actually way cheaper than Wet Fire. They are like 4 bucks for 24 and they are twice the size. The problem is, you have to open them all up and coat them in paraffin or wrap in aluminum foil and put them in an air tight container or some other method of preserving them. You have to do that because even if you try to cut them apart air gets to them and they dry out or go bad, whatever.

[@davetimm]

Thanks for the comment, good to know. When we made this video, which is now close to a couple of years ago we went shopping for the items in the video. We went to our local small-town hardware store and saw the Weber product which I believe at the time were about 8 or $10. We bought the Wet Fires for 25 cents a piece from a big jar at a local mom and pop camping store. That's we based the comment on was the pricing at the time. Checking prices now it looks like I got a good deal on the wet fire. -Dave

[@IsaacNewton1966]

I completely understand about those small town prices. I live in smallville Nebraska. I can get a 12 oz bottle of HEET for like $1.50 at the Wal-Mart in the nearby city, but at the local hardware store it's $2.29. convenient, but costly. I also bought some Wet Fire before I found out about the grill blocks. Next time I think I'll try the blocks and dip them in paraffin, which also adds some fuel to the fire. Thanks for the great vids!

[@playinlax]

You're the man, thanks for the video. Well spoken and nicely done!!

[@playinlax]

I had to LOL when you were trying to get the 2nd bundle sparked. I was like, FINALLY, someone on youtube that takes a long as it takes me in real life haha

[@davetimm]

playinlax Yeah no smoke and mirrors here, those wood shavings weren't as easy as I thought but that's reality. It happens and we figured its best to show it like it is. Part of it was technique, I could have been closer or shaved them finer, but sometimes thats just how it goes. Take care -Dave

[@ronaldrose7593]

GREAT VIDEO MY FRIEND. I really enjoyed it. You brought out some great pointers. Keep up the good work. Take care and be safe.

[@davetimm]

Thanks

[@bigjpcutlery]

Excellent video. Very simple and informative. Thank you for posting.

[@mattnordlich184]

Reality of wet weather camping is different. I went out 3 times just to test myself in a rainy fall weather, it rained all week, everything was soaked. It took me 2 hours to get some kind of fire going. So this video is misleading. Once it's been raining for a while, it almost impossible to find dry kindling. I had to chop through half of a 4 inch log to get dry shavings of 3 different sizes and stage the fire in 3 different phases lol Wetness sucks..

[@scottt.3126]

Good job Tim. Good presentation and excellent communication skills. Very informative ...

[@mojo541]

Great video, Guy! I thought it was very informative and professionally done for the person that doesn't know the ropes. Bravo!

[@davetimm]

Thank you!

[@Fjall-Anders]

I myself have a break in the adventure when I am in Covid. But just watched your video. You really get the urge to go out again💥😉🙂

[@johnathankorba5095]

Solid video, but I feel the emphasis here is on preparedness not wet weather, which is never wrong. As far as a wet mats fire, the pit construction to shield your fuel, and that scaled fuel size he mentions are the biggies. You can use a shallow pit to help shield from rain and gather heat, keeping that heat you produce from your tinder is the major difference at the start of your fire, and scaling up pieces allows you to start small and have small drying times before your wood catches.

[@thelaundrysomethingsomething]

Nicely done. Good voice, speaking pace and well prepared content.

[@davetimm]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@jlnmyr]

Thanks for that! Very clear.

[@davebloggs]

I would also like to add before lighting a fire know how you are going to put it out . a near by water source is good, way to often i come across fire sites in the woods that have been left to burn right down and often on material that can smoulder for many many days . soak it stir it and soak it again . on the point of butane lighters keep them on an internal pocket in cold weather minus 5 and below they work much better. all in all a good video nicely done.

[@oldtimer4567]

Glad to finally see someone start a fire without batoning wood.

[@ksharris74]

Good practical information. Great narration as well, direct and to the point without any excessive rambling. Some guys could have presented the same info you did, but turned theirs into a 7 part series of 30 min videos. Hope to see more from you.

