Field fire-starting

Steven Roos

Steven Roos

Joined
Jun 29, 2002
Messages
4,131
I am constantly looking to upgrade my EDC, and for a while now, I have been without any sort of firestarter. I'd like to fix that omission, but I'm not sure what to do.

It seems to me that a firesteel is slightly rediculous for an EDC item in an urban environment. A disposable lighter would be nice and cheap, but I would worry about it being reliable if I needed it. A zippos seems like a great EDC lighter, but I hear the lighter fluid evaporates quickly. I don't smoke, so I'm not sure I'd replenish it all the time.

It seems like all I'm left with is a butane lighter. Are they any good? Which ones?

Is my logic sound, or should I reconsider some of my other options?
 
If you see my reply in the other thread, im going to be carrying a Scout fire steel and cotton balls soaked in zippo fluid in addition to a lighter. The cotton balls will go into a small or large spy capsule.
 
I start all my field fires with a drip torch - 4:1 diesel:gasoline.

It would take too long with a flint or a lighter

<kidding> ;)

Scott
 
I had the same problem with a zippo, I don't smoke either, but they are good other than that.
I carry a cheap disosable lighter as ONE of my edc fire starters, though I've never had any problems with any brand. In the past I've either carried simply dry kitchen matches or a magnesium block with a ferrocerium rod in it (as backup). Just ordered a couple of the military firesteels from Bagheera, anxious to try them, will probably upgrade to one of those plus lighter.
 
Zippo fluid evaporates far too quickly to be practical unless you refill the lighter frequently, even with a ranger band around the lighter it will evaporate within a few days.

The fluid is also caustic and will leave a rash/burn, and it stinks. I don't like to smell like lighter fluid, do you?

They are also relatively heavy, even the slimmer ones.



Take a look at the Sparklite and Tinder-Quik.

http://www.tadgear.com/x-treme gear/fire starters main/spark-lite.htm

You could easily drill a hole in the Sparklite an thread it onto your keyring and keep 2 pieces of tinder-quik in a small spy capsule, or 4 pieces of tinder-quick in a large spy capsule.

Also, a metal match and 3 pieces of tinder-quik fit nicely in a large spy capsule, making for a trim package that will start at least 3 fires, rain or shine.

The tinder-quik is GOOD stuff, it lights easily and stays lit.

A metal match and a short piece of hacksaw blade also fit nicely in a wallet, with the tinder-quick in a spy capsule on your keychain.

I beleive I've read that you carry a multi-tool, so you never have to worry about having a striker handy. The file on a leatherman will produce a tremendous stream of sparks from ferrocium, so you can even leave the hacksaw blade at home.

Just some things to think about.

As far as disposable lighters go, Bic is the only brand I trust.
Mini-bics are trouble free and very pocketable, I can only remember a handful of them malfunctioning and I've used hundreds over the last 10 years or so. (I've smoked off and on since I was 15)
 
I do typically carry a multitool, either my Leatherman Micra (more often) or my SOG Powerlock (less often).

So it seems that a Bic disposable lighter isn't such a bad option as I thought. Have you ever used any butane lighters, Rhesus Feces?
 
By butane lighters, I assume you mean the chunky rubber armored Windmill/Brunton type, correct?

No, I haven't, simply because the $.69 mini-Bic is a vastly superior product.:D

Seriously, I'm not fond of butane lighters either, they are too problematic and heavy for me consider pocketing them, and the rubber armor has a tendency to cling to the pocket making it feel even larger than it is.

I like having one utterly reliable source of fire (metal match and tinder-quik in spy-capsule) and one CONVENIENT firestarter.(the mini-Bic)

A neat way to carry a mini-Bic for those that don't smoke is in a Normark keychain rig with an appropriately sized zip-tie under the button to avoid unintentionally using up the fluid.

Another possibility is strike anywhere matches in a waterproof container, but I'm not very fond of the plastic matchsafes that are commonly available. I used to have a kick-ass o-ring sealed aluminum safe that was the perfect size and shape to hold 2 dozen matches, and it had a textured striking surface on the bottom, but it now lives at the bottom of the Juniata river. :(

I really wish I could find another like it, but I can't.
 
