Make a Fire Starter Using a Straw

Planning a camping adventure in the woods with the family and forgot your pre-treated wood burning logs for the campfire at home? If your “rubbing two sticks together” skills aren’t up to snuff, have no fear. You can create a firestarter-to-go, using just a few simple items you're likely to have to hand.

Steps

Preparing the straw

  1. Cut the drinking straw in half and seal one end. That way, the fire starters are more portable and can easily travel with your camping gear.
  2. Pinch the end of the cut straw with pliers and hold your lighter to the end. Melt slightly to seal the straw completely closed.
  3. Check the end to make sure it is fully sealed. The heat should have fused it together so after you remove the lighter, allow it to set for a few minutes and then inspect to ensure it has sealed.

Adding the fuel

  1. Mince the cotton makeup remover pad into a small heap. Mix the cotton fibers with Vaseline (or any petroleum jelly). Push as much of this mixture as possible into the straw. For quick mincing, use scissors to get the process started.
    • Place a small amount of the cotton-Vaseline mixture at the top of the straw (the un-fused end) and then use your stick to push it down inside the straw. Make sure it reaches the end of the straw.
  2. Repeat this step until you have enough cotton to fill the small straw. Just be sure to leave enough room at the top of the straw so that you can fuse it together.

Lighting the straw fire starter

  1. Pinch the other end of the straw together. Light the end to fuse it closed. This will seal the cotton inside the straw and provide you with a great, portable fire starter.
    • Avoid burning the straw end––hold the lighter a few inches (centimeters) away from the straw end.
  2. Finished.

Tips

  • Keep several little fire starters in your gear for quick and easy ways to get the campfire going.

Warnings

  • Only melt and use the burning straw in a well-ventilated place. Burning plastic releases toxins that you shouldn't be breathing in.
  • Always use fire starters with parental or adult supervision.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 drinking straw
  • Pliers
  • a Lighter
  • Cotton makeup remover pad
  • Vaseline petroleum jelly
  • Scissors

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