[kevin]

so here's my latest everyday tinder. It rides on the carabiner w/ my SAK. I'm cutting myself off with this item cuz I'm running out of space in the pocket. In an earlier post of mine, the SAK can be seen w/ a little string of jute tagging along for tinder. I like the effectiveness of jute tinder, but wanted to be able to carry more for more fires so I started carrying a 2" fob made by cobra stitching about 5' of jute. the only problem to solve then was that I also wanted it a slightly more sustainable flame to allow time to catch fine dry kindling, or secondary tinder. If you've unraveled jute you know it catches like nobody's business w/ firesteel but POOF and it's gone. The idea sprung from a wax dipped-jute kindling setup for sale by Bushcraft Northwest. I just figured I'd dip my fob once in melted candle wax. in the pics, you can see it as it rides in my pocket, then how I pop out a stitch or two (that's all it takes) w/ the knife and cut if off. last pics are the unraveled fluff pile, and finally the 1min. flame followed by the 2 min flame. whole thing was burned out by 3 minutes.

by the way, not sure why the camera time of the photo is same on last two, I had the stopwatch going so time is good.

[willyboy]

Their is a small differance in the pic Kevin

[Mac]

nifty idea!

i too am a fan of the jute

[rslt]

Nice set of tools you have there, can tell there has been a lot of thought put into it.

[B52gundog]

This is an excellent idea! I just recently bought some jute and it is nice tinder. I've actually replaced the cotton balls in my survival kit to jute. I May have to see about waxing the jute to make it last longer.

I wonder though, would the wax wear off the fob over time? Would the wax gum-up your pockets?

Just an idea, is it be feasible to dip the jute in the wax before stitching the fob?

[cowgirlup]

Nice idea and handy too!

[tjwilhelm]

Yo Kevin! Kevin hits another homer! Thanks!

[kevin]

Originally Posted by B52gundog

This is an excellent idea! I just recently bought some jute and it is nice tinder. I've actually replaced the cotton balls in my survival kit to jute. I May have to see about waxing the jute to make it last longer.

I wonder though, would the wax wear off the fob over time? Would the wax gum-up your pockets?

Just an idea, is it be feasible to dip the jute in the wax before stitching the fob?

All great concerns B52! Here's my thoughts and comments on your points:

"I've actually replaced the cotton balls in my survival kit to jute"
YOU DON'T GET ANYWHERE NEAR THE BURN TIME W/ JUTE (EVEN W/ WAX) AS YOU GET W/ COTTONBALLS TJ STYLE; FOR ME THIS IS NOT A REPLACEMENT, JUST PREFERABLE FOR POCKET CARRY

"I May have to see about waxing the jute to make it last longer"
RUN A TEST AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

"I wonder though, would the wax wear off the fob over time?"
I SUBMERSE THE FOB IN WAX, ONE QUICK DIP, THEN SHAKE OFF THE EXCESS. THE JUTE ABSORBS THE HOT LIQUID WAX INTO THE FIBERS INSIDE, PROTECTED FROM WEAR; BUT NOT SO MUCH THAT YOU CAN'T EASILY GET FLUFF. SURFACE EXCESS MAY WEAR OFF, BUT SO FAR, STILL GETTING SUPERIOR BURN TO PLAIN JUTE. I'M GUESSING WAX ALSO HELPS WARD OFF MOISTURE.

"Would the wax gum-up your pockets?"
REMEMBER, IT'S NOT DRIPPING W/ WAX. SO FAR, NO MESSY POCKETS.

"Just an idea, is it be feasible to dip the jute in the wax before stitching the fob?"
THOUGHT ABOUT IT, HAVE NO TRIED. I'M GUESSING PRE-DIPPING THEN WORKING THE CORD WILL CREATE A LOT OF CRUMBLY WAX MESS?

[elpidi0526]

I loved the jute twine fob idea. Definitely going to make one of those.

This idea of incorporating tinder this way got me thinking. Here's what I came up with.


My keychain


One of my items: my widgy bar.


Others who have purchased the widgy have wrapped theirs in 550 paracord. Didn't feel the need to do that myself. (For me, having the ability to have only one foot of paracord doesn't justify a good reason for wrapping up the widgy.) But what about jute twine? hmm...


Wrapped up in about three feet of jute twine. Finished it off with a little hairspray.





Thanks for the inspiration Kevin.

[kevin]

sweet. dip in wax for a little extra umph. I love the stuff because rather than strike into my firesteel 1/2 dozen times into a pile of manicured tinder, I just unravel a little jute for instant, transferrable flame - and save my firesteel (not that w/ the armageddon I'm worried, but I just hate to waste anything)