The Ultimate Guide To Fire Starters and Making Fires🔥 

Few things here. 1. The flint in a lighter doesn't "turn to mush" it's a tiny ferro rod. You just need to get it dry by blowing on it through the roller to get the water out between the rod and the wheel, and itll work again. 2. To keep the fluid in a zippo from evaporating, cut a 1 inch bit off an inner tube (to make a sort of fat rubberband. A.k.a. a ranger band) and slip it over the zippo to keep the fluid in. 3. The cotton and coals method is actually supposed to be cotton and ash, and it's called. Rudiger Roll/fire roll and was pioneered on RU-vid by a channel called BoggyCreekBeast. And the list of fibers and fillers is extensive. Another amazing channel to check out concerning the RR/FR is the David West channel. You won't be disappointed. 4. The chocolate and can method doesn't really work that well and you're better off carrying an emergency blob of aluminum polishing compound to buff it to a high shine. 5. Still an amazing video and very well done. Good job ^_^

Excellent video. Very informative. I follow the PACE method for all my camping/survival bags and kits. P - primary A - alternate C - contingency E - extra My primary fire method is flint and steel. I’ve been doing it since I was 8 years old (1967). My alternate method is a ferro rod. Usually a 1/2”X6” rod, but some of my kits have a Strike Force or a BlastMatch (two of my favorites). My Contingency method will be a magnifying lens. My extra method is matches or a lighter. In over 55 years of going to the wilderness, in all seasons and all weather conditions, I’ve never used a lighter to start a fire. I always bring tinder. Either cotton with Vaseline, jute twine, char cloth, magnesium with duct tape, etc. And I like the commercial tinders too. Wet fire is good but it has a shelf life. I like Fire Plugs and the Baddest Bee Fire Fuses.

Great video. Im a Ferro rod and fatwood guy myself but ive also got a soft flame and torch flame butane inserts for my Zippos. They are way better than the zippo fuel inserts.

The key to any survival kit at least in my opinion is to have lots of redundancy when it comes to fire starting. That way you won't have to hopefully resort to primitive fire starting the methods. If I'm in the woods I'll either just use a lighter, matches, or if it's windy storm-proof matches. I actually EDC some storm matches and I mainly use them to help me burn trash, brush, etc. Real simple, effective and just fun to use.

Been here from the beginning and so happy to see your channel take off! I knew it would because not only do you make quality videos, you're honest, practical, and hilarious. Thanks for another great video.

Ferro rod, manganese, flint Mini torch, Lighter, matches, magnifying glass Steel wool/batt., striker/coal ---love it 👍

I have used a number of the methods you went through to start fires. I always take 1. butane lighters 2. 9 volt battery/steel wool 3. Cotton permitted with vasaline 4. Wax or storm matches with case/striker. I have used many methods to teach others how to build fire. I have never used ice or chocolate and an aluminum can though. I also recently saw someone use the shiny dome of a flashlight to start a fire. Friction fires are indeed very difficult to start. As a kid many years ago we used parts of pine trees to act as an accelerant also. I'm a 62 year old Veteran. I just found you on RU-vid I enjoyed your presentation. Your Friendly Veteran

Okay, any self confessed survivalist/prepper/woodsman knows a plethora of fire starting methods. Armadillo jerky had me rolling. Youre a funny guy Gordon! 😂😁 Tortoise Gear deserved a mention in the ferro rod section. Lifeboat matches, ive made similar from splints of fatwood and used the phosphorus from standard matches broken down in water to coat the tip half. It dries out, it strikes. A quick mention for those rechargeable batteries. I would happily break up a vape pen or whatever for the steel wool or even just thin copper wire trick from whatever you salvaged the battery from. You didn't mention "spunks" which are homemade "matches" made by dipping a wooden splint in melted sulphur. It was common many years ago but requires an ignition source like flint and steel on char materials. Also black powder or gun powder from gun shells. I have the makings of black powder in my kitchen sink cupboard. I also have lasers that i usually use to prank that lightweight buddy that smokes a little pot and falls asleep. It will ignite a match from the other side of the room so burning your pal's leg to wake him up or ignite tinder is pretty easy. Oh special shout out to a little used tinder that nobody mentions is hair. It has natural oils and smells terrible but if you have nothing else. Ice is so hard but look up how to make clear ice on bar/alcohol channels to give you a fighting chance with that. Also with that method you can use a clear bottle with water in it as a magnifying glass. Great video on a favourite subject matter for me anyway

My fav is a ferro rod with free fire tinder it is called dryer lint

Still a massive fan of ferrorods and having petroleum jelly as a backup to help starting fires.

