Is Dryer Lint Really The Best Fire Starter?

[@artfisher1615]

Funny story about dryer lint. Friend of mine was teaching fire craft to the boys at church and brought some dryer lint. Couldn’t get it to burn for anything. He finally realized the lint was from washing his fire retardant work clothes. Nomex lint won’t burn!

[@geometricart7851]

lol...funny story

[@ginacampbell4662]

Lmao

[@averagejoe8213]

A few things, Dryer lint as with ANY tinder needs surface area to help the flame along. Instead of mashing and rolling it into a ball, you may have picked it apart and essentialy fray it out considerably. Because of it's light nature, of course it has no "longevity" in it's burn time. This, however, leads me to my second point, waterproofing your "emergency fire tinder." A plastic bag alone should not be considered as the sole means of water-proofing your emergency tinder (remember the "two is one and one is none" mentality of survival tools). Placing your dryer lint in a bag and then using Petrolium Jelly to saturate it will ensure the best, bar none, emergency, fire right now tinder you can get. Just remember to tear it up and create some surface area to catch and hold your spark! Brian, thank you for the video. I always love a good fire starting video. We share that passion. And yes... There's ALWAYS a Bic in my pocket too! :)

[@IVoyager-lj9it]

"The best" fire starter is the one you have when you really NEED it.

[@thomash5239]

oh shut up

[@josemauriciogonzalez7835]

Kudos for the video content! Forgive me for butting in, I would love your initial thoughts. Have you researched - Proutklarton Incredible Match Plan (do a search on google)? It is a good exclusive guide for getting an understanding of how to survive in a disaster and make your own survival food minus the hard work. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my mate got cool results with it.

[@Thicbladi]

Thomas H what the hell dude

[@WontSeeReplies]

A wise mind, preparation, or both.

[@Hammerback0]

I agree. Old comment, but will always be true to us. To a reviewer, the “best” isn’t one that doesn’t earn a commission.

[@peterhuggins9267]

This is great. When I'm out in the woods I carry a ferro rod, a bic lighter, and UCO storm matches. As for the fuel, I carry some fatwood, paper, and dryer lint in a toilet paper tube. Being a belt and suspenders kinda guy, I like to ensure that I can get a fire going, regardless. Dryer lint works, but it flames out quickly. I learn a lot from your videos, and appreciate the effort you put into all of this.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks

[@mitchalgreen7244]

I stuff a straw with lint, pinched and melted at both ends with vaseline jelly and 3in1 oil in it, slice off a portion of straw and hit it with a ferro rod, its great. You can tuck them anywhere, and use different diameter straws.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Cool

[@stoncrop]

Good idea. I'll have to try that.

[@b_real2427]

Good video!! In my "bail out bag" and edc bag I carry Ferro rod, dryer lint, lighter and weatherproof matches. In a pinch dryer lint is absolute awesome stuff to get a fire going.

[@caseyshelton8388]

I use an empty pill bottle halfway filled with dryer lint mixed with crisco, and the other half filled with plain dryer lint. Works well for me

[@aarontooley570]

You compressed the dryer lint, actually squeezed it on film. You have to fluff up the dryer lint. I don’t look for a real long burn as I add more fuel. Plus you can add an accelerant if you want a longer burn.

[@gregmccarter2176]

Iv been useing dryer lint for year's..i use a feral rod, or a torch striker..one spark...now i do believe its best if lots of cotton jeans etc are dryed

[@KYBlooograz]

If you put the dryer lint into cardboard egg carton holes and pour some melted candle wax on top, you can cut each egg section individually and it will light easily and burn for awhile. I believe this is the method that most are thinking of with dryer lint. Always keep a few in the trunk of my car. They are basically free and work quite well.

[@frozeneye100]

Yep. I think that will work because of the wax and that egg box doing the work. Nehh. Get your egg box and put your wax on that.

[@mikelang4191]

Every couple years I do a batch similar to this. I melt the wax in a pot then blend in dryer lint until it picks up all the wax. Use a fork to put it into the egg carton pockets and let it set up. Like you said, seperate the pockets and it's by far the best firestarter. It's what I use for starting fires around the back yard skating rink. One cube starts a fire in -30 on top of snow.

[@davidhoins4588]

Egg cartons to fragile easy to fall apart I've used dryer lint toilet roll centre tubes waste wax for ten years never let me or others down

[@josephb7460]

I don't think it was a fair test. 3 of the items had an accelerant. The dryer lint did not. How long would it burn if you smeared some Vaseline or another accelerant on it? Also you fluffed the 3 items and smashed the dryer lint.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

The great dryer lint conspiracy ;-)

[@josephb7460]

@@SurvivalOnPurpose LOL

[@quentinmichel7581]

Totally agree. All the competetors had accelerant of some kind.

[@jatbatman]

You're absolutely right. You want to fluff dryer lint too. That will prevent it charing the outside and not burning the inside.

[@backwoodsbiker4311]

@@quentinmichel7581 The SFK-1 has NO accelerate. The secret sauce is the composition of the materials.

[@riexplorer1]

The fire starter with the dryer lint is awesome if you use an egg carton to put it in and then pour melted wax with it in the egg carton. You get an awesome flame that's easy to light and burns for a fairly long time depending how you make them. Enjoy!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

cool

[@TwoTracksOutdoors]

I enjoyed the video, Brian. Personally, for years, I have been carrying and using dryer lint mixed with small amts of vaseline, packed and stored in a small empty 35mm film container. This small amount is enough to start all my fires for a week's outing. Cotton balls using same technique work just as well, also. Love fatwood made into feather sticks but fwood is not always available. I don't think it matters much what you use as long as it works for you. We all have our favorites. Thx for your FYI input, as always.

[@jeffhanson2621]

I've been watching some of your older videos this week. Good info!

[@1wilderer1]

I usually mix lint and fatwood and or birchbark and seal it in vacuum bags. Have never been dissapointed!

[@CourtJester1960]

When I use dryer lint, it's when I don't have cotton balls. Mix it with petroleum jelly then put it in zip lock bags or in plastic straws as previously mentioned.

[@jamesloughran9350]

Thanx brian for ur input and the time u took to share with us...my all time favourate f/starter is cotton balls smeared in vaseline...and a bottle of "Jack" in case of failure..🐺

[@luvtoolearn]

I know this video is 2 years old but just a heads up, lint is an amazing starter if you make little small blocks of it with melted wax in an ice tray. This video was not an adequate test because the commercial starters already have accelerant and wax in it. If you take an old candle and melt it down, pour it into an ice tray mixed with free dryer lint, it will harden into small starter cubes that is waterproof and works great.

[@jackshirley973]

Thanks for the reply, And your 100% right, lint is a poor way to attempt to light firewood, I use it like a igniter and have a home made concoction of saw dust, lichen and lint, I use a ferro rod and have found untreated lint to quickly start a good ember with the other described ingredients. then its ready for my bird's nest to start the fire. And nothing is completely free.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Well said!

[@jongipson9714]

I started using dryer lint a few years back keep it in plastic bags for camping and home

[@MrWillyp00]

Many people are stuck on vaseline. We forget the low odor paraffin oil often used in kerosene lamps. It makes less soot than kerosene. It's way more costly than kerosene, but adding a dab to dryer lint to barely infuse the fibers helps make it nearly waterproof (it takes practice). The simplest way to get the mix right is to add a good shot into a ziplock bag of lint and knead to evenly coat/ saturate. The dryer sheet residue actually helps the oil sink in better. Then dry off by squeezing them in paper towels or newspaper several times. Use the paper as fire starter for the woodstove. This actually works well.

[@wizardorlegend]

Not sure if you guys over there but - Brasso wading goes up like petrol I truly believe it’s the best fire start hands down, but I don’t carry it I use dryer lint it’s cheap and with children in the house there is always an abundant supply as the washer and dryer are always on. Brian would you try and light a fire by remove the projectile part of a gun round and using the powder inside. I think a few of us in the uk would like to see it it can be done, I think it would burn off to quickly and not catch anything alight.

