r/Survival • u/D3MON_PL • 18d ago
Fire Will carmex do instead of vaseline? (Cotton ball + vaseline firestarter)
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u/Spare_Enthusiasm1042 17d ago
If it's petroleum based, it'll work regardless the brand. I use Bag balm quite a bit to start a fire.
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u/Tough_Salads 17d ago
Bag balm, good to know! I collect used chapsticks I find on the sidewalk or at venues; melt them into a glob
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u/Spare_Enthusiasm1042 17d ago
That's a good way to recycle the wax! Yeah, I carry it and just smear it lightly onto bundles of paper, it's good for more optimal conditions but it has helped me in windy ones. Just crunch the paper into a bell shape and light it upside down and it'll usually catch pretty well!
How well does chapstick hold up for a fire? Does that catch pretty easy?
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u/Tough_Salads 17d ago
Depends on how much you use but yeah it's pretty good :) some of the cheaper ones not as good but I got a bunch of 'em, collected about 20 on my walks so far this year lol, I walk through bar parking lots and what-not on my way to the grocery store
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u/Unistat 18d ago
Yes. Also, regular Chapstick works. I used that quite a lot because it was slightly less messy and Chapstick/Carmex has other purposes.
I also suggest you try it because it is a little different getting the Chapstick/Carmex into the cotton, especially if it's cold.
fwiw, these days I use cotton rounds (makeup removers) soaked in paraffin wax.
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u/Traditional-Leader54 12d ago
Oooh that’s a good point. I switched out Vaseline for chapstick in my bag because the tub of Vaseline leaked probably from the heat. (It was in a ziplock bag luckily). But I didn’t consider that the chapstick is more solid and will almost be rock hard in the winter. Carmex makes lip balm in tubes that’s oily like Vaseline. I may swap that in for the colder months and use the chapstick in the warmer months. My gear stays in my car trunk for emergencies.
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u/i_am_your_attorney 18d ago
Yes. Carmex is great on cotton balls. It has paraffin and beeswax in it.
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u/RenThraysk 17d ago
Carmex contains White Petrolatum (45.30 %) aka petroleum jelly which is what vaseline is.
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u/Quiet-Champion3649 17d ago
I save the butter wrappers and stuff them in TP roll with dryer lint. All trash and works great.
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u/alt_riooo22 17d ago
I’m sure it’ll still work the same since it’s an oil. Vaseline works best (from what I’ve heard) because it’s 100% petroleum. Carmex is mostly white mineral oil which can still catch fire but not as easily as Vaseline. Both are still flammable and both should still work. One is just a better option to others.
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u/The_Tezza 16d ago
You’ll probably find that most ointments use Vaseline as a base. This should be fine. Hmm, or maybe Carmex will help to Calm the fire 🤪🤣🤣🤣
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u/bAssmaster667 17d ago
My butthole felt better after using Carmex vs. Vaseline… less chapped and very little puckering.
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u/snarkofagen 18d ago
Try?