Steel Wool
| Steel Wool | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Class | Tool |
| Weight | 0.3 |
| Uses | about 5 |
| Fire Fuel | Yes |
| Research | Make Improvised Lighter |
| Location | Containers |
| Spawn ID | /additem Base.SteelWool
|
Steel Wool is a pad of fine metal threads. It is a drainable tool used up a little at a time. A full pad gives about five uses.
Its main use is fire. It catches easily as tinder and feeds a fire as fuel. It is also part of making an Improvised Lighter, which suits survivors who have run out of matches and lighters.
Steel Wool is a common find in grocery stores, labs, sheds and tool stores. The Carpenter is the best occupation for tools. It starts with the most Carpentry skill. The Construction Worker and the DIY Expert also start with some Carpentry skill.
Using
The inventory option Research Craft on Steel Wool teaches the Make Improvised Lighter recipe. Steel Wool is also an ingredient in that recipe. That makes it worth keeping for the later game, when lighters and matches grow scarce.
As fuel, a pad of Steel Wool keeps a fire burning for about four and a half minutes. That is short, so it works best as tinder to start a fire. Logs and planks then carry the fire.
The pad is light and small. A few pads ride in a bag without much cost.
Research
The Research Craft option in the inventory menu studies the Steel Wool and teaches the recipes below.
| Recipe | Output | Image | Spawn ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make Improvised Lighter | Lighter - Improvised Battery | 
|
/additem Base.Lighter_Battery
|
Locations
Steel Wool is a common find. Grocery store shelves hold one about a third of the time. Laboratory desks and other lab containers are just as good. Tool caches, garage storage, sheds and tool stores are reliable spots. General stores, pharmacies, janitor's rooms, school storage and gas station storage hold it now and then.
The places where it spawns, with the rough chance per container. Each tab shows one kind of place.
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery store | Shelves | 34.8% |
| Tool store storage | Other | 14.7% |
| General store | Shelves | 13.9% |
| Pharmacy | Shelves | 13.9% |
| Tool store | Counter | 13.5% |
| Tool store | Other | 13.5% |
| Tool store | Shelves | 13.5% |
| Tool store | Small box | 13.5% |
| Gas storage | Counter | 12.8% |
| Zippee storage | Counter | 12.8% |
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratory | Desk | 34.3% |
| Laboratory | Other | 34.3% |
| Janitor's room | Counter | 12.8% |
| Janitor's room | Metal shelves | 12.8% |
| School storage | Counter | 12.8% |
| Mechanic | Counter | 12.1% |
| Drug lab | Counter | 10.9% |
| Drug lab | Desk | 10.9% |
| Drug lab | Other | 10.9% |
| Drug lab | Overhead cupboard | 10.9% |
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Tools cache1 | Tools box | 27.2% |
| Tools cache1 | Bag duffel bag tint | 13.6% |
| Survivor cache (large building) | Counter | 3.2% |
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Garage storage | Counter | 18.2% |
| Garage storage | Metal shelves | 18.2% |
| Shed | Counter | 18.2% |
| Shed | Metal shelves | 18.2% |
| Shed | Shelves | 18.2% |
| Garage storage | Locker | 13.7% |
| Garage ranger | Other | 13.1% |
| Bathroom | Metal shelves | 12.8% |
| Any building | Shelter | 3.7% |
| Attic | Cardboard box | 3.4% |
Notes
- Research Craft on Steel Wool teaches Make Improvised Lighter.
- Steel Wool catches easily and works well as tinder.
- As fuel it burns for only a few minutes.
- Sheds and tool stores are steady places to stock up.
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