Sometimes when you’re in the woods after or during a rainy day, finding dry tinder can be difficult if not impossible. When you need to get a fire going quickly, this is not a good situation to be in.
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This is why it’s wise to carry your own premade tinder with you. Making your own tinder is cheap and easy to do, and can be done with items you likely already have.
In this video, Survival Dispatch explains how to make homemade tinder tabs.
First, you will need to gather each of these items:
- Cotton (go with real cotton and not anything synthetic)
- Toothpick
- Straw (a common drinking straw would work; go with bright colors so you can see it in low light)
- Lighter
- Pliers (or a Leatherman)
- Knife or scissors
Once you have accumulated the above items, follow these steps:
- Take your straw and cut it down with the knife or scissors to your desired length; the straw can literally be as long or as short as you desire.
- Take a pair of pliers (or a Leatherman) and squeeze the end of a straw together.
- Ignite your lighter and hold the flame to the end of the straw; the heat will cause the end to fuse together to seal it off.
- Take your cotton and pull it apart.
- Stuff as much cotton as you can down into the straw, using the toothpick to help.
- Once you have stuffed in as much cotton into the straw as you can, repeat step 3 with the opposite end to ensure the entire straw is sealed off.
And that’s it! You can stash these little tinder tabs in your car, in your backpack, survival kit, or even in your pocket. The point is to make sure you always have at least two or three with you for when you venture out into the woods.
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The best part about these tabs is that they are fully waterproof. To open one to access the cotton inside, just use a knife to cut one of the ends open.
To see how it’s done, watch the video bay Survival Dispatch below.
On mine, I did the usual except for using Vaseline on some of the cotton ball and I left a little space to add in some 91% alcohol.
No problems sealing.
If you have a lighter, then lite the end of the straw.
If no lighter, then cup open with knife and use your striker to ignite the alcohol (which ignites very easily).
If I can find them I will try to get two close sized straws.
One to use as a sort of funnel to ensure no Vaseline on the sealing surface.
One could add in some magnesium shavings as a bonus.
I also though about leaving that toothpick inside the straw and part of the tinder.
Or maybe one of those ‘can’t blow out’ birthday candles in it.
Theory is to get the fire starter started quickly and have it burn as long as possible (in case tinder is wet or snow, etc).
And of course keep the starter waterproof.
About Vaseline – one place said to heat it till liquefied (about 175F), and soak the cotton ball in it prior to packing the straw. Dabbing some on the cotton ball isn’t very much timewise to get a fire started.
Cool vid, Nick Nolte is a prepper 😀
Great idea. I carry cotton balls coated with vasaline already but I’m gonna make some of these today.
Watch out for paper straws, those will not melt or fuse to seal them off, I have been trying to get new medium/large diameter plastic straws to make new
pre-threaded needles sealed in straws including a paperclip and a safety pin
and cant find any in dollar stores or grocery stores in my area, they have all been
replaced with paper straws.
Also if you want to add petroleum jelly to make them burn longer, this will prevent
sealing the straw due to the lubrication, seal your your cotton+oil in plastic wrap
then rince this with solvent then seal it in the straw or carry your accelerant
separately, lip balm would be an option, I carry the moisturizing version with
sunblock so I can use it for first aid or as a sunscreen.
Ask for the straws for ice cream shakes, they are of larger diameter. Or you can buy at store to build a supply.
For that pre-threaded needle, try using a coffee stirrer, inserting needle inside and wrapping thread on the outside.
I think 7-11 still has big straws for the Big Gulp drinks. Can’t say for sure, I haven’t been in a couple of years.
No 7-11’s in my area (Montreal, Canada) but I will see what I can find at convenience stores, also there is a walmart and a michael in my area which may have what I hope to find…
I would say it is more geared to camping out for a few days, rather than providing solutions for years of SHTF living. Once SHTF, will the components still be available to make these?
I also have some doubts about it’s effectiveness, if you were using flint and steel or another primitive fire starting method, rather than a fero rod, matches or lighter.
Good survival items need to work well, when you are down to your last set of options. such as after losing most of your gear in an accident.