Preparation of cotton balls

[deenewcastle]

Whilst trawling the other day I found a write-up on how to prepare cotton balls with Vaseline as tinder. Now I can't find it Does anyone know where it was? If not, would someone go through it again for me please?

 

[durulz]

It's easy enough.
Take one cotton wool ball.
Stick your finger in a tub of vaseline. Smear finger/vaseline all over the cotton wool.

 

[Greg]

I don't want to be obnoxious or picky but it works better if you only cover about 2/3rds of the cotton ball.

 

[Graham_S]

there are a few different methods.
Some advocate heating up the vasaline, dipping it in with forceps, and squeezing out the excess.
I rub a blob into the bottom of a 35mm film capsule, place a ball in, add more vasaline, add ball, and repeat.
Push down to compact.
Works for me.
I've even put it in drinking straws for survival tins.
Just hot Crimp or seal the ends with wax.

 

[deenewcastle]

Many thanks, I think it was a 'recipe' using heated vaseline and dunking the cotton balls. I couldn't remember the ratio though

 

[Hoodoo]

I'm of the "dunk the cotton ball" school.

Be careful about melting vaseline. It's flammable. Use an electric stove or hotplate. Don't smoke. I melt a bunch of vaseline, then pour in a big handful of cotton balls, (pure cotton). I remove them one by one with long forceps. Each one gets pressed in a garlic press to remove the excess vaseline. To light, just fluff some of the fibers up and it will easily catch a firesteel spark. The full soak will make the cotton burn for a long time and help light a fire in wet conditions.

 

[Moff8]

I prefer the flat cotton pads my wife uses to remove makup smeared with vaseline on the top. Fit more snugly into an old shoe polish tin. Just prize apart a little before lighting with a spark.

 

[rik_uk3]

I don't want to be obnoxious or picky but it works better if you only cover about 2/3rds of the cotton ball.

What he said

 

[lamper]

What he said

Ditto RIK and GREG

 

[swanscot]

it works better if you only cover about 2/3rds of the cotton ball.

I didn't know this. Ta for that advice, I'll try it next time I light my hobo stove with cotton balls.

 

[slammer187]

Just be careful not not to over load the cotton ball with Vaseline because if you do you wont be able to get at the cotton fibres to light them!

 

[deenewcastle]

Thanks guys. I made up a load last night - only have gas at home so took it easy. Did about 22 part-balls in all, used two as 'test samples' and managed to get the rest into a 35mm film container. The two test samples were one with 'no vaseline', and then 'moderate dip' in vaseline. The one 'with' was fantastic so I'll definitely be trying some at the weekend with my new Hobo Stoves, unashamably copied direct from examples shown here on recent threads.

I've also packed another container with shavings from a hexamine block, along with a sheet of Hammaro Lighting Paper and a few pieces of Bulgarian Borina (pine) I doubt if I'll get any fire started with a fire steel, but I will try. And if not, that's what the lighter is for

 

[Hoodoo]

Well, I've never had a problem lighting cotton balls given the full soak, as long as the excess is squeezed out. A pointy knife or a sharp twig can pull out more than enough fibers to catch a spark with a firesteel. Done it well over a hundred times at least. The advantage is that the cotton ball burns longer and will do a better job of lighting damp tinder.

 

[hanzo]

I am lazy and take the fast, good enough approach. I smear vaseline on a cotton ball, shove it into a container and repeat as necessary. If I use a film canister, the vaseline gets smooshed around fine. And if I use a baggie, I just smoosh it around with my hands (outside of the bag). No fuss, no mess and works every time.

For really wet weather fire making, I always carry some fatwood with me. Fatwood and vaseline cotton balls with whatever else you have to start your fire is awesome. I haven't had that fail me either. And I have used it in heavy rain and with very wet fire wood.

The key to me is lots of dry tinder and kindling and preparation. Fatwood for tinder and kindling is very reliable, especially when used with the vaseline cotton ball.

 

[william#]

fgs just learn to light a fire without cotton wool

 

[VtBlackdog]

birch bark!

 

[Greg]

I've even put it in drinking straws for survival tins.
Just hot Crimp or seal the ends with wax.

I like that idea Graham!

 

[K.NYPH]

I've been collecting thistle teasles for fast tinder ,would vaseline work with this as well, I havent tried yet but would welcome any advice ,if it does it would be really cool as I've got loads of them.
Or I could just put a small tin of vaseline in my rucksack.

 

[deenewcastle]

fgs just learn to light a fire without cotton wool

Thanks William for your useful advice. I will do my best, but as this will be my first fire in I don't know how many years, do you mind if I try out one or two of the other suggestions I've received?