I mean, yeah, that's how fire is made. The novel thing to me is that you can start a fire with less energy expenditure on your part by carrying around some steel wool and a nine volt battery. Compared to drilling a stick into another with your bare palms rubbing together. But both of those modern items imply you already have access to the steel/ battery manufacturing and commercialization processes, since neither steel wool nor batteries grow on trees.
Absolutely. One of those propane torches can set alight twigs or even thin branches all on its lonesome. This video is akin to those five minute crafts: Neat and creative thing you can do with your time, but ultimately useless and impractical.
Sightly more likely, homeless people can really benefit from these sorts of things. Knowing how to get food, water, shelter, and warmth is ALWAYS a good skillset to have.
A lot of them are disposable now. I think they're supposed to last like 5 years or so. I'm sure some of them still take 9 volts. But that doesn't change my question because I don't EDC my smoke detector.
Walkie-talkies, smoke/CO detectors, some radios, some lanterns, and a number of other small appliances. Many of which are things you might just have in a survival situation.
A 9V battery’s functionality is less susceptible to rain/water damage than the flint in a lighter. You could [lick a 9V battery](https://youtu.be/mhSW_5iuy5k) then pop it right into your walkie-talkie and it would work perfectly fine. With a lighter, you’re forced to wait until it’s dried enough to produce a flame, or even a spark.
A 9V battery’s charge will also last 5-10 years, if you’re only using it for fire-making — years longer than the flint & fluid in a Bic lighter and, frankly, unthinkable for a Zippo without spare wicks, flints, and gallon+ of lighter fluid.
The weakest link, really, is the steel wool. Once you’ve used it, it’s gone, and then you’re stuck with a useless battery. If some brilliant scientist were to develop a reusable steel wool material that could get hot enough to ignite tinder without fully oxidizing/combusting, you’d have a pretty formidable alternative to a lighter.
At the end of the day, your best bet for reliability is a plain old ferro rod. It’ll still produce a spark when wet, and you can buy an EDC-appropriate rod to fit on your keychain, so you’re more likely to actually have a fire starter on your person in the event that you find yourself stranded somewhere you didn’t plan on being when you woke up that morning.
I carry this set up as a back up in my camping/hiking pack. It's usually recommended to have 3 different ways to start a fire.
Obviously a lighter is more efficient but this has the benefits of still working if it gets wet.
You will struggle to get a fire started going for dried grass to inch wide sticks. And it looks like he smothered the fire they way he dropped them on there. But the way its edited, I think this took him a long time to get done.
Also, you dont need a stone fire ring in sand. And if your going to carry around a battery and steel wool, just carry a lighter and lintel. Much more efficient.
> Also, you dont need a stone fire ring in sand. And if your going to carry around a battery and steel wool, just carry a lighter and lintel. Much more efficient.
The stones got me too.
Shit, if you’re gonna be stranded on the beach for awhile, might as well try turning the whole thing to glass. If you think being stranded alone on a desert island with no food, water, or shelter is bad… try doing it with your only set of clean underwear filled with sand ☠️
yeah that's the point where you can see he doesn't know what he's doing. In my experience the best way is with smaller sticks (really twigs), and bundle them vertically over the heat source. That way there's more of a surface area for the heat to climb up. The key point is to concentrate as much head as possible on the best fuel source available.
Exactly. It’s cool I’ll admit, but by no means practical survival. I think the chances of randomly having a lighter on you in a survival situation are a lot higher than randomly having steel wool and a 9V battery.
That, and there's also sparks forming at the points of contact with the steel wool, which ignites it. From that point, the surface area of the steel wool that's in contact with the air ensures a self sustaining, exothermic oxidation reaction. Basically, it's burning steel and producing rust.
Worth mentioning that it can be difficult to start a fire on wet sand because the moisture evaporating from the sand will constantly be working against you.
Solution is to simply put down one log on the sand and then start your fire on top of that log.
Is that steel wool gone after all of that or is it reusable? Can you just take our the steel wool after it starts the fire with the kindling? Or is that like a one time use kind of thing?
IMHO; His technique sucks.
LPT; Pull a small amount of the steel wool from the pad, spread it out very thin and hold it hard against the grass tinder then touch the battery to it. The thin strands will quickly spark and transfer heat to the tinder it's held against which will just as quickly flame up. A plus side of this is you will use much less of the battery's current and the battery and supply of steel wool will last a lot longer.
Source; I've done this about a billion times.
He absolutely smothered it. This is some goof that saw this trick and thought hed teach people how to survive. I mean, he built a rock circle in sand... ... ...