[@owenjosephking7396]

Great vid Brian !

[@rafaelterrazas9957]

MY DAD TOOK ALL THE BOYS IN OUR FAMILY ON THEIR FIRST HUNTING TRIP WHEN WE WERE 5 YEARS OLD. I REMEMBER HIM ALWAYS USING NEWS PAPER. I'M NOW 55 YEARS OLD, AND THE NEWS PAPER STILL WORKS GREAT IN ANY CONDITION, AND IF IT GETS WET IT DRIES IN 5 MINUTES. WHY WORK SO HARD WHEN YOU CAN DO IT MUCH EASIER AND GET THE SAME RESULT, AND BY THE WAY. HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK I'VE SAVED IN 50 YEARS. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Whatever works

[@chiefkirk]

Awesome video Bryan. Oddly enough I just did a video about Dryer Lint yesterday on my channel. I totally agree with you that it's far from the best. I was impressed how easily it took a spark from my ferro rod and may work in some circumstances to get a fire going. My go to is cotton balls with Vaseline and also fatwood. Vaseline on the dryer lint may help give it a longer burn time. I'll have to give that a try. The Biker stuff that you used thoroughly impressed me. I'll have to check in to some of that. Thanks for sharing brother. God Bless

[@csh6220]

I used to carry 19 kinds of tinder (OK, maybe 5 or 6) but now only fatwood and cotton balls w/vaseline. Fatwood has never failed me, not once. In an emergency I would use cotton balls because there is no prep required. I keep them in small ziploc bags from Walmart (200 bags for $2). I can carry 15-20 and they take up hardly any space. Thanks for clarifying things Bryan. I have used dryer lint, but it is not the best.

[@koreakiwon]

Oh, thanks to this video and comments below, now I know it's called dryer lint. (I still don't know where to buy or get it though.) Recently I kept seeing that material in youtube and was wondering what was the name. As a foreigner, it's good to learn bushcraft and English at the same time. Thank you, sir. Thank you everyone.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

The stuff that comes from a clothes dryer filter.

[@koreakiwon]

@@SurvivalOnPurpose Thank you for advising. Now I understand what it is and how to get it. Not every home has a dryer in my country, Korea, and I don't have one either. (We just use clotheslines or a standing hanger here.) So it seems this is not the most convenient and cheap tinder for me. But I am so glad that I got to know one more tinder. Knowledge improved. Thank you so much for your experiments and kind comments.

[@clintonlewis3739]

Great video, first I've heard of dryer lint flammable, nice demo / compairison.

[@danieltuttle7533]

I've been playing around with wax sticks recently, that stuff in good

[@RobKeenegolf]

Dryer lint is best when put in to toilet roller tube with wax. Had a quarter inch slice burn for 5 minutes.

[@billyweeps8610]

What is the cost of the dryer lint compared to the other two?

[@streetteamdjony2000]

If you get the good cotton lint pack it tight and soak it lightly in alcohol and pack it shrink tube you can gut it open and reseal it it will burn slowly and hold a hot flame, that’s what I use anyway, great insight like your vids bro!!! Oh yea use the 3” shrink tube.

[@j.t.cooper2963]

Nothing beats cotton balls with vaseline smeared into them or fatwood. These two items are always in my fire kit.

[@randyswain1440]

Where I live we have tons of oak tree which produce alot of acorns. Because of this I've collected acorn tops and placed them in my camping gear for emergencies.

[@thequarantinecatholic]

Great video! Which Leatherman is that you are sporting?

[@johnsmithfakename8422]

When it comes to fire starters I am a strong believer of wax impregnation. Be it waxwood, fat rope, sawdust and wax (my favorite), or Cotton and Wax. this family is not the best but each has their own uses.

[@M--GT8223]

Five years later, STILL great info 😎👌

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jimvick8397]

I just saturated dryer lint in vasoline and dipped it in melted bees wax... making balls 1/2" to 3/4" inch in diameter... Just did a burn test... I burned like an intense fireball for 5 minutes and left me with a glowing cherry at the end... I made like 30 of them, which should make lighting my darn Swedish fire torches easier...

