Breakthrough - first fully natural fire!

Col Defender

Col Defender

Joined
Nov 11, 2011
Messages
1,398
OK Despite what I said in the "activities and stuff to bring" thread I started about an hour ago...

I just succeeded in starting my first fire steel fire using natural tinder - birch bark fuzz and dead grass. (No Jute Cord, MG or other stuff like that.) The pic shows all the tools I used: BK9 for batoning maple, BK24 and fire steel for starting fire. Sheaths and fire steel by Psyop.
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Still need to improve my proficiency though.
 
Yay! Isn't that a good feeling?! I remember it well, I still get amped when I get an all natural fire going. Usually I just cheat anymore
 
Awesome stuff, Col.

Its a good feeling to touch on a lifestyle beyond Bics and modern conviences.

Moose
 
Great job! Its a rare activity for ANYONE these days. Myself included.

I almost had one last week, but my wife and daughter got pissed it was taking so long (and we had wet wood) they jumped in with the Bic and a firestarter. I walked away mad.
 
Congrats! Maybe it's because I live in AZ, but I never have to use cheater fuel for my fires. Firesteel on some tried natural tinder takes a spark quite in the desert. It's a bit of give and take though. It's easier for me to make fire, but it's a lot easier for you to get water. :)
 
Good work, biggest thing to remember is lots of little. It is really reassuring when you know you can make fire with just the firesteel and knife, and what you can find out in your area. The beauty of the splitwood fire, is everything from scrapings, shavings, pencil lid size, and on up to thumb sized wood is all on the inside of a piece of wood, even when its been raining and nasty out. I love having a fire while out in the woods.
 
Great job! Birch bark is one of my go to natural tinders around here. Once you figure it out you can get a fire going in no time.

Go back to the Birch tree and look for Chaga, otherwise known as tinder fungus. If the Birch has a crusty black fungus that looks like burned wood you can break that off the tree and dry it. Use the brown inside like charred cloth. Takes a spark really well and is good to have in a fire kit. It also has medicinal uses when made into a tea.

Got some today while on a stroll in the woods. Here is a pic of it while on the tree.

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Jeremy
 
Col you inspired me to get out and dust off the skills.
It was windy but after a few strikes...success!



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Nice! It's a really freeing feeling to pick up a skill like that. Congrats on the first of many successes.
 
Congrats Colonel! I have a ton of fat wood here, I'll bring some to the gathering. If you shave it down it helps keep the fire going for a long time, comparatively!
 
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