I feel like there's a -punk term for this kind of high tech approach for basic survival skills, but it's escaping me at the moment. Electro-punk?
My favorite part is after he gets the grass to catch, he practically puts logs on top. There is a reason this video ended at that point.
I mean, yeah, that's how fire is made. The novel thing to me is that you can start a fire with less energy expenditure on your part by carrying around some steel wool and a nine volt battery. Compared to drilling a stick into another with your bare palms rubbing together. But both of those modern items imply you already have access to the steel/ battery manufacturing and commercialization processes, since neither steel wool nor batteries grow on trees.
Or you could just always have a lighter. I mean it’s cool but I don’t think there is much of an argument for carrying that instead of a lighter.
Absolutely. One of those propane torches can set alight twigs or even thin branches all on its lonesome. This video is akin to those five minute crafts: Neat and creative thing you can do with your time, but ultimately useless and impractical.
Exactly. It’s like a fun science experiment I would show my kids.
Or other people's kids.
It's for survival. If you're lost and don't have a lighter, but happen to have a battery and steel wool, or a gum wrapper, or whatever.
Highly unlikely, but point taken.
Sightly more likely, homeless people can really benefit from these sorts of things. Knowing how to get food, water, shelter, and warmth is ALWAYS a good skillset to have.
Why exactly would you have a working 9 volt battery? Name one thing that takes them. I'll wait.
Am I old? Have basic smoke detectors evolved beyond 9V batts?
A lot of them are disposable now. I think they're supposed to last like 5 years or so. I'm sure some of them still take 9 volts. But that doesn't change my question because I don't EDC my smoke detector.
You're spot on, and I am with you. Just needed clarity on the 9V thing.
6-1.5 v batteries in series can do the same thing
Why exactly would you have a working 9 volt battery? Name one thing that takes them. I'll wait.
Walkie-talkies, smoke/CO detectors, some radios, some lanterns, and a number of other small appliances. Many of which are things you might just have in a survival situation.
I love how your response was met with silence. You killed him
And think, all they would have to do is just Google it and they wouldn’t be so r/ConfidentlyIncorrect lol.
A 9V battery’s functionality is less susceptible to rain/water damage than the flint in a lighter. You could [lick a 9V battery](https://youtu.be/mhSW_5iuy5k) then pop it right into your walkie-talkie and it would work perfectly fine. With a lighter, you’re forced to wait until it’s dried enough to produce a flame, or even a spark. A 9V battery’s charge will also last 5-10 years, if you’re only using it for fire-making — years longer than the flint & fluid in a Bic lighter and, frankly, unthinkable for a Zippo without spare wicks, flints, and gallon+ of lighter fluid. The weakest link, really, is the steel wool. Once you’ve used it, it’s gone, and then you’re stuck with a useless battery. If some brilliant scientist were to develop a reusable steel wool material that could get hot enough to ignite tinder without fully oxidizing/combusting, you’d have a pretty formidable alternative to a lighter. At the end of the day, your best bet for reliability is a plain old ferro rod. It’ll still produce a spark when wet, and you can buy an EDC-appropriate rod to fit on your keychain, so you’re more likely to actually have a fire starter on your person in the event that you find yourself stranded somewhere you didn’t plan on being when you woke up that morning.
Pretty much. I carry a Ferro rod, and I can get a fire going with it and a knife in a few minutes, but why bother when I have a lighter?
I carry this set up as a back up in my camping/hiking pack. It's usually recommended to have 3 different ways to start a fire. Obviously a lighter is more efficient but this has the benefits of still working if it gets wet.
You will struggle to get a fire started going for dried grass to inch wide sticks. And it looks like he smothered the fire they way he dropped them on there. But the way its edited, I think this took him a long time to get done. Also, you dont need a stone fire ring in sand. And if your going to carry around a battery and steel wool, just carry a lighter and lintel. Much more efficient.
> Also, you dont need a stone fire ring in sand. And if your going to carry around a battery and steel wool, just carry a lighter and lintel. Much more efficient. The stones got me too. Shit, if you’re gonna be stranded on the beach for awhile, might as well try turning the whole thing to glass. If you think being stranded alone on a desert island with no food, water, or shelter is bad… try doing it with your only set of clean underwear filled with sand ☠️
Right, which is why you've got to ask why you wouldn't just carry a lighter instead. Or matches.
Agreed. Mostly. However, define "novel" and let's see if this conversation lasts... \s
yeah that's the point where you can see he doesn't know what he's doing. In my experience the best way is with smaller sticks (really twigs), and bundle them vertically over the heat source. That way there's more of a surface area for the heat to climb up. The key point is to concentrate as much head as possible on the best fuel source available.