I always carry on my edc (inside my wallet) a 1/2 inch Ferro rod, striker and a Fresnel Lens. Bests regards from a new Venezuelan follower in Panama!

I am a big fan of the Uberleiben tinder and Bellows It is a wax hemp ships match with a little metal sleeve that doubles as a fire bellows by helping you direct where your blowing on the fire I find it to be a wonderful option when paired with a twig stove.

Love your in depth info. I appreciate the how’s and the whys

Man you videos are so well made informative and entertaining

I used to do all that stuff but I stopped doing it because I learn by watching RU-vid about another easy and waterproof and wind proof you don't need carry all those things with you no more I'm using cotton arounds with wax and crayons they burn 8 minutes longer than hotter you use a lighter or Ferro rods to light up them

My preferred fire making methods: 1. If there are sunlight enough, then magnifying glass (or plastic) because it is totally free. (that is, the sunlight is free). 2. In the cases of anything else: the "oldschool" ferrocerium rod, with the back of my survival knife or machete, in place of any socalled "scraper"...

That was entertaining and informative, I do have a candle in my kit mostly when using matches even if it is just a small one that are used on birthday cakes kept in the box with the matches.

You can actually use the BIC lighter also as a hands free fire starter, oke so, try to follow me since english is not my language hahaha, the metal part/protector, you can pull it out, and when you press the gass button you will see the front where the fire comes from goes up, what you do, when lighting the lighter you hold the gass button and slide the metal protector underneath the part that goes up, so it will stay up and automatically keeps the gass button pressed, hope i was clear with the explanation🤗

I forgot all about the battery and steel wool. Thank you for reminding me!

Buy a ten pack of "Forever Matches" where you fill a couple and take them with in your pocket and pack. They last months and refill. A single metal piece srikes onto the wick..

You are awesome! please keep making videos, you keep them fun to watch and have reliable information thank you!

Primary - BIC lighter Alternative - Ferro rod Contingency - Flint and steel Emergency - Bow drill I allways carry char cloth... Good video, keep going!

Informative and entertaining. Nice job!

Loved the video. Good information. Thanks

Love your personality and enthusiasm, keep it up!

Honestly I think a zippo plus some spare flints, wicks, an innertube, and some plastic at the base makes it one hell of a fore starter. I think it's more than well worth it especially where I live. I always carry multiple ways pf starting a fire but the zippo with some spares and a ronson lighter fluid container can go months! Even longer potentially. I got about 4 weeks off a zippo with some use with a trashbag stuffed around the inser to create a seal, plus an inner tube around the lighter.

Primary: Bic lighter Secondary: ferro rod Tertiary: friction fire (fire plow / bow drill if I have good cordage available) In SHTF, if I even /am/ starting a fire, primary and tertiary switch (friction, ferro, bic), unless calories are scarce, then primary and secondary switch (ferro, bic, friction). (In the name of resource conservation.) I say this, but we both know I'm going to be using the ferro rod over friction fire after a few friction fires out of laziness lol.

