Fire starters

[realunlucky]

I've been on the look out for the perfect fire starter for my cylinder stove in those chilly mornings. At the expo I ran across this new product from phone skope called pyro putty and thought it checked allot of the boxes for my use. Namely long burn times and being able to apply it on a stick and use as a torch to light the stove each morning.

Here is some of my other choices

 

[realunlucky]

Put the stove together and headed out to see how it does

Did leave a residue unburned but it would burned up if I had built an actual fire

 

[realunlucky]

Next I decide to test it against all my other options at home.

Got everything equal at .11 oz

 

[realunlucky]

Now to fire them up and compare.

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[realunlucky]

Results did surprise me a bit.
Candle wouldn't stay lit I did it four times I thought for sure it would win.
Pyro putty burnt for 4:38
Dryer lint mixed with Vaseline 4:42
Fire starting pellets from Walmart 7:06

 

[realunlucky]

In conclusion I liked the pyro putty it doesn't leave a slimy residue like the Vaseline mix but it's still sticky enough to stay where you put it. Comes in a convenient water proof canister and is ready and easy to use. I really loathe making lint and vasaline mix and it always has a burnt be dog hair smell, no good in the confined space of a shelter stove.
Everything lit easily with a bic lighter even though the candle won't stay burning. For the same wieght the pellets burn 80% longer, but you do have to prep them though. I used a knife tip and just pulled a bit out of one end. That could be a difficult with frozen hands. You could pre prep them all and leave them in the tiny zip lock baggie they come in.
Here is how the pyro putty can looks after using two dabs of .11 oz

looks like there is plenty left.

 

[MuleyFever]

Looks like I don't need to replace the pellets I carry. Good comparison.

 

[robby denning]

Wal Mart rules! What are the pellets made of. And do you always have to prep them?


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[rayporter]

how many remember 'fire ribbon'?

 

[EastMT]

I did this test a couple years ago, the longest burning thing I tested at the time were the cheap coughlins fire starting sticks. Tried a bit of everything, SOL pellets, vasoline, etc. I still carry sticks. I’m guessing they are similar to the pellets, wax and saw dust but not sure, haven’t seen the pellets.


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[realunlucky]

I went back to Walmart to see what those pellets were called but if course they were out. They did have something else so I bought it to throw in the test.

.14 with wrapper

It did not light as easily as the others but the bic had it going after about 5 sec. Candle lit and burned out a couple more times poor choice for sure. This burned for 6:20 it did blow off the metal into the snow and still burned approximately :30. When I picked it up from the snow it was almost complete ash so I don't think the snow put it out it was just out of fuel.

 

[Rs3003]

I use these Weber grill fire starters. I’ve never did a weight and burn test. Very easy to start. I’ve cut them in 1/2 and double the supply. There are 24 in a box for less than $4. My local Home Depot has them.
https://www.amazon.com/Weber-7417-Lighter-Cubes/dp/B001AN7RGG

 

[backcountryshaffer]

This is great, thanks for posting!!! What do those pellets appear to be made of?

 

[realunlucky]

This is great, thanks for posting!!! What do those pellets appear to be made of?

They are a fiber pellet. I'd guess you have to pull a bit of the inside out to easily light.
I just spent the last twenty minutes searching Google for a matching product without any luck. Hopefully someone has something similar and posts up a product name. That's the way it normally runs the best product goes MIA when you decide to get resupplied.

Edit found they are

 

[realunlucky]

I'm so glad I did this test. I know I carry more than most but I've spent a night or two out in the remote once a bit lost and once stuck and took two days to walk back into phone service. I opened up the small survival kit I carry to get my candle out. Dang I had two of those worthless suckers in there. I also couldn't get the top of the match container off without a couple tools seized on after years of sitting.

Always good to check gear you never use for a long time and reevaluate what you have vs the latest and greatest.

 

[sweetroll]

We used these last year. Super easy to strike and burned long enough to easily get a fire going in the stove. Didn’t have as bad a smell as our old Vaseline cotton balls either. You can probably get them on amazon too...

https://www.rei.com/product/129978/uco-stormproof-sweetfire-fire-starter-points-package-of-8


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[MuleyFever]

Were they the Coghlan's tablets?

 

[realunlucky]

Ok finally found them.
Ultimate Survival Technologies (UST)
Light-Me Tinder

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[Neverenoughhntn]

Lots of good info shared here. It would also be interesting to compare how hot (flame temp) these various fire starters burn. (Not sure if there’s a practical way to do that?)

 

[Shraggs]

Have started many a small camp fire with the lite me tinder. They work well for me