Do-it-Yourself Fire Starters

One of the many problems people might have in a natural disaster emergency situation is how to cook or provide heat. This idea for this first came from my friends son who helps at the preparedness fairs. It is an easy way to make fire starters using items everyone probably has in their home. These light easily and burn really well.

Items Needed:

- Lint from your dryer

- Used cardboard egg carton

- Small rope or twine

- Wax (I used the leftover wax from my wax 

   warmer. I just dump it into a jar after the smell

   is used up.)

The first step is to cut off one section of your egg carton.
Then stuff it with lint and tie your rope or twine around it.

Next you need to heat up your wax. I did this by placing my jar of used wax in a pan of hot water.
The wax helps hold everything together and also provides more fuel for a longer burn.

Once the wax is melted just dip your egg carton section in the wax (you may need to push it down with a fork so the entire thing gets covered in wax. Then set it on a piece of tin foil to dry. One its dry you can cut the rope/twine to make a small wick.

And there you go.

Just light the wick (string) and it will burn for approximately 15 minutes.
Quick, easy, cheap, and best of all, it works!!

Tire Rim Stove - January Idea of the Month

Cooking and heating in emergency situations is very important. If you don't have the means to purchase a stove or propane to store for emergencies or if a disaster has already happened and you are scrambling for something, here is another option.

You can make a small wood stove from a 16 inch truck tire rim and whatever other metal pieces you can find.  

*Some welding is required*
Cut the center out of the tire rim.

Weld a round steel plate to the top and bottom of the rim

Add metal legs to the bottom.

Cut the door out of the side of the rim.
You can use the piece you cut out or a different piece of metal for the door. 

Add hinges and a handle to the door piece. 

Cut a hole in the top and add the exhaust pipe.

       There you have a stove you can use for heating your shelter.

Cooking for Large Groups - December Idea of the Month

Reader Question

Nancy asked: Ryan, What is the best way to start a fire in a survival situation ?


Nancy,

Thank you for your comment! There are many fire starter ideas out there for starting fires but in really wet conditions I like using a road flare (see picture below). You can buy them at any auto parts store. It burns really hot for a long time and, if your wood is wet, it will dry it out and then start to burn. Let me know if you have any more questions!!

-Ryan