Bow drills take lots of practice, but once it's learned it's amazingly fast (the drilling part). I've been able to start fires in 2 minutes once the set up is ready. It's all about balancing pressure, speed, and bow hand position.

you can also do the cotton roll with rust so let your steel wool rust up it makes fine rust to fire roll with you can also use a cotton teshirt for rolling between the boards

I personally love using my farrow rod it works really well. I've done a friction fire before but it's pretty wet where I live at in Oregon so dry pine bark and pine fatwood is how I get my fires going

17:23 So many misconceptions about bow drill friction fire: - No you don't need soft wood vs hard wood. In fact same wood woks quite well. - Paracord is excellent especially if you gut it. - Of all friction fire methods I've seen and tested, the bow drill is the easiest at least in my European environment. - The fire plow is much much harder than the bow drill and you usually need special wood like hibiscus Here are some woods which worked for me using the bow drill method : birch, ivy, bass wood, hazel, broom. One that didn't work at all: black locust.

one of the best explanation i have seen

Nice work man! I learned a lot and it's all good info!

Was that interesting. Liked the concept of that fire piston.

The thing is with lasers is any laser powerful enough to start a fire is more than powerful enough to fry your eyeballs without protective goggles and I don't think anyone is going to be lugging laser goggles around

Your videos are so underrated!

Great Video and Channel! Any chance of maybe doing a product review on our Firestarter?

Only recently had this suggested by the algorithm so... late to reply... but whatever. Below are my personal thoughts on what I'd use. Not definitive... just what I personally like. My primary go to fire starter is also a bic... but I have it in a silicone Exotac Firesleeve on my keyring. The Firesleeve doesn't make it water "proof" but does make it water "resistant" against a incidental drenching from rain or a brief dunking in water. In addition it does also prevent the button from being pressed and releasing fuel accidentally and the silicone is also glow in the dark. My Secondary method is a ferro rod and a small block of fatwood with a fob of braided wax impregnated jute cord. Fatwood is nature's perfect Firestarter in my opinion as it's waterproof because of the impregnated resin and doesn't expire. The waxed jute seperates into a nice birds nest. If one can't get a fire going with fatwood shavings and waxed jute even under slightly less than optimal optimal conditions... you need to stay home and practice your fire making. Lol. 😅 My Emergency fire starter would be those storm matches you showed. As a fairly limited resource I'd only want to pull them out when I actively NEED fire 🔥 under pretty dire conditions. Marginal tinder, high humidity, high wind, extreme cold...etc. I'd likely use them with my secondary fatwood and waxed jute to help dry out my firewood. I carry on my person a custom Victorinox Yeoman (effectively a Compact Explorer) with a magnifier... so I technically EDC solar ignition but would only use it if my Bic wasn't usable for some reason. Flint and steel, fire piston, and solar ignition all fall under "primitive" fire making for me. All are still preferable and more reliable than friction fire but still finicky enough if not quite as labor intensive that I'd only want to use them during a extended survival scenario under the best conditions to stretch the rest of my more limited resources. Char being something you can replenish in the field from natural materials. (I do have several steel strikers and a rather nice milled titanium fire piston that opens both ends for cleaning with a waterproof capsule for charcloth built into the piston. With a jute birds nest and charcloth I can reliably get fire going under normal conditions with both methods. It does feel pretty "badass" to be able to make fire that way for fun.) Friction fire for me is relegated to something I practice occasionally at home for fun and hope to never need... because if things are that dire I obviously hadn't planned well.

especially if you're not a smoker keep your matches and lighter(s) in approximately sized press to seal bags just in case

At home I use my arc lighter for lighting fatwood for my wood burning stove. Been wanting to shave fatwood and store the shavings in a waterproof pill container. I recently bought a torch attachment for those big stovetop/hot plate butane cans. Excited to use the big butane torch.

Thank you! I have been wondering why there's so much momentum behind the bow drill and it seems almost no-one prefers the fire plow. It's nice to find someone who prefers the fire plow over the bow drill. :)

What I found.... and I can't remember if it was this video or the 150 videos I've watched over the past few days... lol, is that you can use Fool's Gold to help spark a fire. Thats awesome!! Will have to try that when all this snow and ice goes away.😊

Great vid, I typically carry a couple of ferro rods (different sizes) I quit carrying lighters a few years ago after one got wet and failed me. I want to try that cotton balls and coal tip now!

