Cool Fire Starting Tricks 

You can combine a few of your ingredients from this video on a larger scale. Take an old ice tray, and fill it with wood savings or sawdust. Take a block of canning paraffin and melt it down, then pour that over the wood shavings in the ice tray. Once cooled, you'll end up with 10-12 blocks of long-burning fire starter blocks.

Great video- still teaching folks 4 years later! God Bless America and Long live the Republic!

great idea with the pencil sharpener, it could also be used for making stakes or a spear/arrow

Some good ideas. The only thing I would mention is that the UCO matches are really great, and they will light even in the rain, BUT the striker strip will not work once it gets wet. So you will need to keep it dry or you cannot light the matches.

Hand sanitizer 😆good luck finding that now... lmao

Tried to make my own waterproof matches like this. They are ok in the beginning but soon go bad and will not light until you through them in a fire. Like the Hand Sanitize and pencil sharpener hacks. Use a carpenter pencil sharpener . It's much smaller and will sharpen a bigger stick.

You always have great content on both channels I watch constantly. It's always solid info and well done. I love these hack type videos with every day stuff. That match wrapped in paper and soaked in wax is absolutely brilliant. I'm already in the process of making a bunch. Just great stuff!

Bic lighter + Lynx (axe) deodorant = very easy fire starter, personal protection, signalling device and of course, bug spray. Nothing wrong with a bit of overkill.

I absolutely LOVED this video! Especially the idea of the pencil sharpener for making tinder. Of course with a good knife, you can make fez sticks. On the other hand, if your hands are really cold, that would be much safer than a knife. EXCELLENT WORK, Sootch!

Thanks for the tips. God Bless America from North West England UK. X X

Great stuff man! I recently got some UXO matches myself. Keep up the good work!

Wax dipped matches are a stroke of genius Sir. I tip my hat to you yet again! God Bless, Stef

Great tips. Thanks. My favorite is the match/tp/wax idea. They burn so long. I used strike anywhere matches so I'm not dependent on the striker. Thanks for all your good videos. You don't come off as some nut like some do. Bruce

Excellent ideas on alternate fire starting!!! I had not seen anyone make those long lasting matches before. I'll be making a batch of those on the next rainy weekend! You have been really coming up with some great practical and real world tips for being out of our normal element. Thanks for the great vids!!!

this man is a mentor to me...i've learned alot watching sootch. hey sootch, why don't you do a like a fake disaster run, like if something bad had happened and you had to retreat into the woods to survive...never breaking out of character all serious n shit. just an idea.

Long Live the Republic!!! Well said, Sir!!

Many good tips as usual. I have Bic lighters around everywhere. Several in my car, toolboxes, tackle boxes, range bag, house and multiple backpacks. I make it a point to always have one within reach

I think Waterproof Match Candle is one of the best ideas I have seen in a long time. Thank You, Making some right now.

Just made long burning matches - Excellent. They really do work. Thanks for sharing.

I never thought about the pencil sharpener trick before. I took that idea and used an old hand cheese grater and it worked better. I got long thin pieces of wood. Then I thought I could save space by breaking off the handle which was a big mistake. lol

I have a fire starting method in my mini and micro survival kits that I have not seen on any survival video but I'm sure I can't be the only one to think of it. I got a box if roll your own cigaret filter tips, soaked them in rubbing alcahol thin fed them into a drinking straw witch I fire sealed at both ends so that the rubbing alcahol does'nt evaporate.there burn time is about 2-3 mins.

Potassium permanganate and brake fluid,hand sanitizer,or glycerine will spontaneously combust.the permanganate has many other uses as well,water purification better than clorox or iodine.pink safe to drink.purple makes antiseptic great for cuts,blisters,even brush your teeth. It makes a great dye for large x in the snow. You only need carry a small bottle and it never gos bad!

Very cool tip about the matches and wax. I think I will make me up a batch.

