Bio Fuel

These can be square like the ones in the photograph or round like the ones Chappy does.

Bio-Fuel.  Seriously one of the coolest things.  Easy to make, super affordable, and the best part...  Easy to start, even with a flint and steel.

Chappy from NewSurvivalSkills.com came up with this amazing tool.  Here is the bio-fuel video he did.

This one, like the Uber matches in my last post can be a great "to-do" with the kids.  

Here are the ingredients you'll need.

*1 3 wick candle. (about 3 lbs or 48oz.  I believe the 3 wick candles are just a little bit smaller than that full 3 lbs.)

*2 containers of petroleum jelly ( 6 oz. each)

*Cotton make-up or cosmetic pads.  (These can be round or square. and can be found nearly any where that cosmetics are sold.)

Tools you'll want and need:

*Chop sticks, forceps, tongs, large tweezers.  Basically anything that you are comfortable using to lift the cotton pads into and then out of the hot wax.

*An old pot or #10 can.  Something big enough to melt your ingredients in.

*Aluminum foil or wax paper.

*You may want to use a cookie sheet underneath your aluminum or wax paper.  I like doing that because I can more easily get things out of the way if I have to move.

Projects like this typically get their own #10 can for the purposes of storing the left over ingredients.  Especially when we know we'll be using it again.  

Using your pot or #10 can you can start melting the wax.  Again this is a great use for the #10 can.  On low heat this can be your "pot".  I find that breaking the candle or wax into smaller chunks makes the melting process faster.  Once all of the wax is melted, pull out the wicks, and then add all of the petroleum jelly.  If you're going to use a spoon, use one that will be used only for this purpose.  We like to use cheap chop sticks.  They can be used to stir the contents, but also for pulling the finished product out of the wax.  However, we have also used forceps and metal tongs.  Both work just fine.  

Once the wax and petroleum jelly are melted, begin dipping the cotton make-up pads into the melted wax.  Take care to cover the entire pad in the wax by submerging it.  Once it's, coated pull it out, letting it drip momentarily, and then place it on a wax paper or aluminum sheet surface.  I prefer aluminum.

You can do them one at a time, or several at the same time.  Just make sure that they are separate when you lay them out to cool.

Now that you have this cool pile of wax pucks, aka, bio-fuel... now what?

You can light these with matches.  That's easy enough.  But you can also light these with flint and steel.  And if you can do it with a flint and steel, you can do it with a ferro rod.

You simply pull or fluff a part of the puck.  A good strike and this will light.  Then once you have it lit, you can use the entire puck to get your survival fire going, OR use it long enough to light something else and then blow it out saving it for another time.  Just re-fluff the spot you want to ignite again.  Another thing that I like about these, is that you can break them in to smaller pieces.  This is especially helpful if your having to ration your supplies.

Take a minute and subscribe to New Survival Skills.  They have excellent information, and thoughts on survival.  I especially like their videos on the DIY solar oven, 20 mm ammo can wood burning stove, and other reviews.