I can't thank you enough for this video! I just started really diving into survival and began building my bug out bag not even a month ago. And I've been trying to take in at least a couple videos a day on survival and the past few days I've been listening to people discuss different ways of making fire. And I am not shy about saying that before this video.... I was unbelievably confused at the difference between magnesium, and a ferro rod, and magnesium with ferro......and flint and steel...ECT.. I literally was absolutely confused and ended up buying 8 different types of ways to make fire ...then bought 2 lighters on top of that... just in case. And I've gone through video after video and nobody sits down and goes from one to the next to the next to the next and literally explains exactly what it is... what it does ...and then shows it in the way that you do. And Trust me, I've probably been through about 30 videos in the last two days...... because I ended up with a free small cylinder-shaped block of magnesium and I didn't even know what the heck to do with it. Now I know!!🤦‍♀️ Everything I said probably sounds very stupid to everyone on here, and I wont blame you if you laugh 😂 So if you see Northern Vermont completely lit on fire one day, it will probably be my fault...now that I have every fire making tool ever made....and I got fire happy😂 I'm one of those people that others see, and just say, ..."oh yeah, she will be dead 5 min in to a SHTF scenario" But I do have a strange and uncanny Knack of being the last one standing...😆 I have subscribed and I will continue watching your channel and I greatly appreciate you taking the time to step by step explain these things to dummies like me LOL God bless 😊 Christina

Great video! You covered a lot of different ways to start a fire, I must say. But what about hand sanitizer? It’s 90% alcohol, you can put that on any thing, cotton balls, fire nest, piece of cotton, etc. and who doesn’t have a small bottle hanging from their backpack already! Lol.

I use cotton balls and Vaseline, but have since added duct tape to the mix then I light it with magnesium and striker

Very cool

Subscribed! 🎉

A large plastic serving spoon from the dollar store works like the soda can bottom except you dont have to polish it.

You can also use 0000 steel wool with a Ferro for ignition. The key in this case is the small amount of oil on the wool. If you take 0000 wool and degrease it , dry it out its much harder

Magnifying lenses / Fresnel lense and char cloth works a treat. 3 Secs in bright sunlight.

My primary is a bic, secondary is stormproof matches, and my back up is a Mora companion spark.

Road flare! 😎

Bic with a long neck and a quart of Boy Scout juice on charcoal.

My favourite emergency method is to expose a lithium battery to the air. The battery does not need to be charged. Your dead $700 smart phone can now become a whole lot more valuable in a life and death situation. This is a super powerful technique BUT it is a one shot only deal.

My favorite method is one you left out The fire piston is a super satisfying method

I keep those UCO storm Matches and regular wooden kitchen matches in my match case... I turn the kitchen matches upside down in the match case and I can fit 8-10 in the case with the UCO matches.

I haven't started many fires but my favorite was first timing a ferro rod with some logs and a couple sticks at the beach Sucks i lost the knife that had it inside of it 😕 it was a really nice knife my dad got me and the rod was nice and long. Was really fun tho (actually i think i have the knife in storage but i think i dropped the ferro rod in yhe sand) Hopefully when i get time to get my drivers license i can start camping ive always wanted to since i was a kid

your welcome

Hey man, it was a great video! I would use a bic lighter as primary and a 2nd and 3rd bic lighter as secondary 😅.

Making a beeswax based antiseptic balm to use as lubricant / water barrier for knives , protective cream to prevent drying out skin or water proofing things , a fuel source that can easily become a candle , obvious first aid use as an antiseptic , and more would be awesome not sure how feasible it is

Have used potassium permanganate with wounds many times, did not realize the chemical fire angle

Hey, im new to this channel, could you please do a video of what to always have with you? You say you always need to have kits, one with you, one in your home, one in car etc.. could you do a video what to always have with you?

What are your thoughts on the suunto clipper ?

I am subbed. 😉watch you on Tik and realized you had a channel.

Cold Bic? I pop the body of in my mouth a tad. Wet Bic? Just run it down your thigh a few times after blowing out excess water. (remove safety dohicky) I've never bow drilled fire, but I keep a larger oyster shell in my fire kit to aid a tad using a bird nest/other, as tinder. BUT, surely it would make a dandy bearing block...bearing block being something many struggle/lose momentum with. Or pain to create with least friction. ~ From what watched in drill fires, if the fireboard doesn't begin to smoke in say 20/30 seconds, something needs to be changed...if possible. Choose wood choice/sections wisely.

