[bigbmc]

I am building a couple of little Altoid* tin survival kits to throw in my pack and in the GHB. Right now the list is as follows:

Cutting tools: razor blade and commando wire saw
Fire starting: mini BIC, papaer match book and a couple of cotton balls
Water: 10 iodine purification tablets
Food: fishing kit (30 or so yrds of 6lb test, 3 small hooks and 3, line weights)
Signaling: small camp mirror(cut in half to fit), small metal whistle
Navigation: very, very small compass (found at REI)
Misc: P38, and 2 alcohol prep wipes (disenfecting cuts and fire tinder)

I would like to replace match book and posibly the BIC as well with a small firesteel but I dont know where to get one small enough, and the cotton balls I think I might replace with some tinder of some sort.

Any suggestions on fire starters and tinder, or anything else?

Thanks

 

[vicdotcom]

I say keep the lighters, if an emergency comes up that is bad enough to use that little tin, you will need fire fast and no reason to fart around with a firesteel (even though I love them).

My view on a survival tin is that it is for situations that is only meant to help you last a few more hours or a couple of days. Nothing even remotely sustainable. For anything more than that, you need to carry something bigger than an altoids tin.

Knife
Button compass
Lighter and matches
mylar bag for water carrying (tin itself for boiling)
Some paracord

Everything else is just "nice to have" category for an "Altoids tin".

For something more comprehensive and durable, you might as well get a larger pouch or a tin 2-4x the volume of an altoids container then you can have more durable, robust, and useful items.

 

[rushur]

I am building a couple of little Altoid* tin survival kits

I would like to replace match book and posibly the BIC as well with a small firesteel but I dont know where to get one small enough, and the cotton balls I think I might replace with some tinder of some sort.

Any suggestions on fire starters and tinder, or anything else?

Thanks

For firesteels, this is the place. http://firesteel.com/ The 1/4" x 3" are perfect.

 

[EagleRiverDee]

I use the rules of 3. You can die in 3 hours without some type of shelter and heat source, you can die in 3 days from lack of water, you can die in 3 weeks from lack of food. My kit prioritizes based on that. Additionally, I wear adequate clothing such that if I have to bivouac my clothing is a partial shelter in and of itself.

My kit is bigger than a tin but would fit in a fanny pack with room to spare. Includes a bic lighter, matches, candle, tinder, magnesium bar w/ striker, straw-type water filter, plastic sheet w/ survival instructions + mylar blanket, button compass, knife, small LED flashlight, magnifying lens (fresnel cc size type), signal mirror, snare wire, sewing kit, duct tape, LOUD whistle, paracord. I often have more gear than this but this is my most basic kit.

 

[Swampwood]

Needle&thread
Tweezers
Bandaids, atb cream packet

 

[twyggy]

Potassium Iodide tablets to protect your thyroid during nuclear exposure!

 

[worknman]

twine makes good tinder when unwound,put some on a thread bobbin and unwind it when you need it .

 

[Blacknblue]

Some strike anywhere matches, an aspirin and advil packet, safety pins, and a pair of earplugs. A small plastic bag to keep the contents dry.

 

[jmbroberts]

Altoids. When TSHTF people will shoot you for having bad breath.

 

[bigbmc]

good sugestions all, thanks

so far I think I will add:
a safety pin or two
good pair of tweezers
a packet of asprin
a packet of atb cream and a couple of bandaids of varyed size
a small 3" fire steel
a wetfire tablet

will loose the paper match book
and the dry cotton ball

and put the tin in a heavy duty ziplock freezer bag (keep contents dry and collect water)

 

[bltjr1951]

Wow, look at all the tags and threads on "altoid tin".
The zombie site calls them B.O.A.T.s
A mini PSK is for your cargo pocket or belt pouch, not for your BOB, etc.
It's your last ditch survival aid.

 

[Crash2]

I ditched the Altoid tin. Went with adventure medical kits pocket survival kit. It's much more effective and not much bigger than the tin. It has enough room to add a few more items. I carry it everywhere. I added iodine tabs, eye glass repair kit, small led light, bandaids.

 

[Dreamsmith]

Check out this survival tin contest for some good ideas

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=81548

 

[Lizzardking]

For a alternative to a mini fire rod perhaps try Zippo replacement flints look at pic.Just hold the flint with pliers and strike it with either a piece of hacksaw blade or a carbon knife over a piece of cotton with petroleum jelly.I hope this is helpful to you

 

[bigbmc]

pics

Below are a couple of pics of what I have so far. Also a list of the contents

razor blade and wire saw
mini bic and strike anywhere matches w/striker and a cotton ball
6 water purifier tablets in the orange bag
40' stren 6lb test, 3 hooks, 3 line weights
acrylic signal mirror
button compass
magnifine glass
p38
safety pin
bobby pin
sewing needle
tweezers
some small rubber bands
2 alcohol prep pads (double as fire tender)
2 small adhesive bandages
2 regular size adhesive bandages
1 large adhesive bandage
1 triple antibiotic packet
1 pack of asprin (2 tablets)
1 pack of electrolite tablets

all fit except for the one cotton ball on top, I tried to stuff 2 in there and ended up with only one

 

[Bavarian Raven]

i would ditch the wire saw, any that i have ever come across and bought (sadly) have been a waist of money imo.

 

[khaley]

For small fire starter material can't beat dryer lent it works. Need small zip lock or pill container to put in, or empty chapstick case might work in altoid tin.

 

[Dreamsmith]

These Tweezers are very nice pinpoint and compact, I have a pair on my key chain, and a pair in my tin. Also putting the fishing line on a sewing bobbin will keep it nice and from tangling with other supplies. Use a sewing machine to get the line on the bobbin.

 

[Horton2411]

Surly you could manage to fit in a super small l.e.d. in there and it would deffinetly help trying to rumage though all that stuff in there when its dark lol
something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/BLUE-SILVER-L-E-D-KEYCHAIN/dp/B0045XUQQG/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1289784932&sr=8-10

 

[Horton2411]

Another thing I just thought about was if your gonna put the lighter in there why not wrap a few feet(or as many feet as you want) of duct tape around the lighter. Duct tape always comes in handy for me.