I carry a couple of gas bbq lighters along with a handfull of flares. Not only will the flares start wet wood, they can work for a signalling device.
Jay

Jr. Cub Builder: Good idea about some newsprint in a ziplock, I'd hate to have to rip up my flight guide.

I've had waterproof matches as well as regular kitchen matches in my kit for years, but the last time I used one was 10 years ago, do you think they go bad after that time? I'll have to go try one next flight. I carry one of those chain type survival saws in a metal container that looks like a large chewing tobacco can, can't think of the name offhand. It has been tested and works quite well. Usually I just use the Sven saw because that's part of the regular camping gear, but the chain lives in the survival kit and if that's all I managed to get out I'd have something. Also a good folding knife, wire, fishing line and hooks, signal devices, 4 silvered mylar biffy bags, some Clif bars, a water filter, and now a .22 pistol as well.

But I'll probably never have to use this stuff 'cause I just got a 407 Mhz PLB with GPS last fall and expect to get rescued within a few hours.

Preparedpilot.com has some really thorough survival kit recommendations.

Rocky

I bought a Gerber hatchet at REI that has a saw in the handle. The handle is hollow and molded from some sort of super-plastic so it's really light, and the blade was knife-sharp.

I like the idea of some newpaper, dry matches, and tinder in a ziplock. I've never used fire paste, but have cheated before and used the white gas from my backpacking stove when all my fuel was slightly moist.

I think the secret to the magnesium block is to shave it into a fine dust, rather than larger "peelings." Ya get a nice little pile of dust, get your tinder around it, and strike some sparks at the mag dust...FOOOOF ya get about 2 seconds of really hot fire. Hopefully the tinder takes off.

You could also bring along one of these guys:

In the big box I have some flares and small fire starter stix. But in the one that goes around my neck if I bail has some cotton soaked in alcohol I then vacuum seal it, it takes hardly any space and doesnt evaporate.

I carrie a package or two of tricktosomethingorother and a "Blast match" which is currently out of buiseness I was told ( I am checking in to this) and a little bit of tree sap.


an East Wing Axe in the Maule and a small Gerber Hatchet (belt loop type)


EDIT /// They are back and We are a Dealer for them!!! just got off the phone and will have first order soon!!!

Rocky,

If your PLB is really a 407, you might want to pay closer attention to your survival gear.....might be a long wait .

I'm with Wup--Blast Match is the hot ticket, bar none, pun intended. All that flaming stuff you stow on your bodies, by the way, will burn if you encounter a fire on the way out the door.

Take some 000 or 00 steel wool, and put it in a zip lock bag. Even when soaking wet, the stuff burns white hot, when ignited by a Blast Match or regular match for that matter. Try it.

I don't like hatchets. Neither do the survival schools for the armed forces, which is where I received most of my survival training. Too much opportunity to hurt yourself with an axe or hatchet. I carry one, but you need to be super careful with them. I use it to pound in tiedowns, period.

For wood gathering, I use a folding saw, one of the triangle ones. I've tried the "chain saw in a can" and frankly, it sucks. You'll wear out your fingers long before you wear out any wood. A folding saw, or a folding pruning saw, will cut all the dead wood you need, with little risk to you or your shins, unlike a hatchet.

Gerber also makes a fire flint and steel, but it isn't nearly as effective as the Blast Match, in my experience, and I've started a LOT of fires with a Blast Match.

Some solid fire starters are fine, but be really careful with the alchohol in a ziplock thing. Very easy to spring a leak and when you need it, all you gots is a cotton ball.

MTV

I was just told about the Cotten Ball in vasiline is the ticket !!!

You can also ignite steel wool by using it to bridge the terminals of a small battery.

Edit:...Uhhh, vaseline burns?

I use a magnesium fire starter. I have a short piece of hacksaw blade about 3" long to shave the magnesium onto a ball of cotton saturated with vaseline. (I put a bunch of the saturated cotton balls in a film can...I know, with digital cameras, where can you get film cans) Have some kindling or shavings ready, spark off the flint. Poof like hotshots flame!!!! It works good even when its been through the creek. I always have the Leatherman with the saw for short trips, but Sven makes a great little folding, triangular bow saw for real work (or the Husqevarna if I'm serious) You gotta have something!

mtv wrote:Rocky,

If your PLB is really a 407, you might want to pay closer attention to your survival gear.....might be a long wait .

406..407..I might get it wrong, but hopefully the box knows what the hell frequency it's supposed to be on!

My chain survival saw worked great when I broke off two short sticks to run through the rings....I went through an 8 inch log in about two minutes...granted I had gloves on, but that's another part of my kit.


Rocky

Fine steel wool.

Wax paper (a la your kitchen drawer) is MUCH better than newspaper.

zane wrote: ...Uhhh, vaseline burns?

Yup, even friction will set it off. Why do you think they called it Burntback Mountain?
BTW Zane, if I invite along anyone from the "Quest For Fire" gang, it'll have to be Rae Dawn Chong, not those guys. I just watched that movie not long ago, a scene toward the end really cracked me up--after the whole long journey to bring back fire and the tribe's old timer drops it in the lake It reminded me of me!

Eric

Ugh. WHite mans fire.....Heat both sides of canyon!

Blast-Match was the hot ticket, they haven't been available for quite some time. If someone knows a supplier give it up.

For firestarter keep the lint you clean out of your home dryer in a plastic bag- it will light off in a hurry and takes up no space, weighs nothing and is free. An excellent hatchet/wood tool is available from Woodsmans Pal.com.

Has anyone tried a fire piston? You can build them. They work great!
Hawker Stan

MY WIFE MAKes fire starters out of egg cartons. She fills half of the carton, the part the egg lays in, with lint from the dryer or saw dust, either one. THen she melts parafin wax and pours it into each slot and lets it cool. Just break off one slot and light. Starts all our fires on cold evenings and stores easily.

how bout a match and a cup of 100LL. Stand way back when you throw the match.

sorry, hit submit twice

In a mid-size hydration daypack I carry the following;
two space blankets, two ponchos, tube tent, large K-Bar knife, folding saw, water purification tablets, large candle, sardine can survival kit, a pack of waterproof matches, first aid kit, whistle, snakebite kit, collapsable cup, and an assortment of protein bars/trail mix/jerky.
In addition to this pack I carry one -30 F sleeping bag, and usually have the .17HMR.
When flying in the winter I also carry some extra clothes, snow shoes, and 50' of climbing rope.
On my body I have a leatherman, pack of matches, and sometimes another survival kit in a can.
Wish list - PLB, David Clark over the headset helmets, a nomex vest to better organize items on me.