Top 3 ways to make fire

[Icarry2]

Name your top 3 ways to make fire..

I carry..

At least two lighters
Water proof matches in a air tight container
Strike anywhere matches in an air tight container
A Magnifying Glass
A Magnesium fire starter
Two wads of dryer lint in double bags with air smashed out

I am looking into a Fire Piston and other methods.

 

[DanO]

1) Bic lighter
2) Zippo
3) Road flare
Yes, I can make a bow and drill and use it, but it doesn't really get me too excited.
I've also chipped flint knives, but they don't replace my Helle.

 

[EvilBlackGun]

A group of 9v-batteries, and steel-wool, dryer lint,

solar-charger for the batt., A couple of "used-up" BBQ lighters (because the striker can still safely ignite any handy flammable fumes .... 'used-up' Bics will work also.) If I'm with my vehicle, jumper-cables also make a cheery SPARK! EBG

 

[Sanguine Samurai]

I agree with DanO on the first two...

1.) Bic lighter: In my mind the Glock of the lighter world. Mostly plastic and light weight with few parts, yet functional. They just work. Go Bic or go home I always say. Yeah, I could save 50¢ and buy one of those cheap see-through lemon lighters, but they usually break before they run out of fuel. I personally wouldn't depend on one to save my life. And Bic's come in a subcompact "baby" form like the Glock the "Baby" Bic, or as I like to say the Son-of-a-Bic bucause it is fun to say, and because I am a dork like that. Definitely my favorite handheld incendiary device.

1.) Zippo: To me the Zippo is more or less analogous to the 1911. Mostly metal, loved by the military (in years past), with limited fuel reservoir capacity (not unlike the limited round count of a typical 1911 magazine), but they pack a punch. They are not just a lighter. The Zippo Is a windproof lamp in the palm of your hand. Zippo's are handy because you can set them down while lit. Another advantage is you are not limited to just butane/lighter fluid. Just about any flamible liquid with reasonably low viscocity will work in a Zippo.

3.) This is a tougher decision than I thought. I guess I will have to say the dryer lint and ferrocerium rod combo. The ferrocerium rod makes a wicked spark, and can de used with other tinder if need be. Dry dryer lint is quick to catch a spark though it stinks a rotten stinch when ignited, and it is free! Need I say more?

For the record I am not a fan of matches. I would rather not use one unless it was all I had.

 

[Icarry2]

Just my outlook, I understand why the others though and their popularity. I live too close to the river to not be worried about my gear being water proof and floating.

Matches in an air tight container float..

Batterys sink, go dead, are heavy, corrode
Steel wool rusts, sinks

Ferro Rods sink and are heavy.

Zippo's are heavy and sink. As well as if over fill them or store them off angle may leak. If in your pocket can burn your skin or be a danger and have an odor that dogs and some people can track.

Even used matches can be used as tinder..

Anyone use chemical components to make fire?

 

[doglb]

Lighter
Stormproof Matches
Steel Match

Also like the steel wool/9volt battery idea!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYORln3l8fo&feature=player_embedded

 

[caneman]

I carry two Bics, Ferro cerium rod, Magnesium block striker, Vaseline/cotton balls for tinder and always have at least four wax dipped popsicle sticks for second stage tinder. Carry those in a little snack plastic zip bag. Wooden clothes pins work well too and are easy to squirrel away.

 

[eldirector]

1) lighter
2) matches
3) flare

I carry all 3. Sure, I can use a striker block, battery and steel wool, and some primitive methods. My top 3 are the quick-n-easy ones for me.

 

[Zoub]

Practice
Practice
Practice, improvise, pracitce improvising

For save my ass fast, triox bar in a bandana (or anything flamable) add a spark or flame. I am never far from a triox bar. Skills are great but if I need fire now, technology is good.

I make my own waterproof matches with strike anywhere matches, wax paper and melted wax. They are more than a match, more like self igniting tinder.

 

[WETSU]

1. Gasoline and road flare
2. Thermite grenade
3. Willy Pete

Just kidding.

My first and favorite method is ferorod and striker. Second, stormproof matches and third a bic mini lighter. The bic is fastest and most forgiving but my favorite is the ferorod.

 

[possum_128]

Bic lighter
Blast Match
Strike antwhere matchs.

 

[Scutter01]

Number 4: Ask anyone but Scutter01 to help you get it lit



/seriously bad at making fire happen

 

[kludge]

Strike-anywhere matches (Ace Harware is the only place that carries them that I know of)
Make tinder and kindling with my hand ax
cotton balls and carmex
sassafras to show off one match fires to the scouts
magnesium firestarter $2 @ harbor freight

 

[Archer]

1) Bic lighter
2) Road flare
3) Flint and steel + dryer lint or jute

 

[dice dealer]

Thermonuclear warhead

 

[Exodus]

Matches in an air tight container float..

Matches in an air tight container float.. but the pack they are in doesn't.

 

[Icarry2]

Matches in an air tight container float.. but the pack they are in doesn't.

Don't they? I like near neutral buoyancy bags but to each their own.

Buoyancy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[dsol]

I just say something to **** my wife off... that usually does the trick.

 

[jmiller676]

-Matches
-Lighter
-Magnifying glass

 

[joeman3285]

Matches (strike anywhere in a waterproof container)
Lighter
Swedish Fire Steel

Also a ziplock with cotton balls soaked in vaseline. great tinder

I can make a bow drill as a last resort, but practice the heck out of that before you rely on it.