I call BS on vaseline soaked cotton balls

[RCKCRWLER]

At least the way I did it!:laugh: I wanted to try it out this weekend so I rubbed some vaseline all over and in the cotton balls and I couldn't get it to catch a spark to save my life. I took a dry cotton ball and the first time a spark hit it it went up. Did the same thing with dryer lint and had the same results. I was using one of those little orange Spark Lite sparkers.

I even tried one cotton ball with a tiny bit of vaseline on it and it finally took a spark after about ten sparkings.


So whats the secret to getting the right amount of vaseline on the cotton ball/dryer lint?

[wareagle69]

it works very well
after smearing the vaseoline on the cotton ball you need to work it into the ball well then fluff the ball so you have tiny little strands to catch the spark
keep at it my friend it does work
also it may take more than just one spark to catch it

[Rick]

I've never used a flint and steel on them. I've always just lit them. I put the cotton ball down in the Vaseline and load it up.

[Obsidian]

Hmmm. I never had any problem. I use a ferrocerium (often referred to as "flint" which it ain't) rod and striker. Usually two or three strikes and it lights up.

Works with an old fashioned mountian man type firesteel and chunk of real flint too. Anything that makes sparks should work.

You must have some fuzzy stuff that will catch and light, which will then get to the gooey part to burn. So my jelly balls aren't terribly gooey, which means they won't burn for four minutes; more like 1 minute.

If you use lint, make sure its from a load of cottons and not sythetics. Else it will melt better than it burns.

[welderguy]

I have always got the cotton balls to light with my blast match, much quicker with my lighter tho. I like dryer lint in Vaseline better personally I can get it light quicker with a spark just my 2 cents worth.

[Ken]

Works for me. I'll always go for my Bic first.

[crashdive123]

I've never had a problem lighting them. I typically use anything that produces a spark (fire steel, natural flint and steel, Bic lighter with no fluid) to start them. When making them don't overload them with the Vaseline. Work it into the cotton real well. When you go to light it, separate it a little so (as Wareagle said) you can catch a few fibers. Also, make sure you are using natural cotton not the synthetic stuff.

[Rick]

make sure you are using natural cotton not the synthetic stuff.

Excellent point. Only the natural will work.

[mountain mama]

I agree with wareagle and crash (gotta be real cotton, not that imitation crap). I usually use my firesteel and catch it on one strike. The petroleum jelly helps keep the flame going much longer than just the cotton ball itself.

[RCKCRWLER]

10-4 on the natural cotton, I'll go home and double check.

[Pict]

Try this. Take an almond sized glob of Vaseline and work it into a large cotton ball until it is totally saturated. Wrap the cotton ball in a doubled over paper towel and squeeze real hard until the excess Vaseline soaks into the towel. The cotton should be greasy but still easy to fluff up. Mine light 1st try every time like this with a ferro rod. Mac

[welderguy]

I went and looked at my bag of cotton balls and I see I dont have 100 percent cotton Im guessing thats why it takes triple the effort to light than the lint. Thanks for that tip fellas.

[Rick]

It's easy to do. The boxes just say cotton balls. You have to look close to see some are 100% cotton and some are not.

[Mischief]

OK, I will put PJ on anything Rick has and light a fire,.just saying

[RCKCRWLER]

Try this. Take an almond sized glob of Vaseline and work it into a large cotton ball until it is totally saturated. Wrap the cotton ball in a doubled over paper towel and squeeze real hard until the excess Vaseline soaks into the towel. The cotton should be greasy but still easy to fluff up. Mine light 1st try every time like this with a ferro rod. Mac


Sounds like a plan to me! Thanks Mac

[bulrush]

It's easy to do. The boxes just say cotton balls. You have to look close to see some are 100% cotton and some are not.

Your balls come in a box? Is this in the first aid section of the store or the cosmetics section? I've never even seen 100% cotton balls.

EDIT: I have this automotive polish that looks and feels like cotton. I wonder if that would work. It's supposed to have some sort of abrasive on it and comes in a silver tin can, round.

[Jay]

Leave a bit of unsaturated cotton to catch the sparkl.
J

[mountain mama]

Your balls come in a box?

