I don't carry firestarters or tinder, but I do fool around with them at home, and I found that Sterno works is an excellent substitute for petroleum jelly in fire straws. Just make sure the ends of the straw are sealed completely so the alcohol doesn't evaporate. I put a squirt of hot glue in the straw, and it works very well. I get a perfect seal, and I think I could leave it at the bottom of a lake for a week and still use it. One thing I tried that I love so far, but haven't tested long enough to be sure about is using a strike anywhere match. Cut the match short and slip it into one end of a fire straw and hot glue it in place so only the head of the match is exposed. Then dip the head of the match in wax to waterproof it. It becomes a strike anywhere fire straw. A handy thing to carry into the woods, and an even handier thing to carry when you aren't likely to have larger fire starting items on you. They take up almost no room, and weigh next to nothing. I keep half a dozen in a small tin that goes in my left front pocket, and I don't even notice it's there. Anyway, I really have field tested them enough to know whether it's a great idea or a bust, but they work very well at home, so I'm looking forward to trying them in the field a lot more often this spring.
i have made firestarters with lamp oil and saw dust and card board egg crates,,some i use murrays beeswax,, and i use 35mm film canister to store cotten balls with vaseline prepared,,and you can file down the whole magnesium starter with a coarse file and save the shavings in 35mm film canister or small water proof container ,, and it does take awhile to file the whole magnesium starter down ,, but its do-able
Blacky this idea can be expanded, I use salt and pepper and seasoning , instant coffee with sugar and powder milk and tang, honey, cooking oil, medication, fishing kit, sewing kit. There will be times when I have about 20 straws in my edc. At the beginning people at work made fun at me, but then they notice at a $1.00 for a cup of coffee or $1.25 for a cup of ice tea they got the massage a couple of straws filled drinking items can save $20.00 per week. PS love your videos...
I love the extra attention to detail. Such as the folding of the sheet of paper representing how to fold the straw. Small enough to except the cap. A tin full of these would be an excellent emergency kit. And your burn ointment is right there if you were to burn your fingers while cooking etc. Love your rope knots as well and keep up the awesome job. These are a wide worth of wealth to those who haven't had yrs of experience who haven't had the opertunity to experiment for themselves or had the chance to learn from a mentor
This is like a library worth of knowledge from experience that I enjoy watching. Especially the knots of which I have forgotten a lot. But for the young who are in the scouts I think these showings are an invaluable resource to learning Especially with the electronics to broadcast for lessons learned. Even an old dog like me pick up stuff I had no knowledge of or just things I have forgotten from yrs ago that I have seen maybe once or twice with no hands on experience.
i can't speak for anyone else, but i certainly appreciate your straight, no BS delivery of information. You remind me a lot of the survival school instructors I had back in the Dark Ages in the Air Force. Awesome, thank you again.
I've always used cotton, Vaseline and aluminum foil. Cut off a strip of aluminum foil about 3 and a half inches wide by around the same length. Soak your cotton ball up just like you did in your video, press it out flat onto your foil, then fold it in half, then fold your three open ends closed. You should end up with a square around an inch and a half by an inch and a half. If you're really worried about water soaking in, cut two pieces of duct tape that are larger on all sides than your aluminum foil packet you just made, and sandwich that sucker in between your two pieces of tape. Clear packing tape works just as well for me, and doesn't have that nasty duct tape smell when it starts burning.
Blackie, I really appreciate the commitment you have to your channel. I don't actually know how much time you put into each video, but overall I know you you've got a lot of hours devoted to teaching various skills. I love the detail and close-ups. Great job, not just on this video, but all your videos. Thanks for your time.
Blackie..... another terrific video. The magnesium powder was new to me!! Good idea. If you look on Amazon you can find even LARGER diameter straws!! If you can't find them and want to try some, let me know and I'll send you some!! Also, I"m sure you are aware, you can pinch off the tip of the straw and then heat seal them with a flame. They are virtually water proof. Terrific video and thanks for sharing. You do an outstanding job. Ax
Your first video on firestraws was great, please don't take it down. I subscribed to your site after watching it. I find your videos extremely interesting and I have learned quite a few things from you. Thank you for your efforts and keep up the good work!
I just discovered your channel. This is ingenious. I’ve used Vaseline cotton before but had the same problems you mentioned. It gets everywhere. Can’t wait to try this!
Hey Blacky, I Just wanted to say that of all the bushcraft videos i have watched, and i have watched hundreds,you do the best job. You are always mindful of sound, lighting, camera position etc.. What I like most of all is they are Not filled with "uh's" and "well uhm's" and babel. You say it, it is clear, to the point and i never find myself dragging the bar forward to get it over with or to see if you have something really worth while to say. Keep em comin. P.S. I am a south Alabama boy too.
