Paracord Tinder

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 11-14-2009, 06:43 PM

I am sitting here fighting the swine flu and reflecting while crafting a Hickory stave for a walking stick...Just bored a 5" X 1" hole in the top for a place to keep tinder, something I learned from a guy accross the net. It just hit me when you are trying to get a fire going....Did you ever feed nylon to a fire? I have and it will fuel the heck out of a fire... Most of us carry paracord? What do you think?

**crashdive123** · 11-14-2009, 06:48 PM

Not an option I would choose.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 11-14-2009, 06:54 PM

Crash,

An inch or two could be critical. I am not promoting burning all of your cordage? I am sayin' in a survival situation it could fuel your shavings to get a fire hot enough to dry your tertiary tender.... why not add another bit of know how to your bag of tricks...I am not promoting it as a primary method either. But I for one will sure give it a try to see if it works?

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 11-14-2009, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by sjj

Related to the discussion - I read in some military manual that the plactic spoon that comes with the Military MRE will burn up to 5 minutes if your got a particulary stubborn fire starting situation. The concept of using paracord in a pinch to help get a stubborn file going is creative thinking and something most likely available - it certainly wouldn't take much. If I were drilling a hole in a walking stick to carry some tinder, I agree with Crash that there are much better options to carry for tinder. Paracord is no substitute for intitally getting a flame - or is it? I wonder if frizzing up the individual strands would ignite with spark? OK - out comes the paracord for testing.

It definately isn't my choice for tender rather tinder fuel to dry the big stuff. I am not putting it in my staff. I have so many ways to start a fire, not sayin' it'll start fire sayin' it will feed the heck out of a fire in a pinch is all. I have the cordage by the hundreds of feet in and around my gear.

**crashdive123** · 11-14-2009, 07:23 PM

CS - you asked what I thought. For me, it's not an option I would choose. I carry enough different methods in my fire kits and other places, that I don't see it as "better" than the other things I have available. I never said it wouldn't work, just not an option I would choose.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 11-14-2009, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

CS - you asked what I thought. For me, it's not an option I would choose. I carry enough different methods in my fire kits and other places, that I don't see it as "better" than the other things I have available. I never said it wouldn't work, just not an option I would choose.

I respect your opinion...just throwing out something different to consider, again your in a pinch....you have a small firesteel on your keychain that happens to have a parafob on it....an emergency. Myself I do not wear a bob 24 ? 7......

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 11-14-2009, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by sjj

Well - I'm still going to frizz up some paracord strands to see if I can get a spark to light it

This thread, and the hair deal, has broadened my horizons

Thanks Sjj out of the box thinking is what will get you through! Report the results!

**Rick** · 11-14-2009, 08:21 PM

I'll be surprised if paracord catches a spark but I'm curious what you find out.

CS - If I were down to that, you bet. Paracord burns long and hot and if you keep it out of the wind it would make a pretty good fire starter.

Just a word of caution for anyone trying this. Even after you extinguish the flame, paracord retains enough heat to burn you and/or raise a blister even after a minute or so. Don't ask how I know that (time and time again) just accept that I do.

**crashdive123** · 11-14-2009, 09:26 PM

Ummmmm ---- my pants are in my closet.....and they ain't coming out.Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.

**NCO** · 11-15-2009, 11:03 AM

One army trick coming out:

Take two pieces of crisp bread, add army shoe polish generously in between the breads, press slightly together, use as a tertiary tinder. Burns extremely well.

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Warning: This combination burns very hot. I've seen wood burning stoves melt with excessive use of this method. Don't over do it.

**Rick** · 11-15-2009, 11:31 AM

It looks like your bread might be our cracker. Even then it looks like it might be a very hard texture.

**NCO** · 11-15-2009, 11:32 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisp_bread

I wasn't sure of the correct translation so I again relied on Wikipedia...

**Rick** · 11-15-2009, 11:41 AM

No problem. Just one of the many irksome qualities of the English language. Bread, as used in the US, typically refers to either a leavened or unleavened bread that is soft in texture. Something like...

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Now you know!!

**NCO** · 11-15-2009, 11:42 AM

And again it is proven that everyday you learn something new...

**Rick** · 11-15-2009, 11:45 AM

The type of bread you posted is generally referred to (but not always) as a "cracker".

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**nell67** · 11-15-2009, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Rick

It looks like your bread might be our cracker. Even then it looks like it might be a very hard texture.

hardtack???

**Rick** · 11-15-2009, 11:53 AM

I'm not sure you could ignite hardtack with napalm.

**NCO** · 11-15-2009, 12:41 PM

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This is an american brand or crisp bread/cracker. Dunno if you are familiar with it...