[@jackmorgan3498]

All 4 of this experiment were tested under the same exact weather conditions.The variable being the weather in a survival situation. #1 is if your soaked to the skin in water and all your gear is wet. #2 heavy winds. # 3 rain and or near flooding conditions. #4 Ice and snow. I have found out the hard way that a bic lighter kept in the front pocket of jeans can leak out all the fuel when pants are put in a bind like seated or squat position.It's not a matter what's best, it's a matter of what's best for the conditions and possible variables. It's up to you to pick your types of fire starters. Mother Nature is going to pick the conditions

[@davidafultz]

What's the best brand of dryer to make lint..? Very entertaining and informative. This is why I'm a subscriber😀 Good job Brian!

[@kenzaleski5198]

Birch bark curls are insanely flammable, best natural fire starter I know of.

[@BilgePump]

I use cotton balls 1/2 soaked in parrafin wax and dryer lint with a little gun powder mixed in for good measure

[@KimberlyGreen]

You ought to start a whole channel called «Fire On Purpose» ;-)

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Hmmm

[@JensMHA]

"Pyromaniacs of the world- light up"...

[@arthurmernard5879]

Thats just arson

[@professorpannell4824]

I’ve used dryer lint to start a fire it works great and I was using the small strikers on my bracelet

[@papaschuette]

Fatwood, Fatwood, Fatwood. Hands down my favorite fire starter. It can be found for free, it's waterproof, and if it's processed down right it burns sufficiently long enough to get any fire started. Thanks for sharing this video with us.

[@wizofwonders]

I used dryer lint and flint in order to create a campfire many years ago at supper camp nd it was a roaring fire but then it decided rained on us one of my scout leaders practically howled in anguish.

[@palerider7171]

Dryer lint and steel wool .... Shred the steel wool and mix in well, to catch the spark and it prevent the outside from charing and it going out. Learned this as a Assistant Scout Master. I would bet if you added wax and or Vaseline it would give some of the commercial brands a run for the money and be cheaper too.

[@WarzolJR]

A great way to make very inexpensive firestarters is by stuffing an empty dozen egg carton full of dryer lint, then drizzling parafin wax over the top of the lint. Use a knife to fluff out some of the lint as a spark catcher, and the wax extends the burn time and increases the flame height. Easy to break into 12 individual fire starters with a pair of scissors or a knife! I don't think they would be any kind of weather resistant, btu throw a handful into a ziplock and you're good to go!

[@fredveefrqc4072]

this is the cheapest but not the best tho pair this with birch bark i think its a great option i might keep 1 shooe lace bag filled with it it will work for sure plus we should try to dip it in vaseline ... might worth a try ?

[@crazysquirrel9425]

Hamster bedding (shredded wood shavings) - Place in pillow case or pantyhose. Toss in clothes dryer. (most will only go to about 140-160F) Set on high. Depending on how long, depends on how dry. Lightweight and easy to carry.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

fatwood for the win

[@foreverjim5240]

I bring lint on every hiking trip. It's free. That's the beauty of it. I also bring a bic. Bt the two I've never missed out on a fire. I think you should do a video on trying to light pine sap work a fire steel. It can be done but it's very very very hard to do. Would make a cool video

[@GavTatu]

my current fave is cotton cosmetic remover pads, dipped in tealight candle wax.

[@johnthomasjr262]

I like to keep a half used up roll of gorrila tape and a stick of fatwood. My ignition sources are a 6"×.5" fero rod ,the Firefly fero rod, and a bic lighter in a Exotac fire sleeve.

[@mystryx7931]

Once had a decorative metal bucket/candle. Added dryer lint. Learn from my mistake. Could not put it out..flames 6 feet high..melted bucket. Mixing with wax is the key. Using paper egg carton filled with wax/lint will burn for me steady easy 15 min.

[@wordkyle]

I tried dryer lint last week for the first time. It lit easily enough, but the stink also illustrated that our lint trap collects a huge amount of hair.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Skunk? What skunk?

