How to Start a Fire with a Battery

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but they’ll take forever to start that fire. Here’s how to do it the modern way.

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Don't go into the woods without the camping equipment advice and tips in this Howcast video series.

You Will Need

  • Some steel wool
  • A 9-volt battery
  • A little toilet paper
  • Some water

Steps

  1. This video is for informational purposes only. You should never play with fire.

  2. Step 1

    Tuck steel wool into toilet paper

    Take a piece of steel wool and tuck it into the toilet paper.

  3. Make sure several strands of steel wool are exposed. You’ll get more sparks that way.

  4. Step 2

    Touch the battery to steel wool

    Lightly touch the battery to the steel wool.

  5. Step 3

    Blow

    Blow.

  6. This is a handy trick to know for camping trips, since steel wool will ignite even when wet.

  7. Step 4

    Put it out

    Now put that thing out, before the smoke alarm goes off.

  8. When you touch the steel wool to the battery, you’re actually shorting it out, causing it to burst into flames.

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