How to Make Campfire Starters

Last Updated: September 25, 2022 References

When on a camping or hiking trip, it's important to be prepared if you need to start a campfire (even in snow). Here are various methods to consider. They're easy to prepare, cheap to make, and will consistently build great fires.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Cotton balls and alcohol or spirits

1
Purchase a bag of cotton balls and a bottle of methylated spirits or denatured alcohol.^{[1]
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2
Collect an old glass jar with a tight lid from your kitchen cupboard.

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3
Fill the jar one-third full with spirits.
4
Place cotton balls into spirits to soak thoroughly.^{[2]
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5
Transfer prepared balls into a zip lock bag.
6
Take this bag camping and hiking with you. Simply use one or two of the spirit-soaked cotton balls to start your kindling burning.
7
Bring strike anywhere matches with the tips dipped in wax, to start your fire. Take a candle and let it burn until melted wax surrounds the lit wick. Blow the flame out and then dip the tip into the hot wax. To light the match, peel the To make the match even more water resistant, melt wax in a small bowl and dip the entire match in.

Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Dryer lint

1
Take a cardboard egg carton and fill each pocket with dryer lint.
2
Carefully melt paraffin wax and pour it into the lint filled pockets.
3
Cut the pockets apart and carry them in your fire starting kit.

Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Wax in a cup

1
Melt wax and pour into a paper cup, halfway up, leaving enough of paper to light.^{[3]
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2
Allow wax to harden and place in your fire starting kit. (Note: Burns for about 5 minutes which is often more than enough time to start your fire.)

Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Resin

1
Gather some resin from pine or spruce trees by breaking the bubbles that ooze from the bark.^{[4]
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Put the resin on a twig. This will light like gasoline.

Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

Potassium permanganate

1
Make a small pile of potassium permanganate (available on the Internet) under a piece of kindling. Make the pile into a volcano shape with a depression in the center.^{[5]
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Pour a tablespoon or so of glycerin in the depression of the powder. You'll have fire within 15 seconds or so.^{[6]
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Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Shavings

1
Take very fine shavings from a fresh spruce bow and keep them in a watertight container. Alternatively use any other type of evergreen tree.^{[7]
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Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Cotton balls and Petroleum Jelly

1
Purchase a bag of cotton balls and a jar of Petroleum Jelly (like Vaseline).
2
Take a cotton ball and slightly separate the cotton.
3
Open the jar of Petroleum Jelly. With your finger, scoop out a small amount a little larger than the size of a pea. (Wearing latex gloves keeps the mess contained.)
4
Work the Petroleum Jelly into the cotton ball until evenly spread out.^{[8]
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5
Store the Petroleum Jelly soaked cotton balls in a resealable bag or other suitable sealed container. (You can compact them for maximum storage space savings.)^{[9]
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6
Use. When using the cotton ball to start a fire, first spread out the fibers of the cotton to maximize surface area.

Community Q&A

Question

Can you make a fire without matches?

Community Answer

Matches are handy to have but you can also use a lighter or a flint and steel.

Warnings

Be careful not to get the resin in your eyes,it burns quite a bit and is really sticky.

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Fire is dangerous! Methylated spirits burn almost invisibly in daylight, so be careful not to burn yourself.

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If using method #5, be extremely careful. Potassium Permanganate is dangerous, and this method will create a large fireball.

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Things You'll Need

Method #1: A bag of cotton balls, bottle of methylated spirits or denatured alcohol, and a glass jar
Method #2: Cardboard egg cartons, dryer lint, and a bit of wax or Vaseline
Method #3: Dixie cups (or wax paper cup) and wax
Method #4: Resin and twigs
Method #5: potassium permanganate and glycerin
Method #6: Fresh spruce or other evergreen wood
Method #7: Cotton balls and Vaseline