How to start a fire in the rain

[RockAndSage]

You can make a good fire starter by mixing smokeless powder with clear nail polish in a container with a popsicle stick that doubles as the wick. We made them in film cannisters back when those were around everywhere. Slit the cannister lid and slide it over the stick and onto the cannister with your mix in there. They burned for a very long time.

This is the first genuinely new fire-starter setup I've heard of in a long time, and it sounds pretty cool - about how long did they burn, and how hot was the flame? Was it more candle-like, or road-flare like? Do you remember what the mixture proportions were?

 

[BBob]

BS They have never failed me, even in the coldest of cold. Had a wise ass old fart challenge me when he threw it in a bucket of water. I had it going in 5 seconds.

 

[MountainTracker]

BS They have never failed me, even in the coldest of cold. Had a wise ass old fart challenge me when he threw it in a bucket of water. I had it going in 5 seconds.

I pop off the safety clip thing, makes getting them going a little easier.

I have not personally made these but they look effective. Time consuming auto make also.

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[mt terry d]

BS They have never failed me, even in the coldest of cold. Had a wise ass old fart challenge me when he threw it in a bucket of water. I had it going in 5 seconds.

Minus 30. Dry.
Propane heaters don't work either.
But, hey, go ahead, bet your life on it.

 

[MarlinMark]

This is the first genuinely new fire-starter setup I've heard of in a long time, and it sounds pretty cool - about how long did they burn, and how hot was the flame? Was it more candle-like, or road-flare like? Do you remember what the mixture proportions were?

It burned hot for at least 20 mins. but the fire consumed it so it is hard to tell. They burn like a big candle. The film canister is plastic so there is that negativity. But, one could make them in whatever container they like. It hardens up pretty good and you want to stir it up well. I poured the nail polish in the canister and then added rifle powder until it was "pretty darn thick" (scientific term) and then left the popsicle stick in it. Cut a slit in the lid and put the lid on the canister.

 

[MarlinMark]

I didn't ever do a stand alone burn test. Just put it in the base of where my fire was going to be and lit the stick/wick. Then built up a "teepee" of wood and away it went. Works well.

 

[Miflatlander91]

Trioxane tabs have worked for me. Yesterday a storm rolled in while we were waiting for a bull to fire off below us I was wet and cold and noticed a buddy in pretty bad shape piled up some dead standing wood on top of the tab and we were in business! I think the biggest thing is have a system that you can rely on and keep it with you.


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[RockAndSage]

It burned hot for at least 20 mins. but the fire consumed it so it is hard to tell. They burn like a big candle. The film canister is plastic so there is that negativity. But, one could make them in whatever container they like. It hardens up pretty good and you want to stir it up well. I poured the nail polish in the canister and then added rifle powder until it was "pretty darn thick" (scientific term) and then left the popsicle stick in it. Cut a slit in the lid and put the lid on the canister.

Great stuff, thank you. Now I'm wondering if it would work with part of a half-pound of powder I've had forever that finally went bad...

 

[MarlinMark]

If you make a little pile of that powder on the ground and strike a match or ferro rod and it burns rapidly then it will work fine. Smokeless powder doesn't explode. It burns very rapidly. So, it's safe to test as such in small portions.

 

[RockAndSage]

If you make a little pile of that powder on the ground and strike a match or ferro rod and it burns rapidly then it will work fine. Smokeless powder doesn't explode. It burns very rapidly. So, it's safe to test as such in small portions.

Lol, tell me you had an unsupervised Gen X childhood, without saying it...

 

[MarlinMark]

Indeed.

 

[Dan Carey]

Now that we know how to start a fire, when should we start one. Hopefully not when we are lost and soaking wet and cold.

 

[Thompy]

Great stuff !!

 

[Bluegrassvw]

My short answer to your post is: trioxane tablets.

But here’s another thought.
If you are already inside your tent, get inside your sleeping bag with all of your wet clothes on, cook a hot meal, drink hot liquids, and go to bed.
The next morning you’ll be bone dry.
You’ll need to dry out your sleeping bag, as all the moisture from your clothes will have pushed out, but you’ll be fine.

Unless you’re in a hot tent, or under a tarp pitched very high, a fire wouldn’t be as useful drying you out as just letting your sleeping bag do it.

Ask me how I know,,,

Thought this only works with synthetic fill bags?

 

[RockAndSage]

Now that we know how to start a fire, when should we start one. Hopefully not when we are lost and soaking wet and cold.

