Firestarting: Cotton Balls and Vaseline?

From Franklin at http://www.survivalforum.com

I never heard of this before.... "If you soak cotton balls in vaseline they are a great fire starter. Also the lint from a dryer is super combustible and works great.

Also, if you add a little bit of salt peter, they'll ignite faster. This is important if your using only spark to ignite them."

Anyone know this to be true? If so, sounds very simple and a good way to have "fuel" if you are in the woods.

-- Franklin (webmaster@survivalforum.com), March 27, 2002

Answers

second page of the cub scout book,, can also use pariffin

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), March 27, 2002.

Since vaseline is 'petroleum jelly' I imagine it is flammable! I have always heard to stuff your egg cartons with dryer lint and a little melted parrafin, as well. I haven't tried it as I reuse all the egg cartons I can get my hands on, and I rarely use a dryer!

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), March 27, 2002.

I have used leftover cooking oil on a clean rag that was too ragged for anything else to start our burn piles before. The oil kept the rag burning long enough to get the kindling going.

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), March 27, 2002.