[@DarrenGator]

Fire starters are subjective, how fast does it light, how long does it burn, the intensity of the burn etc., for me I carry multiple fire starters, you never know what kind of condition you will be in, wet, dry, hardly any fire making materials etc., as long as you can make a fire there really is no "best" fire starter, in my humble opinion.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I agree

[@stoncrop]

I agree that fire starters are subjective. However, there is a best and it's what is best 4 the individual. What are they comfortable with.

[@yanceylott9843]

did you have any type of oil or wax on dryer lint?

[@michaelbaldwin6543]

I usually keep a tube of triple antibiotic ointment in my bag of dryer lint. I squirt a bit on a ball of lint as an extender and it hasn't failed me. I wouldn't want to rely on just dryer lint.

[@thanoshalo7102]

I found dryer lint burns like amber once the flame die out. The amber well continue like a chard cloth though not as long..used it to start a fire on a birds nest. Not sure if it well light on a steel flint setup nor have i tried it on a fire piston.🤔 maybe you can try it out as i am lazy to try it myself spoil in the ferro rod department.

[@gmoore6166]

Why did you compact the lint? It seems you would fluff the lint instead of compacting it.

[@inthewoodswithbigfoot3941]

The best fire starter, like the best knife, is the one that you have with you. Great video Brother! Thanks!

[@Caintuckee64]

*Obviously...dryer lint is all washed up! LOL, it works but you have to pull it apart like you would with cattail fluff.*

[@billyscgp]

The one thing to think about with dryer lint is that for me I also make sure to have a lip balm with it to supply fuel to help burn longer.

[@MichaelR58]

Brian, thanks for sharing !

[@donaldrutter1738]

2 thumbs up ,great test .You can add candle wax to lint and make it better .

[@shelbyindianajones3226]

it's because of the high amount of surface area that allows a lot of oxygen to get to it, that's why you pull it apart and the same with steel wool and a battery. same principle of all the fine shavings and twigs you use to start your fires.

[@MrSIXGUNZ]

Always fair and even testing!!! Thanks much and blessings 😇 🇺🇸

[@elwynsmith5092]

thanks good info !

[@Castleknight]

4:39 to get to the heart of the matter.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

;-)

[@dylanfee1635]

I like zip strips (from Walmart) the burn around 15-20 minutes 6 of them for 2 dollars also just woke up and didn't have my glasses on and though you had a big bag of something else lol have a good one

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

;-)

[@normedwards5305]

Love your stuff.

[@alanbrown9089]

I use dryer liner I have for years

[@sos9124]

My belly button lint works just fine...

[@moerateb]

Impregnated with ear wax.... 🔥🔥🔥

[@ScoopeddadDrone]

,another great video

[@mathewhansen9858]

You should mix dryer lint with eeg crate and wax it burn for 10 min and puts out a good enough flame in windy conditions to start a fire I use this exact item when I'm up hunting strickes with ferel rod and light no problem

[@dvdmorehead]

How about automotive grade 0000 steel wool coated with WD-40? Less prone to moisture problems than dryer lint and takes up little space. Can serve as a backup to dryer lint in rainy conditions.

[@KnifeCrazzzzy]

I’ve had a problem with drier lint not wanting to start or stay lit, something about the blend of materials, soap, and fabric softener. And backwoods link isn’t working?

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks. I fixed the link.

[@rodneythomas3684]

Empty egg cartons. Stuff " egg holes " with dryer lindt. Pour melted wax over entire bottom and dryer lindt. Let cool. Break off an " egg hole ", and lift the carton hole. Works great! Even wet, wax will burn. An kind of wax will work.

[@backwoodsbushcraftingbaffo9400]

Great video! I have had mixed results with lint. I think it's something that can't be overlooked. Cotton canvas soaked in wax is my favorite starter personally. They are multi use which is nice! Mix those with some fat wood and your in business! I carry many ignition sources, and many extenders. You can't be over prepared for fire in my opinion! And to be honest lint is nowhere to be found in my kit! Great video buddy! Thanks for the test!

