Weatherproof and Waterproof Firestarters.
I am a newbie here, but perhaps I may something here that would make a good contribution. I call these little dooeywackers "Firebugs" mainly
because that's all I've ever heard them called and I've been making them since my Boy Scout days over 30 years ago. They are unaffected by weather, and waterproof to the point that you could drop one in a stream and chase it for 2 or 3 hundred yards and when you catch it, the little
little darling will still work. I have a PDF file but since I can't figure out how to attach it to this thing I guess I'll have to write the instructions and stick a picture of one in here. First a list of things you need to make them: (ANY emphasis will have to be uppercase I guess because I can't make any of the bold, italic, or any other of the buttons work, sorry)
1- Small Double Boiler and a stove.
2- A large box of Diamond Brand Kitchen size strike anywhere matches.[THEY MUST BE STRIKE ANYWHERE, THIS IS ESSENTIAL]
3- A 1lb block of paraffin wax.
4- A LARGE box of waxed dental floss.
CONDENSED VERSION OF INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Bundle 10 or 12 matches together head ends all pointing one way and lash them with about a one inch wide fairly thick layer of dental floss.
Leave enough floss to hold them by as you dunk them in the wax.
2. Put enough water in the double boiler to keep it warm for quite a while and put it on LOW heat. When it's hot, melt the block of paraffin in it.
3. Start dipping each bundle of matches in the wax long enough to soak a good amount of wax into each one.
4. After they are thoroughly soaked in wax start dipping them just long enough to get a good layer of wax onto each one.
5. Keep doing this until you have trouble seeing the matches through the wax. Make sure you have extra wax on the head end of the matches.
6. Cut the floss off so it is not in the way.
TO USE THEM:
1. Make a good fire lay and have a supply of kindling and fire wood ready. Tinder is completely unnecessary.
2. Rub the head end of one firebug against a dry flat rock until the paraffin wears off and the little bugger ignites.
3. Shove it under the fire lay and pretty soon you will have a fairly good fire going.
4. You can make quite a few of these with just the amount of material I have suggested.
I could not get this whatever-it-is to insert an image of one, so you'll just have to imagine what one looks like.
Trust me they WILL work better than anything you can buy in a store and they will burn vigorously for 8 -10 minutes.