These are excellent tips Sootch! Might make some of those toilet-paper matches! Nothing worse than trying to quickly light overhead gas lamps at a mountain cabin before the match goes out or burns your fingers! These would give me much more time!

Very cool pro tips, I like the home made matches..

Great ideas. I found that by taking the toiletpaper and wax covered matches and wrapping them in about 8 inches of duct tape they will burn around 9 minutes. You need to leave about 1/2 between the match head and the start of the duct tape so the wax will have time to light the tape.

Some time ago I made such matches. But after a year in a survival kit, match heads melted into paraffin, and it was impossible to light them by striking. Only live fire was able to light them.

SensiblePrepper I used the waterproofing on the matches, i used cloth and it burned longer. Duct tape works well too. I'm 16 and starting to get into prepping. Thanks for the help

Sweet. Never even thought about wrapping the match in TP!

Good stuff as usual!

GOOD STUFF , I LIKE THE PENCIL SHARPENER IDEA !

Great tips! Thanks for sharing!

Dude that's cool its not a match its a match/candle hybrid how cool is that!!

steel wool and a 9volt makes fire really nice I remember when I first tried it I was skeptical so I did it inside it lit up really fast lol

Whoda thunk.... why you of course! What a great video. Thank you for sharing. Love that you add outakes. Very nicely done.

First time iv seen the match/paper/wac idea. Thanks for sharing. Love ur channel

That's one for the mental tool box. Nice job.

Awesome info. If we ever do get to the SHTF stage in America, I want you in my camp, Sootch. :)

Great ideas. I will have to incorporate a few of those into my gear.

Another great Video...!!! Bravo !!

Sootch great tips. You can also dip them again after they dry and it will give it another coat of wax so they burn even longer.

It's currently January of 2021, I suspect most people have hand sanitizer handy. I love the tips and ideas.

Cool. This is a very original idea thanks for sharing.

Picked up from Home Depot the Hanson Pencil Sharpener Pencil Sharpener in yellow plastic. (Did not have the drill bit connector) This also makes a great Christmas gift ! Connected the Sharpener to the Swedish Fire Steel and now my Go Bag/Get Home Bag the Maxpedition Textudo Laptop Backpack bag has a basic Fire Kit. Thank You for the video ! tjl

Great trick and extremely helpful. Thanks a lot!

Two great ideas. Im definitely throwing a pencil sharpener in my pack

Another great video, thanks Sootch

Thanks. Something new no seen before. The matches. Very helpfull.

Your videos keep getting better. Thank you for the info.

I've seen the battery and steel wool trick used for lighting a fire, I've used a magnifying glass to start a fire. Years ago I took pure cotton balls and soaked them in melted petroleum jelly, let them cool then packed them in a 35mm film holder. The pure cotton is perfect for fire starting. I works with sparks, matches or a lighter. Just pull a small piece out and use it for tinder. Water doesn't hurt it and it lights every time.

awesome, terrific ideas, thanks for sharing!

Thank you again for something that could save mine or my families life one day my wife and I actually practice ways to start fire that way if we ever need it we aren't hoping on a prayer

Very, very fascinating--and useful. Great vid.

Great video, thanks for sharing!

Love your unique way of making matches with tissue & wax!

Excellent most especially that match soaked and coated with melted candle wax. Thanks.

Wow! Excellent advice!

Also need to be carful about fire, although it is a life saver it can screw you as well. Trying to have a fire going when people are out looking for you is a bad thing (unless you want to be found). 1st light from fire, 2nd smoke, 3rd smell of smoke and or food cooking.

Outstanding video and very helpful...Thanks!

Way to go, thank you! Keep these videos coming, we're going to need them. I'm soaking in as much info as I can, God Bless the USA!!..and you....

Mix your hand sanitizer with some boric acid roach powder, to make the flame a brilliant and visible green

Just subscribed! Great channel, great videos, great work.

