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Best and easiest fire-starter

Q. My son wants a fire-starter. Which is the best and easiest?
—Mama Greta, Kentwood, Mich.

A. Hey, Mama. The real question is: Are you sure you really want your son to have a fire-starter? Just kidding. If he’s a Scout, I’m sure he’ll be responsible with it. A good option is the Light My Fire steel Scout ($12; lightmyfireusa.com). It’s basically a flint and steel set that was first designed for the Swedish military but is now used by outdoorsmen. Just scrape the steel across the flint and it throws a strong spark. It even works when wet. If your son gathers kindling and dry sticks and aims the sparks onto a cotton ball with a dab of Vaseline, he should be able to easily start a good fire. To make things even easier, he might also try Light My Fire Maya Dust ($5; lightmyfireusa.com). Just sprinkle some of the pulverized pieces of fatwood pine at the base of your soon-to-be fire and it’ll light quickly and easily and produce an extra hot flame.


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7 Comments on Best and easiest fire-starter

  1. This is helpful

  2. A good fire starter is pour glycerin over potassium Permanganate. It takes a few seconds but the two will start burning and then you just add wood/leaves/paper on it and it’s a fire.

  3. just get a regular flint and steel from REI it’s the best

  4. ok listen to me the best fire starter is….
    well
    1. go to your local fruit shop and ask if they have lettuce boxes.
    2.then light it up

    hint this starts well cos the carboard box have wax all over it so it lights really well
    age 12 the camando

  5. Mine often fails cause it’s the new one withoot the gap in the middle

  6. Easiest: Wrap (like a barrel) 2 strike anywhere matches with news paper cut into a strip 1″ x 9″. Tie it off with butchers string (leave 1-2″ extra) Double dip it in melted paraffin wax; cooling it between each dipping. Read to use- strike the match head on a striker or fine sand paper. Burns for about 1- 1.5 minutes, rain or shine. Real cheap to make too. This is our Troops main fire starters. Been doing it for more than 25 years now.

  7. Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // May 25, 2013 at 9:50 pm // Reply

    Swedish Light My Fire is one of the best. however the off brands arnt that bad either.

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