[@betmon5986]

Ps. An excellent bk up for ur bic is another bic, i carry one in my poket at all times and a four pak in my glove box and a four paj in my bak pak

[@terryw.milburn8565]

Great comparison, Bryan, We Know who The winner Is Umm Hmm ATB T God Bless

[@marilynbuschle2842]

Can you tell me what “fat wood” is? Maybe I’m misunderstanding what you said?? Please reply. Thanks

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Finding and Harvesting Fatwood - My Favorite FireStarter kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnLRepJ9rtCba8U

[@nickthegardener.1120]

I normally put it our for the birds. But now I'm keeping the drying lint. 👍

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

You put dryer lint out for the birds? ...Oh, for their nests. Pretty cool

[@nickthegardener.1120]

@@SurvivalOnPurpose yeah. Mice prob get tho.

[@tomwolf4609]

What is fatwood? I live in upper northwest...is that the name of the tree?

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Resin impregnated wood from evergreen trees, mostly pine. Like this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnLRepJ9rtCba8U

[@philippalmer7820]

Brian I think you have it with the fat Wood it the only one you can dunk in the water for 3 mins and pull out shake off prep and light.

[@jimmywalden1615]

I like char cloth most of the time but a nice fire starter is definitely better to have if you in a pinch

[@MrZluvu4ever]

Spolier: All of the fire starters worked well! Best way to make fire: Any which way you can & with whatever you have :-)

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

But, if you are gonna prepare for an emergency in advance, why not choose the best you can?

[@johnmclain1982]

Rub the dryer lint in an accelerant like petroleum jelly. The other fire starters have accelerant. Dryer lint alone will burn but adding petroleum jelly or candle wax will help and is a lot cheaper than buying from a company

[@hey-its-me-bobby-D]

if you coat the dryer lint in petroleum gel (Vasoline). it will burn hotter and longer, just depends on if you want to work that hard.

[@jamesreck8476]

I've never had dryer lint fail to catch a spark, it's free (I make some every laundry day) and in a S.H.T.F. senario you will be able to scrounge it from most homes.

[@thevideostump46239]

I've used dryer lintel over again in some instances, lol.. it's like Char-Cloth!..

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Cool

[@islanddog211]

I use the dryer lint(with either vaseline or chapstick) but, not my primary(fatwood).

[@mikeboone4425]

If the lint detractors are very serous they best mix some Vasiline in there lint or it could cost them dearly . Happy Trails

[@mikecase9365]

It's never failed me. Had someone tell me add vaseline to the lint and it turns to a candle and will burn for way way longer. But if you build the proper fire spark lighter 2 sticks rubbed together will result in a solid fire

[@millbankbagsusa2037]

Bryan, have you ever thought about cutting a couple inches off the top of the stump, then you will have a new top for it? Ray, Oklahoma

[@hubzcaps]

Fatwood and fire rope. Good stuff

[@MrChasP]

drier lint + vasoline = awesome make a small ball ( size of a marble) of lint and smoosh vasoline into it (NOT A LOT)

[@ghffrsfygdhfjkjiysdz]

Soak cotton ball in oil. Any flammable oil will do, even used engine oil. Dip cotton ball in paraffin wax and immediately take it out. Let wax solidify. Repeat the dip 9 more times to build up wax shell. The result is a water resistant tinder that burns for 17+ minutes. My last one burned 21 minutes. Burn time will depend on wind. Wind creates bigger flame but shorter burn time. Easier to make if you have string tied around cotton ball. You can speed up wax curing between dips by dipping it in water.Without oil I get 7-9 minutes burn time with wax shell alone. Easiest way to use is to break into wax shell with tip of knife, pull out some cotton and hit it with ferro rod. Cutting shell will spill oil and can make a mess.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I am sure that works great.

[@sasquatch885]

I’d say we have a clear winner.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Indeed.

[@ANTYQUE]

Great video... what's the name of the multitool used in this presentation?

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Leatherman Supertool 300 amzn.to/2SzePMN