Let's design a firestarter together.....

[usmcveteran]

So help me come up with firestarter design.

What I have is this http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FS3...s=fire+startee . I also have magnesium shavings, dryer lint and other common household things.

I would like to incorporate a self ignition system possbily using matches and striker imbedded with pull string or something but its not necessary.

[usmcveteran]

Oh and because we need a goal lets make it a split piece of wood soaked in water for a day. It must ignite it alone.

[Guest]

Oh and because we need a goal lets make it a split piece of wood soaked in water for a day. It must ignite it alone.

Well a soaking drenched log won't be starting with a homemade firestarter, that's sort of wishful hopings..BUT, shaving down the outsides over n over to you get to the nice drier heart of it will..no matter how long a log has been soaking the innards will always be dry..as long as you got a sharp ass blade and patience to make the pulp small as pinky or toothpicks..

[usmcveteran]

So what's the best firestarter we can come up with

[Guest]

You do the thinking, building and testing..I'll file for the patent hehehehe

[usmcveteran]

Just throw out ideas and I'll build and test lol

[Pissed Off Patriot]

One word. GAS.

lol

[24Pink14Stink]

[24Pink14Stink]

Oh and because we need a goal lets make it a split piece of wood soaked in water for a day. It must ignite it alone.

How big a piece of wood? Can i process it first? 3" round with bark on and soaked for a day isn't going to light without processing or a torch.

[usmcveteran]

Good question, what would be a good benchmark?

[24Pink14Stink]

You tell me. Your project...

[usmcveteran]

I know we want to have the highest heat output for the longest time in the smallest fool proof package possible.

I'm wondering if magnesium shavings in wax could help along with other materials.

Ideally you should be able to take wet unprocessed wood and light it. Now you can still use wet kindling but let's assume you don't have a great knife or axe ect.

[Guest]

I know we want to have the highest heat output for the longest time in the smallest fool proof package possible.

I'm wondering if magnesium shavings in wax could help along with other materials.

Ideally you should be able to take wet unprocessed wood and light it. Now you can still use wet kindling but let's assume you don't have a great knife or axe ect.

I don't think the magnesium shavings would spark if they were fused into the wax..just a thought, but the shavings are what magically go poofwhen the spark hits them, if they're trapped in the wax I don't picture that going poof. Yes the wax may be a good extend but not as the initial lighting..specially talking wet wood wood which is extremely hard enough to light.

[usmcveteran]

Magnesium burns hot but short, my thinking is a evenly distributed mix of 2 may compliment each other?

[Guest]

Magnesium burns hot but short, my thinking is a evenly distributed mix of 2 may compliment each other?

I totally understand the logic behind it, I just feel the "sparks" wouldn't get through the wax in the millisecond that it's a spark..but hey I really don't know..only way is to experiment