Hello Blacky, I really appreciate your videos. They are so informative. Your sleeping bag and blanket videos are an illumination. Your library mini series is great as well as basics and kinds of fire. You are one of two youtube persons I created an account to participate in your journey. Please keep your videos coming. Regards
I really appreciate your attention to detail. I didn't understand how you were folding it. My brain pictured something else, so thank you for the clarification and now i don't have to me;t the ends.
as usual Blackie it's when you explain some uses for things, that's when I hear something I never thought of, esbit tabs are $1 each where I live but I could probably make 50 of these for $1, thanks. Also I was taking some inside pictures last week that came out like your video, a bit dark, then I changed settings to fluorescent lighting then normal light bulb, and finally I tried the night time setting and that worked great. It's time consuming getting the best out of new gear that's for sure.
Excellent video. I really liked the visual aid with the rolled up paper to show the folded ends. If not for that I just thought you folded it over twice.
I have to admit, there are times when I wish I knew how to shoot and edit video. Note: The is a simpler way of sealing the ends of the straws, where one new straw can make four(4) fire starters. The name of this game is called "Where are my pliers?" All you have to do is grasp the straw with the pliers right at the end of the cotton ball. Then cut the straw 1/8" past the end of the pliers, and hit it with a lighter until the end of the straw melts together to form a seal. Simple, but with a risk! Do Not do this after you and your buddies have polished off a case of beer, because the plastic of the staw can catch fire and start dripping molten, burning drops of plastic! You just want to melt the ends of the straw, NOT set the house on fire. Do one end of the straw before you stuff the cotton ball, and the other end after you stuff the cotton ball in. Like Blackie said, carry 6-8 for your own needs, and 6-8 more for your friends who what to know what you have there, and Yes, like Blackie said they will burn for 8 - 8 1/2 minutes, if you have enough Vaseline in the cotton(practice and time). I have to admit I have never used Bees Wax, because I have never been able to afford it. Sorry, for the interruption Blackie, carry on! Oh, I am also sorry, this was my first Thumbs Down, not for the way you manufactured the straws, though I hate it when the caps come off, and you get Vaseline all over your long underwear. But because of the focus, my poor old eyes are having trouble seeing it after my buddies and I polished off a case of beer. :)
Great video just like your others, I learn something every time I watch one of your videos. I like how you're always clear and focused in these videos, and also how you don't preach about how your way is the "right way" to do things. I bet you've gotten as much out of making these videos as the rest of us have from watching them: a good teacher can learn as much from a lesson as the student.
I wonder if u dip both ends in wax, it would waterproof better and also if u need the wax then u have a bit. maybe for really wet areas. idk if the wax would just break off the straws but maybe it would work.
@ kayakwinds..yep they dont seem " ranger " as you put it..so they blend in..i have had the neighborhood kids make them before for firestarters for the parents fireplace...have a great day..and safe journeys
@ robert31352.. i shot several videos on my hammock campout..but i think the rain and humidity bugged up my camera..i am in the process of recaliming the video and will post asap..safe journeys
Please excuse all of the typos in my previous comment! Anyway, I believe that we should all try to be prepared for the unexpected. That means always having basic survival gear at hand all of the time. That is not easy. Wives and girlfriends usually don't appreciate the "Ranger" look 24/7. But these firestraws? Hell, I might even be able to convince my girlfriend to carry a few!
I wonder if u made these with waxed paper straws, if it would still keep their waterproofness and also be better cuz no burning plastic. idk but just a thought.
what about mixing a pinch of pyrodex into the mix. would it be stable and stil work to help it burn better. ?? idk . but I really like that magnesium idea
Black, great videos you have, now I make them the way you teach, have you used diff. materials yet? like wet fire, triox tabs, etc, in your firestraws, curious on how they would work as well...I may try some experiments on it..
Outstan,ding video! Thes straws are small, light and inconspicious. That means you can carry them on your person all of the time, such as when you are in good casual clothes whilde ridding in yin uncle Joe's car. When trouble srikes, we probably won't have a good emergency kit on hand. that seems to be the law of nature. A SAK, ligher and firestraw can always be in your pocket, at the ready..
Please don’t remove the original video on this topic. When I introduce a friend to your videos they often like to view them chronologically. Replacing the old vid with the new one would kind of mess that journey up.
I don't carry firestarters or tinder, but I do fool around with them at home, and I found that Sterno works is an excellent substitute for petroleum jelly in fire straws. Just make sure the ends of the straw are sealed completely so the alcohol doesn't evaporate.
I put a squirt of hot glue in the straw, and it works very well. I get a perfect seal, and I think I could leave it at the bottom of a lake for a week and still use it.
One thing I tried that I love so far, but haven't tested long enough to be sure about is using a strike anywhere match. Cut the match short and slip it into one end of a fire straw and hot glue it in place so only the head of the match is exposed. Then dip the head of the match in wax to waterproof it.
