[thedoc (OP)]

Christopher Mogie  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
How can I make a firestarter from easy-to-obtain stuff that everybody could get their hands on?

What do you think?

[Kryptid]

Matches. Or a really strong magnifying glass. There you go.

[Lmnre]

There's always the ubiquitous clothes dryer lint. There's also the less obvious (but more scientific?) method of a battery plus some steel wool (aka "wire wool" in Britain).

As with anything that's potentially dangerous, adult supervision is required.

[William McCormick]

Christopher Mogie  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
How can I make a firestarter from easy-to-obtain stuff that everybody could get their hands on?

What do you think?

Linseed Oil on cotton balls.
Motor oil on certain Chlorine pool tablets.
Sometimes a few drops of water into a tub of pool chlorine tablets will start a fire.
Cane Sugar and Sulfuric Acid (Car battery acid)

I am sure there are more, I just cannot think of them at the moment.



                      Sincerely,

                            William McCormick

[Bored chemist]

Cane Sugar and Sulfuric Acid (Car battery acid)



                      Sincerely,

                            William McCormick

You seem to have forgotten the weedkiller.

[William McCormick]

You seem to have forgotten the weedkiller.

To use the Prometon to burn?

I am not up on Prometon, does it mix with something violently and ignite?


                      Sincerely,

                            William McCormick

[Bored chemist]

There's more than one weedkiller.

[Lab Rat]

If you can find flint or pyrite (also known as fool's gold) somewhere, backyard, etc., these can be struck with steel and iron, respectively, to create sparks.  I may be back to this topic soon, when I think of more.

[Mazurka]

BC if you are referring to sodium chlorate and sugar - it is increasingly difficult to get sodium chlorate in the EU since the ban on sale in 2009. Isn't it typically more explosive than fire starting?

[Bored chemist]

True, but I was making the point about W McC's "Cane Sugar and Sulfuric Acid (Car battery acid)" suggestion.