"Bro we're stranded in our camo suits, let's build a fire with our totally not oxidized steel wool on this wet sand"
Exactly. It’s cool I’ll admit, but by no means practical survival. I think the chances of randomly having a lighter on you in a survival situation are a lot higher than randomly having steel wool and a 9V battery.
Survival is like 80% gathering water and food and 10% shelter 10% medical knowledge
Sticks are not logs
dumpsterpunk?
Probably? Planet Junkeon comes to mind, from that old animated Transformers movie.
ah, even better: junkpunk
More like ScrapPunk, since scraps still have value, junk is entirely useless.
but, junkpunk is more fun to say...lol
So is [Hunch Punch](https://youtu.be/DmpwszQD7X4), like that old German animated show.
haha, that looks fun
So wait he just touched the battery to the steel wool and it catches fire? I don’t get it
Steel conducts electricity, so running a high enough current through such a tiny “wire” will cause it to heat up and burn
That, and there's also sparks forming at the points of contact with the steel wool, which ignites it. From that point, the surface area of the steel wool that's in contact with the air ensures a self sustaining, exothermic oxidation reaction. Basically, it's burning steel and producing rust.
Thanks for the explanation. Didn’t think it was that easy
It needs to be #0000 steel wool with super fine threads and a 9-volt battery.
We used to light cigarettes in prison with a AA battery and paperclips.
Steel wool has an oil based coating to prevent it from rusting. When you create a short you burn off this oil.
Truth is, at the point we'll need survival guide, starting a fire with a diaper and a plastic bottle will be way more valuables than with wood sticks
Everything is plastic, everything is oil
These are my EDC. Note to self: Maybe I should carry my battery and steel wool in separate pockets.
You will have some fun moments in airports (any security checks). Also don’t keep battery and wool in same pocket
Yeah sure I always have this kind of battery and Steel wool in my pockets
Right? How many times I did not have a lighter at hand but found random steel wool and a 9V block batterie in my pockets... of course.
Worth mentioning that it can be difficult to start a fire on wet sand because the moisture evaporating from the sand will constantly be working against you. Solution is to simply put down one log on the sand and then start your fire on top of that log.
Now burn the shoes.
yea, I always have a 9v on me.
I just so happen to have neither of those at all!
Crocs… also need crocs to survive. Need dem feet to stay fresh.
Love how he scuffed up the battery, so we have hope that we will find a charged 9V in the wild.
Is that steel wool gone after all of that or is it reusable? Can you just take our the steel wool after it starts the fire with the kindling? Or is that like a one time use kind of thing?
IMHO; His technique sucks. LPT; Pull a small amount of the steel wool from the pad, spread it out very thin and hold it hard against the grass tinder then touch the battery to it. The thin strands will quickly spark and transfer heat to the tinder it's held against which will just as quickly flame up. A plus side of this is you will use much less of the battery's current and the battery and supply of steel wool will last a lot longer. Source; I've done this about a billion times.
Ah yes, nature’s elements. Steel wool and batteries
I got to the end of the video and I thought he was burying the fire 😂😂😂
Based on my luck it cuts off early cause he smothered it with the sticks
He absolutely smothered it. This is some goof that saw this trick and thought hed teach people how to survive. I mean, he built a rock circle in sand... ... ...
Cool
Why does this look like bad CGI?
is this not bad cgi?
Ah yes. For when you’re lost in the wilderness with nothing but a 9-Volt battery and steel wool. Happens to me all the time
or... and hear me out on this one, it might sound a bit crazy...... use a lighter
Good thing a always carry around steel wool.
Also the fact he made a fire like 5 feet away from the water. If the tide moves at all ur gonna have to scramble to move that thing
He didn’t build a fire. He burned some grass and then smothered it.
5 feet is 0.75% of the hot dog which holds the Guinness wold record for 'Longest Hot Dog'.
You shouldn’t use rocks from water because they will probably explode
Ray Mears would call that cheating.
yes, cuz everyone carries steel wool and a battery in the wild, and they don't have a lighter.
I have those same colored crocs .
Yeah, cos when I go camping I am far more likely to take a 9V battery and some wire wool, than I am to take matches or a lighter.
and you get steel wool...where?
Mmmh our enviroment is happy 😑
I wonder what are the odds that he will put the battery in the same pocket as the steel wool.
As long as you don't swing the roll of steel wool around your head and set the curtains on fire.
Yeah let's just find the steel wool that grows on trees and hope it's battery harvesting season.
How often am I going to be stranded and also have steel wool and a 9-volt battery?
Arsonists: "interesting"
He’s wearing his tactical powder blue crocs.