Making Your Own Fire Starters
| Category: | Outdoor Skills |
|---|---|
| Notes: | Provides multiple easy, Scout-friendly DIY fire starter recipes with safety tips and storage suggestions. Great for skills nights or patrol prep. |
There's no badge for "frustrated match striker," but there should be. If you've ever watched kindling hiss and sputter while your match burns to your fingertips, it might be time to bring your own firepower—literally. Homemade fire starters are a smart way to ensure your fire gets going, no matter the weather or wood.
1. Dryer Lint + Wax
Stuff dryer lint into paper egg cartons, then pour melted wax (old candle stubs work great) over the top. Let it harden and tear off one or two cells per fire. Lightweight, compact, and surprisingly powerful.
2. Cotton Balls + Petroleum Jelly
Dip cotton balls in petroleum jelly and store them in a zip-top bag or old film canister. They ignite easily and burn for several minutes—great for damp mornings or windy nights.
3. Cardboard Roll Flares
Stuff a toilet paper tube with dryer lint, sawdust, or shredded paper. Fold in the ends and dip in melted wax to seal it. Some Scouts wrap the tube in wax paper for extra burn time.
4. Wax-Dipped Pine Cones
Find dry pine cones, tie a wick around the top, and dip them in colored wax. Not only do they burn well—they also look great and smell nice when scented candles are used for the wax.
5. Wood Shavings & Egg Cartons
If your troop has a woodshop connection, collect sawdust or shavings. Press into cardboard egg cartons and seal with wax. Bonus: it makes use of what would otherwise be trash.
Bonus Tip: Label your fire starters clearly and store them in a waterproof bag. It's not fun to find out your "cotton ball" is actually a stale camp donut in disguise.
Scout Skill in Action
Making your own fire starters is a great patrol activity or Scout meeting demo. It teaches self-reliance, resourcefulness, and a little chemistry—all with the bonus of better fires on your next outing. Make a batch before camp, and you'll be the hero when kindling is damp and morale is low.