[@davetimm]

Thank you for your feedback, part 2 is in the works and I am hoping a winter video as well while we have no shortage of snow.

[@MustiiDrums]

So this is how Adele set fire to the rain...

[@thesupersaiyan6454]

Fox is that you?

[@pugdyg2599]

really really well

[@MCH4RSK1HCPAALLIKKO]

1 tip, replace the regular lighter with electric one ( I like the ones made by bic ) it will light up even if u submerge it to glass of water, just shake the water off and its ready to go, the regular lighter requires drying. And the firesteel, for me it seems its easiest to light tinder when u push that ferro rod in middle of tinder and then scrape it.

[@Kaiyzkayzi]

I know you did this video a long time ago, but it's very well made and I appreciate you taking the time to make it.

[@davetimm]

+Kaiyzkayzi thanks. Someday we will make more

[@victorpapaavp]

That explains why I was having so much trouble with it last time... luckily I had the truck nearby, splash of gasoline worked when everything else failed, lol... Hopefully next time I won't have to cheat. Very informative!

[@davetimm]

Thanks for watching! Be careful with the gas :-)

[@ringdingdango]

Very helpful video guys thank you! Very impressed!

[@davetimm]

Thank you

[@maincoone2127]

Looking forward to the video in the rain! good video everything was explained very well and nicely filmed! make more stuff

[@davetimm]

Thanks for the comment, we just did a winter video, part 2 rain will be out this spring.

[@tabetabs6225]

Like the positive vibe from you bud😊🙌 Nice video💪

[@98tallica]

Well explained, but not a long rant. Nice job!

[@davetimm]

Thank you!

[@TedsOutdoors]

great video, and fantastic camera work! you a good talker on camera and that's hard to find. I even liked you Canadian accent. thanks, and please make more videos!

[@davetimm]

Canadian accent lol, I didn't think it was that bad. I suppose us Minnesotans have a unique accent. We just added a winter video and are waiting for a rainy day to do part 2. We also have some new content coming for our channel that aligns with our main business. Thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@yeetmachine1737]

Dude! please upload more, your a great teacher

[@randyoliver186]

Hey, I watched all of your two videos. I very much enjoyed your teaching style. I like that you back up your advice with evidence instead of just expecting us to accept it like you did when you heard it from someone else, like a lot of the new survivalists. I hope to see more videos soon. Do you do any foraging? I have been looking for good sources for foraging info and videos for northern winters. I know it is possible to survive up here in central Maine in the winter. The Penobscotts and other indians did it for many generations before we arrived. I just do not know how they did it. I do know that you cannot eat just meat all winter, but plant life dies off around here in October and the snow does not go away until May. We had a rough winter this year and everything was buried under more than four feet of snow for most of the winter. I want to be prepared for a long term emergency ( one that could leave us stranded for the winter) but, information seems to be lacking. Any suggestions would be helpful and appreciated too.

[@davetimm]

Thanks for the comment! Up in MN we have had some rough winters too. Can't say I am very knowledgable on foraging but I would love to learn more too.

[@jeffreyfuhz]

really enjoyed the information you shared on here

[@davetimm]

Thank you!

[@shawnduke2073]

Great video, very helpful

[@charlotte-vz9wx]

Wow, great video. Thanks for sharing! Liked and subscribed, can't wait to see your future vids! :)

[@saajingrey]

Gotta say, I was nodding in agreement the whole way through, especially when out came the vaseline soaked cotton balls. Thats how I do it when the weather gets fugly, and it works every time. I didn't learn a thing, but thanks for the video.

[@davetimm]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching

[@ArielBravy]

Great presentation! Really really good job. Thank you! :)

[@davetimm]

+Ariel Bravy thanks

[@BackwoodsBounty]

i find that the wood shaving method is much more effective if left attached to the larger piece like a feather stick.

[@TheMontanaBushcraft]

great video. Hope that you make more soon. Until next time take care.