I always used to use ordinary "strike anywhere" matches, coated in candle wax and wrapped in a small piece of aluminium foil. You can no longer buy them in the UK. The EU banned one of the constituent chemicals on safety grounds and Bryant & May/Swedish Match would not reformulate them. Nowadays I carry two or three "jet"lighters , with a ferrocerium rod as backup, but I genuinely miss old fashioned matches, safety matches and their striker surfaces are the pits.

you can also ignite steel wools with a ferro rod..

My armpit is the perfect cold weather bic warmer.

I use potassium perchlorate and phosphorus mixture for my survival experience also u could in principle use white phosphorus just like my grandpa did once .....

Let me know when they make a plasma lighter with a type c port

Replace the Bic with a Clipper. A lot better. No need for friction when using permanganate with glycerin. Just get the ratio right and it self-ignites. Sugar requires a bit of friction, but don't ever use metal, it can explode.

use the doans magnesium bar.

I would wait for the company to come out with a usbc version , or do you have any usbc version recommendations of the plasma lighter?

Emergency sources...Will Light fire starter and/or road flares

0:46 Bic in cold - your solution is very practical. Anywhere inside your clothing near the skin will ensure it works. 0:56 Wet - best is to stop it getting wet in the first place. How? Very simple. Raid your wife's kitchen for some small Zip-loc bags and place your Bics in those. Done. 4:02 Waterproof - ditto, as for Bic. C'mon guys, get real. Prevention is better than cure. 7:29 Cool yes, but expensive. A Bic 3-pack costs $2,37 on Amazon! 11:01 Flint & steel. If you end up with this as your only last resort it just means your planning was $h1t! Even an empty Bic can do what this does. Interesting collection of ways and means. Personally, I go for sure and simple, and get on with other more interesting outdoor activities while sipping piping hot coffee I've just made on my Bic fire!

In my EDC it’s: Primary: ferro rod from knife sharpener Secondary: ferro rod from necklace Tertiary: ferro rod from Leatherman signal 😂

Use the plasma lighter with the steel wool?

Please review the rino ready pack

90° SPINE FOREVER!!

Newer methods: 1)sulphuric acid and chlorate mix 2)lithium shavings (inginites spontaniously with unusually high energy also they ingnite get this on contact with moisture and also any alkali metal would do) 3)nitrocellulose friction lighter charges 4)amorophous boron ro start large stubborn fires(i use them as my last resort) 5)Reney nickel(get it yourself) 6)Ceramic pressurised triethyl aluminium(a bit dangerous but incredibly useful) 7)Anhydrous aluminium chloride and alcohol(quite violent but works) 8)A nice small quick bottle of magnesium silicide 9)sosium bismuthate and almost anything u can dinf flammable even wet! Also non toxic! 10)Unusually a small pile of platinum or iridium powder i keep as well it's a bit complicated but it almost always works with potentially countless times 11) a small bottle of calcium dichlorate aluminium trifluoride and a seperate bottle of water(better) or ruin it all carry what i do a small bottle of chlorate and sulphuric acid. Or even ether coated lithium indused sosium chloride works. (Note: these are the things i have in my kit along with other [almost a hundred different methods] and some of them are oretty dangerous and should be used with caution, even i wonder how they fit in my 500gm kit) And countless other methods....

i love watching our door videos KNOWING damn well i hate going outside, hoever on the off chance the world goes to heck and hell i got the knowledge to live for like... three hours

Doesn’t armadillo give you lepracy when you eat it

Most gadgets you can built yourself.

Do you have a Patreon? Would love to contribute.

My Zippo is always empty when I need it…

Very old and already known information...

I can't quite place all the YT personalities in the short.

lighters are useless. carry multiple ferro rods. and water tight cases. to keep tinder dry. all you need.

Flint and steel instead of using char cloth use steel wool in place of it. My second favorite way of Starting Fire is my ferro rod