5 Dollar Preps: DIY Fire Starter

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

By Joel Jefferson •  2 min read

Being able to start a fire in an emergency situation is critical to your survival.  Fire provides warmth, comfort, protection, and the ability to purify water.  A low cost do it yourself fire starter might be just what you are looking for.

Here is a cheap and effective way to build your own fire starter cubes.  Low Cost Fire StarterThese cubes can be used to start a reliable fire in any weather situation.  The best news is you can make these fire starters for very little money.  You will need an egg carton, dryer lint, paraffin (~1lb), aluminum foil and a way to melt the paraffin.

How To Make It

The first step is to cut off the top of the egg carton.  Place the egg carton on top of the sheet of aluminum foil.  This will keep you from having a very big mess.  Plus it is easy to remove the excess wax from the aluminum.  Next, fill the egg cups with dryer lint.

low cost fire starterNext: After you have topped off all of the egg cups, pour melted paraffin over the dryer lint.  Stop when the wax reaches the bottom of the cups.

low cost do it yourself firestarters for survival

SurvivalCache Video Review

Finally: Place the egg carton and foil into the freezer.  If you decide to skip this step, the egg carton will become porous and the wax will run through to the aluminum foil.  Bottom line, don’t skip this step.  Once the wax solidifies you can continue pouring the liquid wax into the cups. When the cups are about half full, I stop again and place the egg carton into the freezer.  After the wax hardens you can safely fill the egg carton with wax.  When the wax cools you can break apart the cubes.  I wrap the cubes in the aluminum foil.

Forge Survival Supply

Enjoy: When using the cubes I place them on the aluminum foil to prevent the wax from going to the ground.  It will also make an excellent barrier when trying to start a fire in the snow.  After you complete all of these step, insert your fire starter into fire tender and light.

low cost fire starter for survival

All Photos by Dave H.

Joel Jefferson

Joel is one of the original founders of SurvivalCache.com. After college, he joined the USMC where he served as an (0302) Marine Infantry Officer. Joel is an avid outdoorsman and spends much of his free time in the mountains. Joel’s hobby is researching survival gear & weapons as well as prepping. Read his full interview here.