5 Emergency Survival Tinders Found Round the House

If you find yourself in an emergency survival situation are you prepared? Making fire is one of the most important skills to ad in your survival. You need it to stay warm, cook food and sterilize water. These five  items you can keep on you, in your car and should be a staple to your survival kit. Most of them you can find around your house right now.

Dryer lint

Dryer lint is naturally dry and fluffy. It is quite possibly one of the best tinders out there and it’s free. It is very light weight and compactable so you can take a lot of it and it doesn’t take up much space.

It will catch a spark very easily and makes a nice flame. It is one of the items I keep in my survival kit. The downside of dryer lint is it burns fast so once it catches a spark you need to act quickly to get it into your twig bundle or it will burn up.

Cotton balls with petroleum jelly

If you can’t get your hands on dryer lint, cotton balls are a great alternative. They catch a spark very much like dryer lint but are a little denser and sometimes go out. If you mix petroleum jelly into your cotton balls they will burn a bit slower giving you more time to get it into your twig bundle but it also makes them a little messy to work with.

Jute twine

Yes, the same twine they use to wrap hay bales and Christmas trees is an excellent tinder and has been used for ages. Just peel it in to single fiber strands, rub it in your hands and make a bird’s nest like shape. This will catch a spark and burn for about 30 seconds. It doesn’t burn super-hot so make sure you have plenty of thin dry twigs to add to it once it catches a spark. Jute twine is a dual-purpose item. It can be used as a light rope for binding logs, hanging a tarp and more. This is a great addition to your survival kit.

Fine Steel wool

Surprisingly, fine steel wool is another great tinder. It will burn and burns hot. It is a good choice if your twigs are damp. It is a bit difficult to work with but once it catches a spark it burns hot and quickly so be prompt at getting it into your twig bundle. Steel wool is also light weight and compactable so it won’t take up much space in your survival kit.

Char-cloth

Char-cloth is a charred cotton cloth that burns slow and hot much like charcoal. The disadvantage of Char-cloth is it takes a bit of prep work, though you can buy it on some online stores. To make char-cloth you need a small metal tin like a mint candy tin. Cut some small squares of 100% cotton cloth and put it loosely in the tin. Light it on fire in a couple of spots and close the lid. Let it sit until it quits smoking. Once cooled open the tin. The cloth should be all black. If it is not, fluff it a bit and relight the spots that are not black. Store it in a seal-able plastic bag, it can get messy. Char-cloth catches a spark well and burns slower and hotter than dryer lint.

whether I'm out hiking, kayaking, fishing or just out for the day. I always keep some of these items with me. They are very small and take up almost no space. Consider keeping a bag of dryer lint in you glove box when traveling. It is better to be prepared and not need it than to be caught in an emergency situation without it. 

Immediate Action Required

There was a time when I worked construction. After that industry fell apart I worked as a mechanic in a bus factory so I was always on my feet and moving. Now I sit at a desk so it should be no surprise when I stepped on the scale and it screamed to me 274 lbs, however, I was still a bit shocked and disappointed. Immediate Action is Required!

So here is the plan. I will be going on a few major hikes this spring, summer and fall and I need to drop a good 40 lbs or more. This is going to be tough. So, I am saying good bye to carbs, sweets, flavor, second portions, and snacks. And I am saying hello to exercise. I am going to the Pigeon River forest area, Shingle Mill trail in mid May, so I have 2 months to loose as much weight as possible. I need a good dose of will power, I love food. it will not be an easy task but one that is neccesary. I need to be in good health for my boys, my adventures and my general well being. I beg you to keep me accountable. If you use the My Fitness Pal app let me know I would like to connect with you.

My Top 7 Favorite Cook Sets

When I started hiking I was overwhelmed with all the options for cooking on the trail. As I looked for the prefect stove most that were recommended were out of my price range, $50-$100 or more. Here is a list of 7 excellent cook sets that are affordable.

Hike Therapy

It was a beautiful spring-like day in February, I had to go out to the woods. It had been a long dreary winter; no ice for ice fishing, very little snow, brown, gray, drab dismal, depressing. I needed some adventure. Granted it was only a short day hike but it was just what I needed to melt away the stress. Join me as I venture out, do a little exploring, making fire, cooking lunch and enjoying a cup of tea in the woods