Message Forums

I am not very good at bushcraft,  but I think the sort of thing to start a fire.dry shavings or cotton wool balls, you can by from any camp shop a tin of sorry I have forgotten the name, kindling described as above by scep, then add larger pieces of wood.

Heather

hi scotty! i agree with SC's method but definately take a bottle of squirty fire fluid with you as this can be used when/if its really snowing and wet to help keep things going, we never go on a camping trip without it regardless of how great my hubby is at keeping a good fire going all night!

Have a good trip and don't foprget the pics

Quote: Originally posted by a.lawton650 on 30/11/2010

---

... regardless of how great my hubby is at keeping a good fire going all night!

---

Because I always have them with me when camping, I use a few sheets of paper kitchen roll screwed into a loose ball, with a very small amount of meths on it. Gives a lot of heat, and burns without smoke for quite a while. Mainly when lighting my kelly kettle. I also keep wet wipes after using. once they dry out which does not take very long, they also burn well with meths on.

I also have three turboflame gas lighters that are a mini blow lamp for this purpose, but found them to be very temperamental, even though I found their web site and followed the instructions to the letter.

Quote: Originally posted by suns on 30/11/2010

---

Cotton wool soaked in vasleine is also a good fire starter

---

Quote: Originally posted by a.lawton650 on 30/11/2010

---

hi scotty! i agree with SC's method but definately take a bottle of squirty fire fluid with you as this can be used when/if its really snowing and wet to help keep things going, we never go on a camping trip without it regardless of how great my hubby is at keeping a good fire going all night!

---

Squirty fire lighter fluid is great to start a fire but never use it to revive a failing fire - hot coals can cause the 'squirt' to ignite and flash back to the bottle - and whoever was holding it!

Best bit of kit for keeping a failing fire going is a small footpump, which we usually have with us anyway for airbeds, etc. You can use it to provide steady flow of air aimed into the base of the fire to get the temperature really hot so that the fire can take hold - just like a set of bellows.

I assume you've thought of this, but in case not - if the snow is not too deep to clear, it's far better to clear the snow off the ground before you start the fire.