It becomes a strike anywhere fire straw. A handy thing to carry into the woods, and an even handier thing to carry when you aren't likely to have larger fire starting items on you. They take up almost no room, and weigh next to nothing. I keep half a dozen in a small tin that goes in my left front pocket, and I don't even notice it's there.
Anyway, I really have field tested them enough to know whether it's a great idea or a bust, but they work very well at home, so I'm looking forward to trying them in the field a lot more often this spring.
i have made firestarters with lamp oil and saw dust and card board egg crates,,some i use murrays beeswax,, and i use 35mm film canister to store cotten balls with vaseline prepared,,and you can file down the whole magnesium starter with a coarse file and save the shavings in 35mm film canister or small water proof container ,, and it does take awhile to file the whole magnesium starter down ,, but its do-able
Blacky this idea can be expanded, I use salt and pepper and seasoning , instant coffee with sugar and powder milk and tang, honey, cooking oil, medication, fishing kit, sewing kit. There will be times when I have about 20 straws in my edc. At the beginning people at work made fun at me, but then they notice at a $1.00 for a cup of coffee or $1.25 for a cup of ice tea they got the massage a couple of straws filled drinking items can save $20.00 per week. PS love your videos...
I love the extra attention to detail. Such as the folding of the sheet of paper representing how to fold the straw. Small enough to except the cap. A tin full of these would be an excellent emergency kit. And your burn ointment is right there if you were to burn your fingers while cooking etc. Love your rope knots as well and keep up the awesome job. These are a wide worth of wealth to those who haven't had yrs of experience who haven't had the opertunity to experiment for themselves or had the chance to learn from a mentor
glad you enjoyed it
This is like a library worth of knowledge from experience that I enjoy watching. Especially the knots of which I have forgotten a lot. But for the young who are in the scouts I think these showings are an invaluable resource to learning Especially with the electronics to broadcast for lessons learned. Even an old dog like me pick up stuff I had no knowledge of or just things I have forgotten from yrs ago that I have seen maybe once or twice with no hands on experience.
i can't speak for anyone else, but i certainly appreciate your straight, no BS delivery of information. You remind me a lot of the survival school instructors I had back in the Dark Ages in the Air Force. Awesome, thank you again.
glad you found it of use..safe journeys
Thanks Blackie. Nice piece of kit. Will be making some for fire starters
I've always used cotton, Vaseline and aluminum foil.
Cut off a strip of aluminum foil about 3 and a half inches wide by around the same length. Soak your cotton ball up just like you did in your video, press it out flat onto your foil, then fold it in half, then fold your three open ends closed. You should end up with a square around an inch and a half by an inch and a half.
If you're really worried about water soaking in, cut two pieces of duct tape that are larger on all sides than your aluminum foil packet you just made, and sandwich that sucker in between your two pieces of tape. Clear packing tape works just as well for me, and doesn't have that nasty duct tape smell when it starts burning.
Blackie, I really appreciate the commitment you have to your channel. I don't actually know how much time you put into each video, but overall I know you you've got a lot of hours devoted to teaching various skills. I love the detail and close-ups. Great job, not just on this video, but all your videos. Thanks for your time.
Thanks Blackie!
You are one of my favorites!
Blackie..... another terrific video. The magnesium powder was new to me!! Good idea. If you look on Amazon you can find even LARGER diameter straws!! If you can't find them and want to try some, let me know and I'll send you some!! Also, I"m sure you are aware, you can pinch off the tip of the straw and then heat seal them with a flame. They are virtually water proof. Terrific video and thanks for sharing. You do an outstanding job. Ax
Your first video on firestraws was great, please don't take it down. I subscribed to your site after watching it. I find your videos extremely interesting and I have learned quite a few things from you. Thank you for your efforts and keep up the good work!
Really great tip, small ,light and the number of uses are numerous , it will be part of my fire kit!
I just discovered your channel. This is ingenious. I’ve used Vaseline cotton before but had the same problems you mentioned. It gets everywhere. Can’t wait to try this!
Hey Blacky, I Just wanted to say that of all the bushcraft videos i have watched, and i have watched hundreds,you do the best job. You are always mindful of sound, lighting, camera position etc.. What I like most of all is they are Not filled with "uh's" and "well uhm's" and babel. You say it, it is clear, to the point and i never find myself dragging the bar forward to get it over with or to see if you have something really worth while to say. Keep em comin. P.S. I am a south Alabama boy too.
I've said it before & I'll say it again....
Ol Blackie Rocks.... ..
Thanku for ur time in the military. & thanku for ur time making these videos
Hello Blacky,
I really appreciate your videos. They are so informative. Your sleeping bag and blanket videos are an illumination. Your library mini series is great as well as basics and kinds of fire. You are one of two youtube persons I created an account to participate in your journey. Please keep your videos coming.