[@archstudentarchstudent]

very informative video, thanks for uploading

[@davetimm]

Yup I hope to in the near future. Anything in particular?

[@davetimm]

Great advice, I have also attended some courses that teach they can be used as a dressing in first aid situations.

[@MikeDye86]

well done video!

[@davetimm]

Thanks!

[@johnhunter9398]

I would love to see more videos. Like how to build a good survival fort. Thank you though, very good video.

[@places_unknown]

very nice video! keep doing those. very instructive!

[@6BlackWings]

Petroleum jelly is flammable, once heated to a liquid - at which point the fumes will ignite - not the liquid itself. The cotton acts like a wick, melting the petroleum jelly and igniting the subsequent fumes. This is exactly how a candle and standard paraffin wax works.

[@HAUNTS360]

Thanks for that well informed video.

[@davetimm]

Thanks for the comment!

[@davetimm]

I hope to, I really do, just been very busy and I am also active with another youtube channel and work. Hopefully soon, part 2, as well as some other related videos.

[@SteveB357]

Thank you for mentioning, however briefly, to clear groung cover down to dirt to prevent the fire spreading. This is never mentioned in fire videos on KZbin.

[@davetimm]

Thanks for the comment, fire safety is very important. Something I learned very young when I was a cub scout, safety and leaving your site better than you found it.

[@davetimm]

I am hoping to. I am also involved with a couple of other youtube channels and have been doing stuff there. I really want to do a follow up to this video, just waiting for a day off and rain to align. Thanks!

[@morgan1289]

Great video I'll be using this knowledge

[@Scotty_K]

hi, really enjoyed your video it was very useful! apart from one detail! In the U.K where i live, most if not all of the plants around me are too moist to use and every other plant is green and wont light, is there any solution to this?. Thankyou

[@jwrappuhn71]

Excellent vid.

[@davetimm]

Thanks for the comment!

[@michaelchitwood6226]

Excellent video on camp fire starting in rain, wet, or damp conditions. Thank you.

[@davetimm]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching! Part 2 will be out this spring.

[@WallArtPS]

Nice video! When comes part 2?

[@davetimm]

Hopefully this spring, thanks!

[@cn9800]

Thank you! That was a great video!

[@davetimm]

+Cac Vuong Nguyen thanks

[@Fredruiz622]

Very professional, thanks!

[@davetimm]

Thank you!

[@nny420blazin]

i would like to see you do this in a good drizzle. you have some good basic points, prepping your site and collecting materials but common you had some nice weather for a video title like this one.

[@johnathankorba5095]

No, and in some cases such as his ground level fire it is ideal, being that you are in effect using it as a fire break

[@musicisbrilliant]

MAN MAKE FIRE!!!!!!! Love it!

[@davetimm]

Thank you

[@rideforrestride]

Great video!

[@Andre87dre]

Awesome video

[@adamhicks24]

awesome. beautiful landscape, where is this?

[@davetimm]

Brainerd MN

[@davetimm]

Thank you, that's a pretty big compliment and not sure if that is justified. I just hope to make the best videos we can and share what we have learned. Glad you liked it.

[@johnmiller6120]

Are you ever going to do a video on shelter making, perhaps a over night camping video? p.s. I really enjoy your video :)

[@davetimm]

Thank you, currently I am working on developing another channel but you never know what the future may hold.

[@davetimm]

This is the Strikeforce by Ultimate Survival Technologiws, it works great! Thanks for the comment. -Dave

[@dirtydog6983]

Cool video!

[@davetimm]

I wish I was more familiar with the UK but that is out of my lane. I know Ray Mears has done some stuff in the UK, he is a pro and may have some material or video on the subject.

[@QuantumRift]

If you carry a couple teaspoons of potassium permanganate and a couple ounces of common antifreeze, you can start a fire anywhere, anytime.....Potassium permanganate is typically included in survival kits: as a fire starter (mixed with antifreeze from a car radiator or glycerin), water sterilizer, and for creating distress signals on snow...