It's situational, obviously, but what goes into my assessment is:

1) I want at least 30 minutes of prep in gathering fuels and setting up my starting fire structure before ignition, to ensure a successful fire in bad conditions that I can tend 100% without needing to step away while it's still building. It's not the kind of thing you want to start-over on because of a fail.

2) With that 30 mins in mind, how am I or the people I'm with holding up, in the given conditions? Mental toughness is a thing, but a kid, someone out-of-shape, or an inexperienced person will mentally check-out quicker and will start exhibiting shivers, and just quit on the trail earlier. So that needs to be the barometer - what's the condition of the weakest person, not what the toughest in the crew can handle.

3) What's the trend in the weather - what is it most likely to be doing in an hour? What's the worst case for that weather and my/our condition at the moment? If worst case hits in 5 mins, do I have my 30 mins of fire prep time?

4) Location - if I come into a wind-sheltered spot with easy access to fuels, and all of this decision making is on my mind, that might be the trigger to call it a day and build a fire. As opposed to driving on, especially if what's ahead might have less fuel (above a treeline, for example) or be more exposed to the wind.

5) Err on the side of caution - things can go wrong in building a fire, from wet or hard-ignition fuels, to a mistake in trying to put too big of a stick onto a fire-structure that isn't ready for it yet (and killing the flame). And people can be in worse condition than they realize - especially if you're older, male, and have a background that includes a lot of mental toughness and hardening experiences. Things can sneak up quick and viciously on people with that profile, but also on people in general in cold, wet, rugged terrain. Don't take unnecessary chances, especially if not dead-certain of where the truck is and exactly how long it will take to get there.

6) Balance your values of toughness with values of competence. Competence requires better judgement than toughness. Toughness gets you through some difficult things, and is important, but often equates something like stopping to build a fire as "quitting", instead of being the prudent and wise decision. If you value competence, stopping to build a fire is not a difficult decision - it's a logical one, not an emotional one.

 

[rcb2000]

It's situational, obviously, but what goes into my assessment is:

1) I want at least 30 minutes of prep in gathering fuels and setting up my starting fire structure before ignition, to ensure a successful fire in bad conditions that I can tend 100% without needing to step away while it's still building. It's not the kind of thing you want to start-over on because of a fail.

2) With that 30 mins in mind, how am I or the people I'm with holding up, in the given conditions? Mental toughness is a thing, but a kid, someone out-of-shape, or an inexperienced person will mentally check-out quicker and will start exhibiting shivers, and just quit on the trail earlier. So that needs to be the barometer - what's the condition of the weakest person, not what the toughest in the crew can handle.

3) What's the trend in the weather - what is it most likely to be doing in an hour? What's the worst case for that weather and my/our condition at the moment? If worst case hits in 5 mins, do I have my 30 mins of fire prep time?

4) Location - if I come into a wind-sheltered spot with easy access to fuels, and all of this decision making is on my mind, that might be the trigger to call it a day and build a fire. As opposed to driving on, especially if what's ahead might have less fuel (above a treeline, for example) or be more exposed to the wind.

5) Err on the side of caution - things can go wrong in building a fire, from wet or hard-ignition fuels, to a mistake in trying to put too big of a stick onto a fire-structure that isn't ready for it yet (and killing the flame). And people can be in worse condition than they realize - especially if you're older, male, and have a background that includes a lot of mental toughness and hardening experiences. Things can sneak up quick and viciously on people with that profile, but also on people in general in cold, wet, rugged terrain. Don't take unnecessary chances, especially if not dead-certain of where the truck is and exactly how long it will take to get there.

6) Balance your values of toughness with values of competence. Competence requires better judgement than toughness. Toughness gets you through some difficult things, and is important, but often equates something like stopping to build a fire as "quitting", instead of being the prudent and wise decision. If you value competence, stopping to build a fire is not a difficult decision - it's a logical one, not an emotional one.

Great post

 

[Phaseolus]

A cedar tree provides one of the best starters if available…Peel the bark in strips it’s usually always dry and easy to peel. If your in a region with cedar trees that is. Ive used it in some very wet conditions.

Now's a good time to point out that Cedar trees do not grow in Colorado or Utah. A lot of people call Juniper trees Cedars and they'll have a heck of a time starting a fire with one thinking it's Cedar. Just a FYI.

 

[LongWayAround]

Thought this only works with synthetic fill bags?

Nope. It works with down also. You're down may get clumpy if you are really wet.

 

[RockAndSage]

Great post

That one you shared about you and your dad was excellent as well. I'm going to link it here, as I don't think it would be inappropriate - it's a great example of situational judgment.