Best material for starting a camp fire

4 gallons diesel, 3 gallons oil, 1 match and a good fart! LOL. Actually I use magneisum bars or the pre made tinder style boxes. If I don't have either one of those than some dry shavings, spruce needles and some good ole fashion birch bark.

Dave.
 
I prefer spruce needles and pine branches. They start like fireworks:D. Cedar/pine knots are great for sustaining the fire too.
 
Last edited:
i have used pine needles in scouts used to be able to start fires mad fast

dryer lint

lamp oil but it doesn't burn hot enough

news paper and wood cut offs

the coals from the night before

gasoline soaked ceader branches

propain blow touch works well to

crayon logs but we needed the aformentioned tourch to get the dammed thing like allong with soem blue fule we found in the garage at mu cousins

any thing i can find that will burn and is readly available cotton wood fluff works great that stuff burns a mile a minute

cat tails might work i'll have to try them
 
with only a lighter i use dead spruce stump bits and soneone said somthing about old mans beard thta works too i always carry 4 or 5 pieces of soft woos 2"x 3" 1/4" thick or so real dry stuff to get it really going after the birch bark and pine needles

BUT that mossy black spruce stump will burn wet or dry use a knife to cut it thin!
 
birch bark.... even soaking wet and green the tar still make's it burn and with enuff rain and fog it's the only thing that will burn in certain area's i grew up in, when you have an ample supply you can be quite comfy and dry in a log/bow shelter till your clothing dry's and the rain stop's....

dry cedar work's quite nice as well as witch hair AKA old man's beard

just watch survivor man if ya need help gettin a fire going :)
 
Whatever is handy at the time depending on weather conditions. Shredded birch bark/cedar bark, fireweed down, cattail down, dry grass, pitch, fuzz sticks, bundles of dry dead twigs collected from around the bottoms of spruce, hemlock, and cedar. Dry, dead standing pines, spruce, etc.
 
If you are looking to make something up ahead of time, I do this:

take a carboard egg carton and stuff each cup with dryer lint.( you can add some wood chips too if you have them)
melt some paraffin wax and pour it over each cup.
let the wax dry and cut into 12 individual firestarters. Store in a zip lock bag.
Once lit they will burn about 10 minutes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom