Knowing how to light a fire is one of the survival skills that takes the most practice to understand and master. There is a lot to learn, including basic principles about tinder properties, ignition tools and strategies, friction dos and don’ts, fuel types, carrying methods, and more. Fire is also the survival category that allows for the most creative hacking, which is why I love it so much. Creating fire is without question my favorite survival skill to practice and teach. The number of hacks in this chapter is not only influenced by the previous two statements but also by the importance of fire in general.
This chapter is the culmination of almost 20 years of fire hacking. In it we’ll explore some of the craziest and unique ways of making fire using random, everyday objects you’ve ever seen. Enjoy!
MAKING THE MOST OF MATCHES AND DISPOSABLE LIGHTERS HACKS
MAKE “THE BEAST” MATCH
When I was a kid, the dad of a friend of mine used to make slow-burning fuses for our model rockets out of cotton yarn and match heads. He would take a box of wooden matches, pinch off the match heads, and crush them up to a fine powder using a mortar and pestle. Then he would add some water to the powder and make a paste into which he would dip the cotton thread and let dry. When lit, it would burn like a slow fuse. You can make your own beast match in a similar way.
Grind up the match heads from a bunch of wooden matches to a fine powder and mix in some water to make a paste. Then take small matchsticks made from split fatwood (resin-rich pinewood) and dollop a big glob of match-head paste about 1⁄4" around by 1" long onto the end and let dry for at least a day. You can strike these just like regular matches, except now you have a beast match.
A PERFECTLY MINTY LIGHTER BOX
As convenient as disposable cigarette lighters are for starting fires, they certainly have drawbacks. First, if the fuel lever is accidentally depressed in your pack, it’s very possible your lighter can empty itself during travel. Second, disposable lighters do not work well (or sometimes not at all) when wet. One quick dunk in a river or pond could mean no chance of success. Lastly, at very cold temperatures, disposable lighters are very unreliable because the butane fuel is less likely to vaporize. One simple hack for protecting (and even insulating) your disposable lighter is to pack it inside a Mentos brand gum container. This container makes a perfect little lighter box because it’s water-resistant and also protects the fuel lever from being depressed. There is also just enough extra space for some good fire tinder like steel wool or cotton balls. This makes a perfect mini hack survival kit container, which I’ve featured in Chapter 8 of this book.
CARDBOARD TRIPLE THREAT
Corrugated cardboard has small channels that fit wooden matches perfectly when it’s cut to the right size. Cut a piece of cardboard with 3 vertical channels just long enough to fit wooden strike-anywhere matches. Dip this entire triple-threat match in melted wax 3 times to waterproof the cardboard and the match heads. When ready to use, scratch the wax off the match heads and strike on a rock or other abrasive surface. One match will light the other 2, which will then light the cardboard. This is a great hack to make a match that is not only waterproof but also a very good fire starter. The cardboard will burn like a candle wick and will be very difficult to extinguish even in light drizzle and heavy wind.
P, B, & F(IRE)
Jars of all shapes and sizes, such as peanut butter and jelly containers, make awesome waterproof fire kits. Make a P, B, & F(ire) jar by packing an empty jar with strike-anywhere matches and cotton balls. I prefer plastic jars because they’re more durable. Just in case you don’t have a suitable striking surface, glue a circle of 220-grit sandpaper to the inside of the jar lid.
Bonus hack: Mix your cotton balls with petroleum jelly for a fire starter that will burn 100 times as long as a regular cotton ball. Prevent a mess by packing these inside a resealable bag before putting them in your fire jar. With this prepared kit, you now have a grab-and-go fire jar with everything you need to get a fire going—fast!
SALVATION FOR WET MATCHES
Even wet matches can be saved if you know how. Many outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen travel in cold-weather climates with HotHands Hand Warmers. These air-activated warmers not only can be used to warm and ready hands for fire making, but they can also dry out wet matches. Place wet matches along with 1 or 2 activated HotHands warmers into any dry pocket and wait at least 45 minutes. The dry, radiant heat from the warmers should dry the matches out enough to allow ignition. Don’t give up if your first attempt at striking isn’t successful. Very wet matches may take longer to dry, but you can do it!
MATCH FEATHER STICK
If you’ve studied survival or bushcraft very long, chances are you’ve heard of “feather sticks.” With a sharp knife, shave long wood slivers down the side of a stick. Just before the sliver is shaved off, stop and begin another sliver from the top. After several minutes’ work, you’ll have a stick covered in feather-like wood shavings. These shavings catch fire much quicker and easier than the larger solid stick. Consequently, feather sticks are an excellent fire-starting hack. However, let’s take that concept a step further and apply it to wooden matches. In extremely difficult conditions when you might need additional help starting a fire, use your knife to shave small wooden slivers just above the match head, creating a mini feather stick. When the match ignites it will very quickly catch these shavings on fire, which will create a stronger and bigger flame.
IGNITION HACKS
COTTON FIRE CIGAR
This is a friction fire start that will blow your mind. Start by pulling apart cotton balls (or tampons) and flatten the pieces onto a board so that you make a flat rectangle about 3" × 8". Sprinkle a line of wood ash about the size a pencil along one end. Next, roll the ash up inside of the cotton like a cigar. Continue to pack and roll it with your hands so that it’s fairly compacted. Finally, place the cotton/ash cigar between 2 boards and move the top board back and forth so that the cotton/ash cigar rolls beneath it on the other board. Continue to do this very fast with medium pressure for about 1 minute. The friction of the carbon particles in the ash combined with the pressure will cause a small ember to form in the cotton fibers. The cotton can be pulled apart, and you can blow the ember into flame!
MAKE A STRIKING SURFACE
If no striking surface is available for a wooden match, hack your own with a little bit of sweat equity. You’ll need 2 dry pieces of wood to get the job done. With your match at the ready, rub 1 piece of wood against the other until it gets very hot and starts to smoke and char a little bit. When it does this, strike your wooden match on that hot surface. The heat from the friction will be enough to ignite the volatile phosphorus on the head of the match. This method works better if you carve the piece of wood you’re rubbing with into a chisel shape and push it back and forth across the other dry stick. This method takes a little effort but may be the missing link you need to get a fire going!