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Post by Joey on Oct 21, 2020 20:01:01 GMT 10
May as well just carry a bundle of hand held marine flares. Those suckers will light a fire under water. I keep a pack of boat flares in the car as part of my remote signal kit
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Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Aug 1, 2021 14:02:15 GMT 10
Boat Flares.......
I have thought some about this... Have never owned one... But have seen a well used plastic 12ga flare gun at a garage sale... Passed on it as the guy wanted new price... NOT going to happen there champ...
At a mail order place I use sometimes, they have Orion long plastic 12ga flares at 10 for $20... Also short flares either 10 for $20, or 100 for $175....
I have been thinking about this for a bit and wondering if the short flares and a plastic pistol will be a good addition to "fire starter" and other kit that is put away...
I do know you would have to be EXTREMELY careful as forest fires can be started in winter.. Crazy as it sounds, under the trees there isn't that much snow and a lot of combustible material..
Thoughts, details, experience, ideas ?? ??
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Beno
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Post by Beno on Aug 1, 2021 14:12:25 GMT 10
Tim it seems an overly elaborate way to light a fire. It would be useful if you didn’t have anything else but i’d prep for ferro rods, matches and the good ol BIC lighters first.
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bushdoc2
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Post by bushdoc2 on Aug 1, 2021 16:58:48 GMT 10
Tim, if a rescue heliopter looks for you, in amongst the trees, a good flare (eg. smoke/light, such as the combination day/night flares) can make a huge difference. Carry it in hunting gear. Cheap insurance and shoudl come as a set with the ELT/PLB/EPIRB.
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Post by milspec on Aug 3, 2021 7:47:50 GMT 10
Tim, if a rescue heliopter looks for you, in amongst the trees, a good flare (eg. smoke/light, such as the combination day/night flares) can make a huge difference. Carry it in hunting gear. Cheap insurance and shoudl come as a set with the ELT/PLB/EPIRB. As someone who's spent plenty of time visual searching for people on the ground or in the water from an aircraft, I would also add that a heliograph (signalling mirror) is the most effective visual signalling mechanism when there is sunlight.
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norseman
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Post by norseman on Aug 3, 2021 15:26:48 GMT 10
Tim, if a rescue heliopter looks for you, in amongst the trees, a good flare (eg. smoke/light, such as the combination day/night flares) can make a huge difference. Carry it in hunting gear. Cheap insurance and shoudl come as a set with the ELT/PLB/EPIRB. As someone who's spent plenty of time visual searching for people on the ground or in the water from an aircraft, I would also add that a heliograph (signalling mirror) is the most effective visual signalling mechanism when there is sunlight. I count the "Heliograph" in the Top Five Survival Essentials (attached to a compass)! Thirty plus years worth of work related Signal Mirrors (less my US Issue Laminated Glass Model):-
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myrrph
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Post by myrrph on Aug 6, 2021 20:01:18 GMT 10
My current fire kit is as follows:
1. Whistle-Firestarter 2. Cotton Balls (about 10-15 balls) 3. Chapstick 4. Matches (about 1/2 box) + striker 5. Peanut Lighter 6. Lighter fluid (10ml) 7. Fresnel Lens
in my PSK I have slightly different set up 1. Arc Lighter 2. Whistle Fire-Starter 3. Chapstick 4. cotton balls (about 3) 5. 2000mah powerbank 6. peanut lighter 7. 2ml bottle of lighter fluid
I am gonna try the permanent match in a camping environment one day
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Post by Joey on Aug 6, 2021 20:45:02 GMT 10
How long does the fluid stay usable in the peanut lighter or similar lighters? I know the fluid in a zipper dries out after a while unless you fit the refillable butane tank in it
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bushdoc2
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Post by bushdoc2 on Aug 6, 2021 20:48:42 GMT 10
More to the point, what can be substituted for lighter fluid (naptha)? I have tried (in cheap lighters) diesel, kero, turps, all no luck.