Regards
I really appreciate your attention to detail. I didn't understand how you were folding it. My brain pictured something else, so thank you for the clarification and now i don't have to me;t the ends.
Good tutorial....I am a big fan of these Firestraws...
gave a few to friends...they liked them as well...
as usual Blackie it's when you explain some uses for things, that's when I hear something I never thought of, esbit tabs are $1 each where I live but I could probably make 50 of these for $1, thanks. Also I was taking some inside pictures last week that came out like your video, a bit dark, then I changed settings to fluorescent lighting then normal light bulb, and finally I tried the night time setting and that worked great. It's time consuming getting the best out of new gear that's for sure.
Excellent video. I really liked the visual aid with the rolled up paper to show the folded ends. If not for that I just thought you folded it over twice.
Outstanding, as always Blackie.
hey thanks for the tip deanznz..i am still learning my new camera and i found it does have light setting like you pointed out..thanks safe journeys
I have to admit, there are times when I wish I knew how to shoot and edit video. Note: The is a simpler way of sealing the ends of the straws, where one new straw can make four(4) fire starters. The name of this game is called "Where are my pliers?" All you have to do is grasp the straw with the pliers right at the end of the cotton ball. Then cut the straw 1/8" past the end of the pliers, and hit it with a lighter until the end of the straw melts together to form a seal. Simple, but with a risk! Do Not do this after you and your buddies have polished off a case of beer, because the plastic of the staw can catch fire and start dripping molten, burning drops of plastic! You just want to melt the ends of the straw, NOT set the house on fire. Do one end of the straw before you stuff the cotton ball, and the other end after you stuff the cotton ball in. Like Blackie said, carry 6-8 for your own needs, and 6-8 more for your friends who what to know what you have there, and Yes, like Blackie said they will burn for 8 - 8 1/2 minutes, if you have enough Vaseline in the cotton(practice and time). I have to admit I have never used Bees Wax, because I have never been able to afford it. Sorry, for the interruption Blackie, carry on! Oh, I am also sorry, this was my first Thumbs Down, not for the way you manufactured the straws, though I hate it when the caps come off, and you get Vaseline all over your long underwear. But because of the focus, my poor old eyes are having trouble seeing it after my buddies and I polished off a case of beer. :)
Great video just like your others, I learn something every time I watch one of your videos. I like how you're always clear and focused in these videos, and also how you don't preach about how your way is the "right way" to do things. I bet you've gotten as much out of making these videos as the rest of us have from watching them: a good teacher can learn as much from a lesson as the student.
Keep the great videos
Thanks Blackie, good video and learned more this go round. Off topic: When will we see part two of the hammock video? Take care.
I wonder if u dip both ends in wax, it would waterproof better and also if u need the wax then u have a bit. maybe for really wet areas. idk if the wax would just break off the straws but maybe it would work.
@ kayakwinds..yep they dont seem " ranger " as you put it..so they blend in..i have had the neighborhood kids make them before for firestarters for the parents fireplace...have a great day..and safe journeys
@ robert31352.. i shot several videos on my hammock campout..but i think the rain and humidity bugged up my camera..i am in the process of recaliming the video and will post asap..safe journeys
Please excuse all of the typos in my previous comment! Anyway, I believe that we should all try to be prepared for the unexpected. That means always having basic survival gear at hand all of the time. That is not easy. Wives and girlfriends usually don't appreciate the "Ranger" look 24/7.
But these firestraws? Hell, I might even be able to convince my girlfriend to carry a few!
Love your vids, glad you're back. I was having withdrawals.
I like to hold the ends with a multitool and melt the ends.
I wonder if u made these with waxed paper straws, if it would still keep their waterproofness and also be better cuz no burning plastic. idk but just a thought.
what about mixing a pinch of pyrodex into the mix. would it be stable and stil work to help it burn better. ?? idk . but I really like that magnesium idea
Black, great videos you have, now I make them the way you teach, have you used diff. materials yet? like wet fire, triox tabs, etc, in your firestraws, curious on how they would work as well...I may try some experiments on it..
Really a cool trick.
I think ill make a few for my fire kit. Tks
@314319 sounds like a good idea for a video i will see what i can do..safe journeys
good job!! well done!! 5 stars!
thanks old guy :)
Outstan,ding video! Thes straws are small, light and inconspicious. That means you can carry them on your person all of the time, such as when you are in good casual clothes whilde ridding in yin uncle Joe's car. When trouble srikes, we probably won't have a good emergency kit on hand. that seems to be the law of nature. A SAK, ligher and firestraw can always be in your pocket, at the ready..
5 Stars!
Original video here:
ua-cam.com/video/vAHiNbo5fVQ/v-deo.html
Please don’t remove the original video on this topic. When I introduce a friend to your videos they often like to view them chronologically. Replacing the old vid with the new one would kind of mess that journey up.