Fire by Spark

M

mccuistion

Joined
Oct 21, 2004
Messages
13
I've been trying to do the Fire by Friction technique, with marginal success. (See Fire by Friction via Fire Bow )

I wanted to have some quick success, so I decided to do a Fire-by-spark experiment. I gathered up the usual Spark-tinder materials suggested by various writers.

  • Steel Wool - 0000
  • Cotton ball
  • Cotton ball with Vasolene
  • Tampex (Easy Glide)
  • Wrapping twine
  • Dryer lint
  • Feminine liner

Well of course Saturday brought us rain (here in Cincinnati). So I sat in my garage with my samples on a board, and starting throwing sparks.

Well! The absolute easiest, guarenteed, never fail was Steel Wool 0000x. I couldn't miss. It was repeatable, dependable and easy. I could even start it under the pressure of my neighbors, who came to see what was going on. :cool:

Next easiest was the cotton ball and Tampex (which is made of cotton). Surprisingly, it took me 3-5 minutes sparking (seemed like forever) before they would finally catch. I fluffed them up so they were easy targets and so they have lots of fine threads (lots of edges).

The Cotton Ball with Vasoline finally caught, and while it burned longer, it was harder to start.

The Dryer lint and Twine never did catch. I started them up with a match, just to be sure they were flamable. They were.

The Feminine liner thing (which is great for a first-aid bandage) was not flamable, even with a match.

My biggest problem was as I'd swing the metal tool to scrap off sparks, I'd hit the tinder and brush it away.

I thought you-all might enjoy the feeble effort report of a greenhorn. At least it indicates if I can do it, these must be reasonably good tinder materials.

--Mark
 
What are you using to create the spark? Flint and Steel or a Ferro Rod and scraper? I find true Flint and steel fire making alot harder than fire by friction!
 
Lots of binder twine is treated with fire-retardent. It will burn when exposed to open flame but is real hard to get to take a spark. Try washing well and drying.

The vasalened (Is that even a word?) cotton balls need to be pulled out into loose strands like the dry ones for sparking. They work OK with open flame even if clumped up.

Dryer lint of 100% cotton has worked well for me IF DRY. It absorbs atmospheric moisture easily. I keep it in ziplocks taken right out of the drier.

Scouts doing the non-match fire requirements second your choice of steel wool! Have you tried sparking it with a battery? Great fun.

"Gun powder" (propellant) in small amounts works. :D
 
Yeah, I like steel wool as well. My 5 year old son regularly starts a fire with steel wool and a BSA metal match.

S.
 
Make sure the cotton balls and dryer lint are 100% cotton. You'd be suprised how often cotton balls- aren't.
If your using a fire steel vs knife edge method. Try holding the knife blade horizontal over the tinder and dragging the steel across the edge. This concentrates the sparks in a smaller area. Just watch your finger tips.
Good Luck
Allan
 
Myakka said:
What are you using to create the spark? Flint and Steel or a Ferro Rod and scraper? I find true Flint and steel fire making alot harder than fire by friction!
Click to expand...

Opps. My original post got lost, and I forgot to re-enter that detail.

I'm using an official Boy Scouts of America Spark Rod with the supplied supplimental metal scratching tool. My scouts all get these at summer camp. I used to worry about them starting fires, but now see that it's actually harder than I expected. Of course, they still need to be responsible about their sparking behavior!
 
Thomas Linton said:
Lots of binder twine is treated with fire-retardent. It will burn when exposed to open flame but is real hard to get to take a spark. Try washing well and drying.
Click to expand...

I hope to find to 'jute' string. I understand that works better.

Thomas Linton said:
Scouts doing the non-match fire requirements second your choice of steel wool! Have you tried sparking it with a battery? Great fun.
Click to expand...

Yes, we did that last month. I'd almost consider that better than a match for gaurenteed starting. Many youngsters have trouble starting matches; of course, many don't. But Steel wool and a 9volt can be done by a two-year-old.

I'm a little hesitant to try gunpowder! Any other spark-tinder suggestions? I think I need to move into natural material next, like that mold/fungus stuff that grows on trees that's supposed to be so good.

What fun, starting fires. i guess I still haven't grown up.
 
SurviveAl said:
Try holding the knife blade horizontal over the tinder and dragging the steel across the edge. This concentrates the sparks in a smaller area. Just watch your finger tips.
Click to expand...
Oh, I like that. Of course, I was dragging the steel across the rod, but it works both ways. Holding the steel hoizontal above the tinder should really concentrate those sparks.

And those BSA spark rods do throw off a lot of sparks.
 
Many people say the acceptd method of scraping ferocerium is to hold the striker stationary and pull back on the rod so the sparks have a constant position of origin and nothing hits or blows away the tinder.

I doubt changing the method will significantly change the outcome.

Have you also compared either charcloth or magnesium powder?
 
Nice to see some Ohio members :). I went to school in Cincinnati, really love the city ;).

Matt
 
grommit said:
Many people say the acceptd method of scraping ferocerium is to hold the striker stationary and pull back on the rod so the sparks have a constant position of origin and nothing hits or blows away the tinder.

I doubt changing the method will significantly change the outcome.

Have you also compared either charcloth or magnesium powder?
Click to expand...
Pulling up is a lot more efficient. Also, keep the sparks source as close as possible to the target (spark cool down very fast when traveling in air).

A good striker makes a incredible difference too. My favourite striker/scraper is the choil on my Swamp Rat Camp Tramp. Just throws zillions of super hot sparks. I love that knife (and that's just another reason, believe me) :D

Cheers,

David
 
LongRifle said:
Nice to see some Ohio members :). I went to school in Cincinnati, really love the city ;).
Click to expand...
We actually live in Loveland, the Sweetheart of Ohio in the Heartland of America. I work at UC, and it's a pretty good town for our family. Although the local politics are a little funny.

I need to make some charcloth; That's the tinder I forgot to remember.
 
I went to XU, lived in Norwood for two years, spent the other two in Wyoming; really nice little town. Loveland is a great area. I'd like to move back sometime, a few years of school left though :).

I've made charcloth in an Altoids tin. I poked a few holes in the top, stuffed some rags in, put it on the grill for a little while, waited till the smoke stopped, let it cool off for a while. It came out great.

Matt
 
If I had to survive in the woods, I'd be dead...
Tried to start a little wood fire today... no dice... had to toss an esbit tablet in there to get it going...
 
I did a sciencefair project in 8th grade that this thread reminds me of. sure, it was just an excuse to test my fire starting ability, but dont tell my teacher ;) . With cotton balls I would use a "hotspark" and strike it with a knife blade. This is a Scout thing, availible at Scout shops all around. Cotton balls catch easily and burn long. Also, try wax paper with any source of flame, its waterproof, burns long and hot, and has other uses. My usual problem with fires is not starting one, but finding the materials out there on site. I'm talking about the really small, dry twigs that is your first stuff to light (tinder or kindling? i forget wich is smaller). So I usually stash in my pack a handful or two of the dry twigs you find on evergreen trees. However in worst case scenarios I wont have the option of doing this, so I also try'n find the right stuff out there.
 
A "Hotspark" is a small firesteel.

Vasaline on cotton balls makes a good tinder. Pull out the fibers to puff it up, then give it some sparks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top