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spatial
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Post by spatial on Aug 6, 2021 21:55:54 GMT 10
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stevo
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Post by stevo on Aug 6, 2021 22:00:38 GMT 10
At the moment i just got those firesteels and a heap a bic lighters. I tried rubbin too sticks together ages ago but failed lol, i think it was the type of wood, yeah definetly the wood lol. But honestly i think wood choice for the hand drills is pretty important, like ive heard driftwood and that bush that has these things that looks like a dagwood dogs on a stick growing out the top, cant think of the name right now but can picture it in me head, starts with black or has black in the name??
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norseman
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Post by norseman on Aug 7, 2021 6:26:38 GMT 10
How long does the fluid stay usable in the peanut lighter or similar lighters? I know the fluid in a zipper dries out after a while unless you fit the refillable butane tank in it Good question Joey I always wondered about this myself! The Zippo is notorious for it!
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Post by Joey on Aug 7, 2021 10:41:13 GMT 10
Looking on fleabay last night at Zippos, and I noticed that you can now get the electric starter innards for them so they become flameless. Alright for today's age, but the question would be for a long term prep when the power goes out, but I guess the same can be said for "how many zippo fluid cans do you keep in stock"
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spatial
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Post by spatial on Aug 7, 2021 11:02:10 GMT 10
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Post by Joey on Aug 7, 2021 11:50:18 GMT 10
Does anyone carry some potassium pergnmate and glycerine or sugar in their kit as another option besides flint/matches/lighter? Carrying the glycerine bottle might be better for keeping in the car rather than a PSK fire kit.
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myrrph
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Post by myrrph on Aug 9, 2021 23:33:43 GMT 10
Sorry for the late reply. Its our National Day today (9 Aug) and was busy over the weekend.
1. Lighter Fluid technically doesn't expire. but kept improperly, its fumes will escape and overtime it _will_ empty.
2. The electric lighter spatial mentioned, is the ARC lighter I was talking about.
3. Does anyone wanna see the peanut lighter I mentioned? can post a few pics.
4. not sure about naptha, but i think kingsford bbq fluid might work too. been using zippo lighter fluid and i stock about 10 bottles of that at any one time.
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myrrph
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Post by myrrph on Aug 13, 2021 12:00:49 GMT 10
My current fire kit is as follows: 1. Whistle-Firestarter 2. Cotton Balls (about 10-15 balls) 3. Chapstick 4. Matches (about 1/2 box) + striker 5. Peanut Lighter 6. Lighter fluid (10ml) 7. Fresnel Lens in my PSK I have slightly different set up 1. Arc Lighter 2. Whistle Fire-Starter 3. Chapstick 4. cotton balls (about 3) 5. 2000mah powerbank 6. peanut lighter 7. 2ml bottle of lighter fluid I am gonna try the permanent match in a camping environment one day Thought I add some pics of what I mean. Whistle Firestarter. The whistle is loud too! Peanut lighter. In my Fire kit with some lighter fluid. Small and compact. Permanent match. Something I am exploring in a bigger kit to accompany the ferro-rod.
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Post by ausprep130 on Mar 10, 2022 14:39:00 GMT 10
Apart from the obvious such as matches and lighter, for long term bug out I would also pack;
Ferro rod and striker Cotton balls or cotton make-up pads (the small dry circle type not the large rectangle wet type) Tub of vaseline, lard or similar.
A dab of vaseline, lard or similar onto the cotton ball/make-up pad will make it burn longer and hotter.
A 250g tub of lard and a couple of packets of cotton balls/make-up pads should get you through a winter.
I'd also include a few disposable gas cans and blow torch attachment.
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Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Mar 11, 2022 7:37:31 GMT 10
One of my favorite methods is this tuna can option... A little work to make up, but if you do your prep work, when it gets to the melt wax part of the process you can make up a dozen or so starters at a time easily enough.. I like to stick several short lenghs of heavy cotton string in the cardboard for wicks of sorts. Hope this is useful.. www.instructables.com/Simple-Fire-Starter-From-a-Tuna-CanVideo/
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