Fire kits.

Here is my external kit that goes on my pack, four methods of getting a spark/coal

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My KSF fire-wallet - nice little flint and steel kit

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Here I am busting out a coal - first time bowdrill under the tutelage of DocCanada

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Sorry, I've been off on a tangent, I just discovered the Blaser R-93 rifle and have been finding out about it.

The dried fire goo takes a spark very well when it is still pliable, I haven't played around with it too much since it dried out, I'll check it out this weekend and let ya'all know. I've lit it in it's dry state with a little PJ cotton and I can tell you it burns long and hot.
 
Nice pictures everyone, keep 'em coming! :D. Thanks for sharing the dried napalm with us Hushnel.:)
 
Just received a flint and steel yesterday from Ragweed Forge. I was delighted to get a nice shower of sparks pretty easily after I played a little. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't seem to light a vasaline rubbed cotton ball with it. Do I need more practice, or does the flint and steel method only work well with char cloth? Also, I played with steel wool this weekend and was amazed at how easily it took a spark from a light my fire rod. Also lit it up with a stubby 3volt battery I found in a drawer. Didn't seem to work with an AA battery (1.5 volt). I tried stacking two together without any luck, although I got a few moments of glow-not enough to get anything going though. I was a little disappointed. I hoped I would be able to use the batteries I would normally carry for my Fenix flashlight. Any suggestions for battery lighting the steel wool w/ AA batteries in the field? Thanks! William
 
Slow fuse thingy looks cool. What might it be used for in the field?
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When I was a kid living in Germany we used a lighter that was based on this technology for lighting fire crackers on the 4th of July. It had a flint striker like a Zippo and a dry cotton wick a spark from the striker would be caught in the wick, exactly like charcloth, and be held there until you ran out of cotton wick or you extinguished it.

If you are starting a fire with a lot of wind it would be handy to hold the spark and give you time to assemble and hold your tender and small stuff. It can be used to light up a cigar. It can take a spark from a fire and transport it to another point.

If you look at the old matchlock muskets it was this technology that made them work, though primitive this fire arm had much better timing than the first flintlocks.

It’s a simple technology but has it’s value.

Going Gear sells this lighter my brother and I used as kids in Germany.


For my purpose a simple piece of copper tube and a length of cotton does the job. I’ve got a bunch of these made up, if I can find them.
 
I just made using a piece of copper pipe and a dental cotton, they are about 1/2" wide x 8" long.
 
yup, holds a spark adn slowly smolders away. Blowing on the ember makes it get hotter.

no pics, no camera anymore

Pitdog, i'll save you a bunch of dental cottons.
 
Bushman5 said:
yup, holds a spark adn slowly smolders away. Blowing on the ember makes it get hotter.

no pics, no camera anymore

Pitdog, i'll save you a bunch of dental cottons.
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With the windy wet weather we get here in winter I'm always on the lookout for any additional fire aids, that one sounds interesting !!!!;):thumbup:
 
I figured I oughtta put up a pic of my fire kit... It's not the greatest:o but serves what I need it for..

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In it are a couple of pieces of flint, firesteel, charcloth, waxed jute, a fresnel,
Fatwood, and a large pencil sharpener(saves my knife and finger for other things)...

I also have a rope lighter similar to the slow fuse, but made with waxed jute.. That's in my EDC...

Tux
 
william O said:
Just received a flint and steel yesterday from Ragweed Forge. I was delighted to get a nice shower of sparks pretty easily after I played a little. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't seem to light a vasaline rubbed cotton ball with it. Do I need more practice, or does the flint and steel method only work well with char cloth? Also, I played with steel wool this weekend and was amazed at how easily it took a spark from a light my fire rod.
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My experience is no, PJCB will not catch a spark from flint & steel. You can use charcloth or tinder fungus to catch a spark. A good piece of punkwood is supposed to work also. I've tried bits of charcoal from my firepit and have yet to get it to catch, but it should in theory. Best to make yourself some charcloth!

william O said:
Also lit it up with a stubby 3volt battery I found in a drawer. Didn't seem to work with an AA battery (1.5 volt). I tried stacking two together without any luck, although I got a few moments of glow-not enough to get anything going though. I was a little disappointed. I hoped I would be able to use the batteries I would normally carry for my Fenix flashlight. Any suggestions for battery lighting the steel wool w/ AA batteries in the field? Thanks! William
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I've seen Magnussen do this with two stacked AA batteries. The trick is having extra fine wool. You also run the risk of burning your fingers in the process. It is just too bad that you can't get a good flashlight running from a 9-V - those little boxy batteries are really well suited for firemaking. Rick also demonstrated getting a spark from his cell phone battery. Again, a tough choice - potentially drain or short the battery of your most viable communication device? I suppose it depends on circumstances. Hypothermia can kill you fast.
 
I think, I'd just take the flint and steel to the steel wool, or my firesteel.... Best to save the cell battery for a last resort. just MHO..
 
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