brewing up with wax covered cotton wool+fire steel [first time]

[johnnythefox]

rubbed bp jelly into cotton wool balls last night after a tip,then after another tip i covered some with candle wax.
i covered some more than others to give options.

first time using a fire-steel but was confident after watching videos.i tried a lighter later and it blew out the fire steel was the better method.

see how easy the half covered ball lights.
it seems better than hexamine though it did soot the cup a lot.

listen for the red kites whistling in the background,i was in such a lovely location.

part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6_KCmnModE

part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMrIJ0H7Rn0


part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tcavx_wXcQ

 

[Everything Mac]

Good tip that.

I've heard of using Vaseline but not covering it with wax too.
Good idea.

Andy

 

[johnnythefox]

added part 3

it wasnt my idea

 

[Bushcraftsman]

thanks for the tip, will have to give it a try some time

 

[shortymcsteve]

Glad my tip paid off! tho i can't take any credit as like i said before i found it from a guy on youtube by the name of 'colin outdoors' and he said he seen other folk on youtube do it so just passing it along!

Was hard to hear what you were saying due to the wind so i was wondering, how long did it take to boil your water and how long did the half coated wax ball last for?
Do you think this is better than other fuel then?

 

[johnnythefox]

i didnt time it but it was quick and i used one half coated and 2 coated balls.
towards the end i put in a small hex block but it wasnt needed.
i was impressed by the fire steel much better than match or lighter.

 

[shortymcsteve]

I think they may burn longer if you fully soak them to the center, im not sure tho.. i guess you just have to experiment and see what works best.
I have lots of wax so i will give this a try at some point and see whats the best way to do it.

 

[WeThePeoplexfbm]

i replace hexi with these last year and never looked back ^^, there hard to light but hold a match on them for 20 sec or more and they catch ^^
i can make 40 or so and 12 10 inch candles ^^


---
Skipp

 

[hanzo]

Just dipping the cotton ball into melted wax works fine too. Don't let it sit in the melted wax too long though. A quick dip will do. You don't want a solid wax ball. To use, crack it open and fluff out the insides a bit. If you soak it through, it will be harder to light. The fluff is like the wick.

A large cotton ball can burn for 15 minutes or so. Long enough for a brew.

 

[treadlightly]

Pine cones dipped in candle wax work well too

 

[Eragon21]

I use cotton wool pads with vaseline and keep them in sealed bags -tip from Cobweb though I will have to try the wax covering as I have been making fire starter tins (card board strips rolled up put in a cut down lager can and covered in wax - gives plenty of burning time to get a fire burning - tip courtesy of Toddy at the Moot last year). I will have to try these as they will use little room at the bottom of my hobe stove although the sooting may be an issue.

 

[johnnythefox]

mine where vasaline and wax coate
some where fully coated and some half to make lighting easier

 

[Morrolan]

I'm a candle maker, and the sooting you speak of is most likely the result of using Paraffin candles.

I used to make and sell candles using Paraffin wax, but once I moved to Soya wax I've never looked back - burns upto twice as long, creamier, and absolutely no sooting

I'll make a few of these using Soya wax when I next make a batch of candles, and let you know how they turn it but it certainly sounds like a Paraffin-wax related issue.

 

[chairmanphil]

nice tip, just run out of bull rushes and was looking for something to use. going to try it tomorrow!