Thank you, each thing we learn will make hurricane season easier, thanks for you information.

Cool video thanks for sharing definitely an important survival necessary skill!

Cool video and pretty narly looking cut!

I I can say I learned something today.... Good stuff keep it up

Thanks Sootch. The waxed matches is a new concept, and I never would have thought about the pencil sharpener for wood shavings. We have those in ea of our bags.

I got over 2 minutes of a burn time with the matches i made, same size in length I just made the thickness of the toilet paper thicker lol three ply hahaha and i let it sit in the candle for two minutes each side.

Nice Tricks...Nicelly Done!! Thank you...

Nice tips, thanks Sootch.

SP- If you have that TP as your prep, you're gonna have to make use of the trash bag tricks because the Lady Prepper won't let you in the house... Good video.

Thanks for another great video.

Made a batch of these for my fire pit and the results where a lot less matches used and they do burn for a long time would recommend everyone try this once.

Very good Sir.. very smart, good prep!

I like the wrapped match idea, only instead of toilet paper I think I'd try those blue kitchen wipes, as they are super absorbent and easier to handle than toilet paper, but the basic concept is the same. One might even store them inside lengths of drinking straws and seal the ends with something hot. That will be totally waterproof. I might even use Vaseline instead of wax, but I've not tried that, It's much like hand sanitiser I think but probably cheaper. The pencil sharpener is a favourite of mine, and have posted about it as nauseam! I learned that from my Scoutmaster half a century ago! Another idea of his was this: always carry a candle! But differently, as they tend to break and being cylindrical difficult to fit into square edged containers. So he had us make it up like this. Take a wooden school rule and cut it in half (6" each). Then cut a 6" length of ordinary domestic candle, keeping the wick as is. Then shave off a bit of the candle lengthwise along two opposing sides, making a flatter candle with more or less trimmed square sides. Place this between the two rulers, and bind it up with thick cotton (or jute) twine. ( These days I guess duct tape would be better as it burns well). This gives you a good strong flame, and two pieces of kindling (for an emergency) as well as tinder (duct tape) all in one package., and it is space efficient. On EVERY outing we'd be inspected to check our candles, and pencil sharpeners. [We often cheated and hid matches and strikers in our scout hats. Some guys even had hollow-handled belt knives, stuffed full of matches, but they later banned those! ] Comments invited.

awesome video! thanks for sharing!

Never thought about the pencil sharpener. Vry cool

Tyvm for tips and trick on fire for any situation. lol anytime I see your videos and I am always updating my wrol/Shft bags.

I will be making a pack of matches this weekend thank you.

Gonna use the pencil sharpener idea, ive never seen that one before. Thanks

Another great video.

This is a very good tip. Thanks.

Thanks for the knowledge base, some good ideas.

Awesome video Sootch. I didn't even know those storm proof matches existed. A must for any survival bag!

SOOTCH! your channel just had a massive revamp in my book awesome!!!

Nice tips, thanks for sharing

Aqesome thanks for the tips, looks like I'll be making a lot of waxed matches

thanks for sharing this...great idea

Remember, No party is complete with out corn chips, oil & cornmeal, works great as tinder.

Very good vid, cool stuff , thanks for showing atb Martin

Great vid!

I’m all about team sootch!

You can do the same thing with newspaper. You roll the newspaper and then tie it with some kitchen twine and then dipping in wax and it makes a good fire starter

I used empty toilet paper rolls, then take the lint from the dryer and roll it up in the dryer sheet then stuff it in the roll. easy fire starter.

Good stuff! Thanks.

Great idea! Thanks

you can also wrap the matches in yarn as well instead of toilet paper, do several layers and it stays lit for a while, covered in wax

I use an altoids can with pvc cement. I found that it works better when I put layers of paper towels in the cement and pull out one layer at a time as needed. The paper towels act as a wick.

Great video. Something new to teach my boys.

neat trick, thanks, Frank