[@davetimm]

To write on? Just kidding of course, the only thing that stinks with paper is once it is wet it sucks, and is fragile and weak. My favorite is the Vaseline cotton balls as even if they get wet the Vaseline repels the water and the fibers are dry on the inside.

[@Franetzky]

Vasaline and cotton balls are my go to. I modify them now by cutting fat wood into half a pencil diameter and wrap the vas and cotton ball on top like a match head. Works great. Carry them in old prescription medicine containers.

[@rickymellottsr4461]

great video , good to know , thanks !!!

[@f22shift]

Ive been using BBQ starting nuggets dipped in wax as my "cheating" tinder(I've found it absorbed water so waxing needed). Burns 15 min and pretty intense. 2 bucks for 2 dozen and very light in comparison to wet tinder which I haven't tried yet. I'm not sure if a candle is better with its lower intensity but longer burn time. Vaseline cotton balls was too messy and a short burn time. Fat wood is finicky and needs a lot of work(90 deg spine scraping). Maybe one hand is injured or it's a bitter cold and your hands are not working well. A lighter as a backup or primary. I have 6 lighters exposed to constant 75% humidity and many rain storms. They are all rusty and even gooey like a rotting zombie. Every one of them light up. 5 out of 6 on the first try. I also have a ferro rod outside in the same aluminum tray. It's disgusting and that's why they are coated black. Nothing is impervious to the weather but I want to point out that lighters aren't as fragile as people want to believe. Honestly I don't care if friends think I'm cheating. I'm practicing a bulletproof system of fire making. Lol no such thing actually.

[@86zoran]

Very helpful!! Thank you!

[@davetimm]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jamesmorrison185]

great video ...thanks

[@pinata-whacker4635]

Great vid 👍👍👍

[@davetimm]

Thanks

[@MaryjaneMonarch]

How come you only have 1 video? You speak well. I assumed you would have many more.

[@davetimm]

Thank you, I am involved with a couple of other youtube channels. Due to that and my "day job," family, etc I don't get much time to get back out in to the woods for part 2. I am hoping to have some more content soon. Thanks again for the comment!

[@lsee631]

this is very good ,thank you

[@davetimm]

Thank you!

[@thedego22]

great video dude!

[@davetimm]

Thanks!

[@cominooculto]

Its so funny i just did yesterday exactly what you mentioned i just followed my logical instinct and did it like that and today i came to search for videos to see how other people do it.

[@lexflix]

Good stuff.

[@GreenAshR47]

Does it matter if the large log you use as a base is damp?

[@ScuffCs1337]

Nice Video dude!

[@davetimm]

Thank you!

[@elkimmett]

If this dry standing pine's core was covered with a tarp, or wrapped, it could continue to support a nearby camp.

[@davetimm]

Very true. Thanks for watching.

[@IWouldNeverTroll]

What were you using, under the tinder and stuff? Was it the inside of the outside of a tree? So the outer parts of the tree, but the dry side?

[@davetimm]

Yup just a piece of bark.

[@JesterJames22]

excellent vid. Great presentation. Only criticism is that you need to be more confident. You KNOW you stuff, so don't be afraid to show it. Thanks for the wealth of info in this video, props.

[@James-iw4fz]

im trying to start one in a wood to burn loads of wood thats been cut down i cant seem to get a fire going even after using a gallon of diesel, doing teepee method but it jst goes out after i stack it up, wood is soo wet and its really frustrating

[@crcr4311]

Excellent. Be interesting to see if I can make a fire now in the extremely rainy damp west of England. Course here one would probably have to find wood with a penknife given our draconian laws. Am ashamed to say my only attempt at making a bonfire was extremely lacklustre even lighter fluid poured all over it only resulted in a temporary flame and the wood itself never burnt.

[@sarahwillett1925]

Best vid ever

[@1Independentrider]

What fire steel is that? It's way hotter than mine.

[@LIFTLEGIONCOM]

Post a link to that fire starter??