One of the things I enjoy doing is looking through my bushcraft kit every now and then to see what can be improved, replaced or, better still, made myself. There are plenty of bits of kit that can be produced for next to nothing with a little time and imagination, and one of my favourites is a simple waterproof tinder card.
Commercial tinder cards work well enough, but they're incredibly easy to make at home using materials that would otherwise end up in the recycling bin. It's a great little project that only takes a few minutes and leaves you with a reliable fire-lighting aid that packs flat, weighs virtually nothing and can be tucked into pockets, possibles pouches, first aid kits or emergency bags.
For this project you'll need:
- Newspaper
- Wax
- Methylated spirits (meths)
- A small pan or old tin for melting wax
- A baking tray
- Greaseproof paper
Rather than buying wax specifically for the job, I like to recycle it whenever possible. In our house we seem to get through plenty of Babybel cheese, so I save the little red wax coatings until I have enough for projects like this. A few old candle ends work equally well if that's what you have available.
Begin by melting the wax gently in your pan. While it's melting, lay a sheet of newspaper on your baking tray and pour a small amount of meths onto it. You don't want the paper dripping wet—just damp enough for the meths to soak evenly throughout the sheet.
Cover the baking tray with greaseproof paper before you start. This keeps the tray clean and, if you're using the kitchen, helps avoid awkward conversations about getting wax everywhere! It also stops the finished tinder cards sticking while they cool.
Tear the damp newspaper into strips. Once the wax has completely melted, dip each strip into the wax one at a time, ensuring it is fully coated. Lift it out and hold it over the pan for a moment to allow any excess wax to drip back before laying it onto the greaseproof paper.
Once you've coated all of the strips, give each one a second dip. This helps seal any areas you may have missed and creates a much more durable waterproof coating. Leave them to cool completely before using or storing them.
If you've done a thorough job and covered every part of the paper, the finished tinder cards should be completely waterproof. Rain simply beads up and runs off, making them ideal for canoe trips, backpacking adventures or simply carrying as part of your everyday fire kit.
To test mine, I tore off a small section and fluffed up the paper fibres along the edge. Exposing those fibres gives the spark something to bite into, while the meths helps the flame establish itself quickly. Using a ferrocerium rod, it ignited on the very first strike and continued to burn for around five minutes—more than enough time to get kindling properly established.
Simple projects like this remind me that effective bushcraft doesn't have to involve expensive equipment. A little ingenuity, a few recycled materials and half an hour in the workshop can produce reliable kit that performs every bit as well as many shop-bought alternatives.
If you decide to make a batch, I'd recommend producing plenty while you have the wax melted. They store almost indefinitely, take up very little space and it's surprising how quickly you find yourself tucking them into every rucksack, possibles pouch and emergency kit you own.