Problem with Bic or any other "fuel" lighter is given enough time they quit working. You should mark them with the date of purchase and throw them away after a reasonable time--ask me how I know this!
I always carry a flint and steel and keep a couple of 35mm film cans stuffed with steel wool handy--those will still work after getting wet. The modern magnesium starters work great too.
True - I'd forgotten to measure that (I also tend to write the dates on "maintenance items" when I replace them - plastic pressure tanks, fan clutches, hoses, ...)
Steel wool is handy, but if you want something that can give you more effective starts, try this:
- Take a number of cotton balls and some petroleum jelly.
- Knead the jelly into the cotton
thoroughly. You want to get the stuff mixed with the cotton as much as possible!
- Pack the 35m/m film cannister (or whatever you're using) with the cotton balls after you're done.
To use, just pick out some cotton, fluff it back up, and light. It's waterproof, you can carry much more of it than steel wool, and it's just as effective of a firelighter (I've found.) Will light readily using a standard lighter or a flint/steel.
NB: If your Bic lighter runs out of fuel, peel the upper stamped guard off of it -
presto! You now have a flint & steel with a handle and an easy-to-use thumbwheel!
Want to make emergency matches? Take some Blue Tip O-Hi-O (Strike Anywhere) matches. Melt some paraffin in a double boiler. Hold the plain end of the matchstick with a tweezers or something, and quickly dip about 2/3-3/4 of the length of the match in the paraffin wax. Hold up to dry.
When you put them in a cannister (of whatever variety,) stick a piece of 80-120 grit sandpaper inside the lid (striking surface.) Depending on how thoroughly you dunked the match heads, you can either strike them on the sandpaper or you'll have to strip some of the wax off of the tip with your thumbnail.
Waterproofs the matches, and enhances the burning so they can start a fire more effectively. Test them before storage. Shelf Life: INDEFINITE
Evergreen boughs make
great kindling, particularly if they're dry. Keep the needles on - that's the part you want! If they're dry, you can also get them going with a shower of sparks from a good flint & steel (a Bic is borderline for this.)
Learn to use a "fire bow" - when all else fails, you damned sure
can staart a fire by rubbing two sticks together. Using a fire bow will save you wear and tear on your paws - the bow and blocks can be improvised in the field, and you should have some decent string in your field kit anyhow (you can strip some of the string - that's why you use a natural fibre - to make kindling as well. Cotton, jute, hemp, and manila will all work well for this.) You won't get a flame directly from the bow itself, but you can get enough heat (from friction) to get something smouldering - and then pick it up and feed it air to get a small flame. It grows from there.
It's getting harder to find, but
everyone should own a copy of
The Boy Scout's Handbook. Period.
Especially if you've a hobby that takes out "out into the blue" for any length of time. You won't need everything in the
BSH - but about six knots, basic skills, and ID of what to eat (and what
not to eat!) can make all of the difference in the world!