I'm not going to comment. I'm not going to comment. I'm not going to comment...:innocent:

[Rick]

As a matter of fact, yes. I know I picked those up at Kroger but it might have been in the baby section. If you have a Kroger nearby, they come in a blue box. Kroger brand. Inside they are packed in a paper sack sort of like a doughnut sack. The outside of the blue box says:

Sterile
Cotton Balls
100% Pure Cotton

I'm a boxer kind of guy, I guess.

[crashdive123]

That's the way it was always packed several years ago. I remember the dark blue boxes with the Johnson & Johnson label on it. As time has gone on, and costs of packaging dictate what many manufactures use for their products - well, let's just say that many of them have shifted to briefs.

[Rick]

You just had to jockey that in there didn't you?

[crashdive123]

It was either that or weave it into the thread with my (using my best James Bond voice) loom, fruit of the loom.

[bulrush]

This weekend I tried lighting with a spark, both regular real cotton balls, and "fake" cotton balls. Both caught a spark the first time but both burned only 4 seconds, not enough time to light your tinder/kindling. So I think the vaseline is to keep the flame lit long enough to light the tinder.

[Rick]

"Xactly. It's the petroleum base in the Vaseline that keeps the flame alive.

[jeff_c]

I did this just the other day with a cotton ball and vaseline using a fire steel. Light after the first strike and stayed lit plenty long enough to get tinder going.

Worked like a charm for me.


"Xactly. It's the petroleum base in the Vaseline that keeps the flame alive.

[Schleprok]

Keep mine in a 7 day pill box. Two per day. Kinda crammed in there. Fluff before lighting.

[Tundrascout]

I have a confession to make.
I had never tried to light a cotton ball before, so I took it upon myself to give it a try while sitting at my computer. Do NOT do this unless you actually intend to start a fire!

So does this work with plumage from a cottonwood tree just as well?

[2dumb2kwit]

I have a confession to make.
I had never tried to light a cotton ball before, so I took it upon myself to give it a try while sitting at my computer. Do NOT do this unless you actually intend to start a fire!

So does this work with plumage from a cottonwood tree just as well?

Now that's funny!:clap:

[crashdive123]

And I must confess - I've never tried it with plumage from a cottonwood. One way to find out though. Oh yeah - and I try to stay away from lighting my computer on fire even though on occasion it would give me a great deal of pleasure.

[oldsoldier]

Try milkweed pods they work better than some tinders but the cotton balls work best.

[nilespathfinder]

i have an altoids tin with a thick layer of vas on the bottom and about 10 too 15 cotton balls, 3 or 4 strikes with ferrel rod and woosh, thats what i trust only a ferrel rod, as far as sparking devices.

[crashdive123]

Ferrel rod - is that one you found in the wild?:innocent: sorry - couldn't resist.

[hunter63]

i have an altoids tin with a thick layer of vas on the bottom and about 10 too 15 cotton balls, 3 or 4 strikes with ferrel rod and woosh, thats what i trust only a ferrel rod, as far as sparking devices.

Hope you don't loose it, a wise man carries or at least know how at least 3 ways to make fire. IMHO

[Rick]

It was a feral child named Rod. Rod carries a BIC lighter everywhere.

[nilespathfinder]

i know several ways to make fire hunter, cary 3 like you said , i just choose the quickest one is all, just my opinion, thats all. wow

[Wildthang]

Soak them in gasoline before applying the vaseline! It lights veeeeeeeeeeery quickly.............!

[hunter63]

Do not like that idea at all........
I don't want to be the subject of the news coverage of the local of the latest "impromptu burning man" celebration.

Road flares, road flares....what ever happened to road flares?....When something really need to burn.....road flares!

[crashdive123]

Do not like that idea at all........
I don't want to be the subject of the news coverage of the local of the latest "impromptu burning man" celebration.

Road flares, road flares....what ever happened to road flares?....When something really need to burn.....road flares!

Don't you mean AGAIN?:innocent:

[hunter63]

Yea....Yes...Yes.....everyone forgets about road flares....big fire......road flares!

[Beans]

BS i doubt it.

Like everyone states, they should/must be 100 % per cotton. I saturate the cotton balls with PJ and store them in a plastic baggie. I have never had one that I couldn't light as long as I had it out of the direct wind and rain.

[Rick]

The you're not trying hard enough. They are pretty easy to not light if you try.