DIY fire starters and candles

[gdvan01]

Certainly many have heard of the tips and tricks for fire starters and home made candles.....dryer lint, spiral strips of cardboard in a cat food can drenched in paraffin, saw dust and paraffin in egg carton holes.

Aside from the commercially available stuff like magnesium strips and strikers.....what have you tried?

Works good, works ok...?

[JABM]

I don't use anything other than news paper and kindling in my stove but...... I keep some folded tar paper in my survival kit and on my person when I'm  hiking or hunting. It's water proof 

[GibsonGM]

Tar paper? Sounds awesome!   

I've tried char cloth,  and always keep a "votive candle" in my 1st aid pouch; for light (duh) but could also get wet tinder going.   Where I'm at, birch bark is plentiful.   That and a magnesium stick work wonders if a Bic doesn't!!   
I always try to have about 3 forms of fire-making on me when I go outdoors.