i was out yesterday, and thanks to a blunt knife i was unable to get shavings small enough to light with a spark, determined not to be beaten, i rustled around in my pack and came across 3 cotton buds, i managed to loosen the cotton around the tip, i thought this might work, got my fire stick and on the first strike, the cotton bud went up like a large matchstick, burned for ample time to set fire to my tinder, but then had the problem of trying to but the melting stick of plastic out before it dripped all over my hand, i know its not exactly environmentally friendly burning plastic but if you keep the used sticks to be disposed off they could be good to have in tight spot, like a blunt knife