fire starters
 

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=66560

harbor freight has magnesium fire starters for 2.99 each regular price online and 1.99 each at the store.

I picked up a handful when i was there last week. cheap supplies, as good as any other fire starter, and much cheaper.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/pho...6599/66560.gif

Re: fire starters
 

I paid $15 dollars for mine on amazon.. :favorites21:

but it is prettier then this one.. :wub:

Re: fire starters
 

Of course, everyone knows about the egg carton, dryer lint, wood shavings, then fill with melted wax variation, right?

Re: fire starters
 

still need a spark.

Re: fire starters
 

It's new to me, could you elaborate?

Re: fire starters
 

As Techguy noted, you'll still need to light it with something but my description above is pretty much it. You take an dozen-egg carton and discard the top so you just have the empty egg holders. Over a few dryer cycles, you'll have enough lint collected to fill each of the egg carton holders. Along with the lint, you can sprinkle in some wood shavings and I'm thinking about adding magnesium shavings to my next batch. Once you got your ignitables in each of the egg cups, melt some wax and poor over the whole carton filling each cup to the top or near the top. Allow to cool completely, then you can break off a egg cup/wax ball each time you need a good fire starter. Ignite the egg cup to start and off you go.

Re: fire starters
 

Ruskie just make sure you use the cardboard egg cartons....I don't think styrofoam ones would work too good. You can also make wicks for your starter eggs by using small strips from an old cotton T- shirt dipped in wax and put the wood shavings around the wick then add wax over the top of the egg cells. PS I always keep the cardboard lid and close the top over the carton of starter eggs...you can use it as, extra, dry material for getting that fire going. Also store the carton wrapped in plastic to keep out moisture.

Re: fire starters
 

:36_1_25: THERE'S A HF NEARBY??????


I had no idea.. found em though.

thx for the heads up

Re: fire starters
 

There is also a northern tool on 290 as well, about 6-8 miles towards town from harbor freight.

I usually make it a two-fer trip.

Picked up a 2 inch brad nailer for 19 bucks, my last one died when I failed to set the pressure regulator 120 psi is really bad for seals and o rings on something designed for 75 psi it turns out.

Re: fire starters
 

damn absolutes..... get me every time.

Re: fire starters
 

ok, don't make me laugh, it hurts too much.

Re: fire starters
 

The magnesium bar fire starters are junk.

A kids toy. Try starting a fire in the lightest breeze or rain and get nothing but frustration.

Find yourself a good ferrocerium fire steel rod, 3/8 or 1/2 inch diameter by 4 or 6 inches long.

Get a waterproof container and fill it with kerosene soaked cotton balls.

You need both items to start a fire in any climate condition.

Every thing else is just a kids science experiment.

Re: fire starters
 

for a sure fire way

Have a flint and steel
and a ball of fine steel wool.
Plus the normal kinds of dry tender.
You will be heating and cooking in no time flat..

Re: fire starters
 

Its just another vendor but the fire steel is the same ferrocerium material, sold on ebay.

Re: fire starters
 

No doubt there are better high tech items, but for a buck or two you can put one on every backpack you own.

This was the military standard for many years, i am sure it is a little better than a kids science experiment.

Re: fire starters
 

Don't bet your life on it.

If you recall a survival video posted here a couple weeks ago you might recall the individual scraping and striking, dead tired, in perfect conditions, he gave up till the next day - not an option in reality world.

I've owned and used them before, the magnesium bar is nothing better than a fancy handle for the flint.

The flint is useless without proper tinder - the magnesium dust you scrap off blows away in the lightest breeze.

Its a total pain in the a$$ to use.

Re: fire starters
 

Ever use a welding torch starter?

works well for me!

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI....m=370220212762