It is said that even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then. I have some nutty discoveries to pass along. These discoveries do not merit 1,500 words individually. Collectively, they may deserve some attention. I have compiled them into a single article for your edification and entertainment.
Fire Starting
Cadillac Mink Oil
Mink oil is a byproduct of the fur industry, obtained by rendering the insulating fatty layer found under the skin of minks. It is more resistant to rancidity than most other animal and vegetable oils. It is used as a skin moisturizer and in other cosmetics, as a treatment to make leather more pliable and waterproof, as a biofuel, as lubrication for black powder patches, and as a case lube for reloading. As a biofuel, it produces more energy per unit than most other animal fats.
I recently ran across an 8 ounce jar of mink oil at a thrift store for 50 cents. That is a great deal. The cheapest I was able to find a similar jar elsewhere was for $6.95 on eBay.
As a dedicated kindler of campfires (pyromaniac), one of my first questions was, “How well does this stuff burn?” One of my favorite tinders is a cotton ball dabbed with petroleum jelly. I wondered how mink oil would compare with petroleum jelly as an accelerant when used in conjunction with a cotton ball.
Two times I put a dab of mink oil on a cotton ball, and then ignited the cotton ball with a ferrocerium rod. Both times I got the same results. The mink oil burned much faster than is typical for petroleum jelly. A dab of petroleum jelly will typically burn for two to three minutes. The mink oil will typically be consumed in about a minute. During that minute, the flame will typically be larger and hotter than would be the case for petroleum jelly. The mink oil also produces a subtle, vaguely unpleasant odor as it burns. The smell is not overpowering, but it is noticeable.
All in all, I prefer the more consistent, slower burn of petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly is also typically available at a lower cost than mink oil. But if mink oil is all that you have available, it should do a good job.
Guitar Picks and Damp Tinder
I recently wrote an article about making waterproof tinder. It was published on SurvivalBlog on June 6, 2021. In a note on the article, JWR observed: “One sure way to get even a damp tinder packet going is by attaching a standard celluloid guitar pick. Celluloid burns hot and fast. If its edges are roughed up with a knife, then a guitar pick can be easily ignited with a ferro rod. The burning pick will in turn ignite your tinder packet. I’ve found that celluloid guitar picks are available inexpensively in bulk (by the hundred) on eBay.”
This intriguing comment demanded further investigation, so I went on eBay and found “100pcs Guitar Picks Acoustic Electric Plectrums Celluloid Assorted Colors” for $3.36 plus free shipping. I placed the order, and a couple of weeks later received a package of guitar picks in the mail. I selected one pick at random, and attempted to rough up an edge with a knife. The edge of the knife tended to slide harmlessly along the edge of the pick. Instead, I finally cut fuzz-stick-like peelings along the edge of the pick. I then folded it in half like a tent, and attempted to light it with a ferrocerrium rod. The thin ends of some of the peelings would show signs of ignition, and then self extinguish.
I next attempted to light the pick with a permanent metal match. The end of the pick would melt and char, but it would not ignite. I repeated the attempt with a plasma lighter. Finally, I repeated the attempt with a second pick. All of these attempts were without success. The picks appear to be made of some material other than celluloid, perhaps nylon.
With that in mind, I contacted the seller to request a refund, and received it later the same day.
A Norwegian saying goes, “A burned cat avoids the fire.” Having been burned once, I was hesitant to order from eBay again. I decided to talk to our senior pastor, who plays the guitar, about the best place to get cheap celluloid guitar picks.Continue reading“The Blind Squirrel Report, by The Novice”