I always did have a few 5 minute rail road flares in my kit bag. I also always carried a small can of zippo lighter fliud with my lighter. My basic set up was good for 2 to 3 weeks in the field. By then I was needing whiskey and women.:D
 
If using the disposable(bic, cricket, etc) in an extreme cold climate you have to be carefull to always carry close to your skin. I am a smoker and while in illinois for a few years had problems getting a light in the winter. Finally discovered that in extreme cold the seals on the disposables will harden/shrink and all the fuel will leak out.
Also have discovered the refillable butane lighters you can get at the local gas stations. Got my first one at the tackle shop. The guy was using it to melt the ends of line protector(for big game trolling lures) and nylon line. Got one and it produces enough heat to solder with(most recentl i used one to heat the rope return spring on dads chain saw to re-bend it while in the woods. Super results!!) and while at sea I was able to light it in 40knot + winds unshielded. the best part is they are usually availble for under 5 bucks and come in a variety of styles. Good Luck!!

tim
 
I bought a cheap one from Canadian tire, called a SolderIt. Produced a nice enough flame for doing plumbing repairs, and will light in our 50km plow winds. only concern I have is the peizo(sp?) ignition on it. I had another butane and it clogged and bent the ignition about 3months in. This one has lasted 2yrs so far, but hasn't gotten dunked yet.

about 5cdn, uses a refillable bic type for fuel.
 
Steven,

"It seems to me that a firesteel is slightly rediculous for an EDC item in an urban environment."

I don't know what your reasons are for saying this, but I do not find firesteels to be ridiculous for an EDC item in an urban environment. The same features which make it a popular item to carry as a back-up for wilderness emegencies also make it a wise choice for city carry.

They're waterproof, fireproof, windproof, coldproof, extremely shock resistant, work even when broken into pieces, and one small rod is capable of starting thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands, of fires. While they are not the most convenient, they are the most reliable firestarters around. Further, their sparks are so bright and visible that they can also come in handy as an emergency distress signal. Firesteels make nice keychain fobs, too.

Moreover, the discipline of lighting fires from sparks really helps you learn the craft of firestarting better than "easier" methods like lighters; and this better skill will give you an additional buffer of ability when you encounter challenging circumstances.

Firesteels are fun, too; I've turned most of my friends and relatives into pyromaniacs.

Add a small piece of pitchwood, and you have waterproof, leak-proof, non-evaporating, easy-to-light tinder, good for starting many dozens of fires.

It's the most reliable firestarting system I know.

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My favorite lighter is this kind:

http://www.budkww.com/partsview.asp?action=lookup&partno=XL112&subject=U10&catpos=10

Unlike disposable butane lighters, these are waterproof, work in extreme cold, work at high altitude, are easier to hold when lit for more than a few seconds, and don't leak. Unlike Zippos, these are waterproof, and don't evaporate.

They'll run on many flammable liquids, such as lighter fluid, gasoline, white gas, alcohol, and methanol. And, if you run out of fuel, you still have a functional mini-firesteel integrated into the design, for starting a fire from sparks.

All this, and they're cheap, too!

--Mike
 
Originally posted by Evolute
I don't know what your reasons are for saying this, but I do not find firesteels to be ridiculous for an EDC item in an urban environment. The same features which make it a popular item to carry as a back-up for wilderness emegencies also make it a wise choice for city carry.

They're waterproof, fireproof, windproof, coldproof, extremely shock resistant, work even when broken into pieces, and one small rod is capable of starting thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands, of fires. While they are not the most convenient, they are the most reliable firestarters around. Further, their sparks are so bright and visible that they can also come in handy as an emergency distress signal. Firesteels make nice keychain fobs, too.
Click to expand...

I'm not discounting their usefulness in general, but it seems to me that if I were to need fire in an urban enviornment, a lighter would be much more appropriate and more convinent.

Alternative firestarters are a must for a BOB or survival kit, but I'm just not sure I need one in my pocket all the time. You get what I mean?
 
Last night my son started our campfire (he is 10 and a Scout). He started with a little tender about the size of a marble and had a good fire going in less than 10 minutes. He makes his own tender with slivers of pitch wood (fat lighter is what we call it in the south)and parrifin wax. He keeps it in a plastic container in his pack and pinches a little off to use at a time. He started it with one match but has used a spark rod. The key to anything is practice.Fire building is second nature to him. Now if he would only take out the trash and clean his room. LOL
 
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