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- Feb 8, 2005
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Was thinking today about how many new folks with interest for the great outdoors, may be looking for a consolidated, quick tutorial in basic fire making prep..so borrowed some of this info from another in-process review of a Busse Active duty..
Nothing here that the experienced firemakers don't know, but hoping it may help others, (who like myself, not to long ago) who are looking for resources in how to take the next step in learning how to start a fire with use of a ferro rod.
I really look to the firemakers on the forum to add any helpful info here that would make this a good resource for others.
Thank you all!!
Introduction:
If you are in this side of the forum, it's because you like, love, or have a desire towards the outdoors in some capacity..and with all that being said..you gotta love fire
.
A "hobo" stove (very easy to make) is a great, relatively safe way to have a contained fire outside the casa until you can hit the woods, and a great way to hone your firemaking skills until you can camp, or want to build a large fire..I use a base platform under my hobo stove of copper foil so as to not leave a ring on whatever the fire is sitting on, deck etc..now on to the good stuff..
Barring the use of either natural or man made fire starters (ex. Fatwood, Magnesium etc), and since I am using a firesteel to get the fire going, with only the WOOD I can find/process, here are the steps I usually find most effective:
1) Duff/Tinder (ultrafine scrapings that can EASILY take a spark.) LMF ferro rod used..
2) Wood curls (tight, thin..If using this in the place of #1..virtually trasparent.. curls)
3) Pencil lead sticks (small as..yeah..pencil lead)
4) Pencil sized
5) Thumb sized
As has been well said by others..and have to give props to Iawoodsman for his excellent, and informative instructions on youtube for this..if you have these steps down, providing your wood is dry, a firesteel combo'd with these simple steps, will get you a sustainable fire pretty much anytime (always make sure you have double proportion in each category before you start, worst case scenario is you have extra for use later on, but if the elements are against you, more times than not, extra prep in the beginning, can save you time in the end)..btw..you can skip above mentioned #1, and go straight to #2..but again, you have to have very small, tight, thin (virtually transparent) DRY wood to catch a spark..have done it..but for the sake of time, I find scrapings to be easier, and much less time consuming as the initial first step..but to each their own..
Here's a stack of initial prep work done:
Btw..forgot to take pics until I had it ready..had to take it all out..for your viewing pleasure..steps to prep are from left to right as mentioned above: duff/tinder, curls, pencil lead, pencil etc..
Close up view of the phases of prep:
Shot of tip splitting the pencil lead stuff..yeah,, forgot to take pics again until to pencil size..but you get the point..for the smaller sizes needed, where batonning is problematic, press the tip through the wood on a base board, and twist to break the fibers,,and push cut through..
y
Get all your duff/tinder in a consolidated pile, and use your firesteel to ignite..then add a generous portion of the curls you have near by, and work up through the steps of larger fuels until sustainable..it's a little more difficult to start a fire this way within the hobo stove, so did an example on a base platform of copper foil..
Please note: The angle of your striker will make the difference between little to no sparks..or a shower of them..the more sparks..the greater your portential to ignite your tinder...
When came time to actually use the hobo.. I used some fatwood as a base layer, to get it ready for a lighter once migrated to the hobo stove..yeah, I'm lazy..but fat wood is soooo fun..(and smells..like erotica..man..I wish they made an aftershave that smelled like it..would wear it ery' day.)
Here's everything ready to ignite after migration to the hobostove..top wood btw..have no idea what it is..but all prep work was done using oak / base layer of the incomparable fatwood..
Kept me nice and warm, until time to head inside..thanks for watching....and btw..the AD still shaved when I was done..though the fatwood, did leave some tack..and pull a few hairs in the process...which is par for the course..ol' fatwood does that 
.
Thanks again all for your coaching, and feedback..
If you are learning to make a fire..don't give up!! Keep trying!! and keep your blade sharp!!
Nothing here that the experienced firemakers don't know, but hoping it may help others, (who like myself, not to long ago) who are looking for resources in how to take the next step in learning how to start a fire with use of a ferro rod.
I really look to the firemakers on the forum to add any helpful info here that would make this a good resource for others.
Thank you all!!
Introduction:
If you are in this side of the forum, it's because you like, love, or have a desire towards the outdoors in some capacity..and with all that being said..you gotta love fire
.A "hobo" stove (very easy to make) is a great, relatively safe way to have a contained fire outside the casa until you can hit the woods, and a great way to hone your firemaking skills until you can camp, or want to build a large fire..I use a base platform under my hobo stove of copper foil so as to not leave a ring on whatever the fire is sitting on, deck etc..now on to the good stuff..
Barring the use of either natural or man made fire starters (ex. Fatwood, Magnesium etc), and since I am using a firesteel to get the fire going, with only the WOOD I can find/process, here are the steps I usually find most effective:
1) Duff/Tinder (ultrafine scrapings that can EASILY take a spark.) LMF ferro rod used..
2) Wood curls (tight, thin..If using this in the place of #1..virtually trasparent.. curls)
3) Pencil lead sticks (small as..yeah..pencil lead)
4) Pencil sized
5) Thumb sized
As has been well said by others..and have to give props to Iawoodsman for his excellent, and informative instructions on youtube for this..if you have these steps down, providing your wood is dry, a firesteel combo'd with these simple steps, will get you a sustainable fire pretty much anytime (always make sure you have double proportion in each category before you start, worst case scenario is you have extra for use later on, but if the elements are against you, more times than not, extra prep in the beginning, can save you time in the end)..btw..you can skip above mentioned #1, and go straight to #2..but again, you have to have very small, tight, thin (virtually transparent) DRY wood to catch a spark..have done it..but for the sake of time, I find scrapings to be easier, and much less time consuming as the initial first step..but to each their own..
Here's a stack of initial prep work done:
Btw..forgot to take pics until I had it ready..had to take it all out..for your viewing pleasure..steps to prep are from left to right as mentioned above: duff/tinder, curls, pencil lead, pencil etc..
Close up view of the phases of prep:
Shot of tip splitting the pencil lead stuff..yeah,, forgot to take pics again until to pencil size..but you get the point..for the smaller sizes needed, where batonning is problematic, press the tip through the wood on a base board, and twist to break the fibers,,and push cut through..
Get all your duff/tinder in a consolidated pile, and use your firesteel to ignite..then add a generous portion of the curls you have near by, and work up through the steps of larger fuels until sustainable..it's a little more difficult to start a fire this way within the hobo stove, so did an example on a base platform of copper foil..
Please note: The angle of your striker will make the difference between little to no sparks..or a shower of them..the more sparks..the greater your portential to ignite your tinder
...
When came time to actually use the hobo.. I used some fatwood as a base layer, to get it ready for a lighter once migrated to the hobo stove..yeah, I'm lazy..but fat wood is soooo fun..(and smells..like erotica..man..I wish they made an aftershave that smelled like it..would wear it ery' day.)
Here's everything ready to ignite after migration to the hobostove..top wood btw..have no idea what it is..but all prep work was done using oak / base layer of the incomparable fatwood..
Kept me nice and warm, until time to head inside..thanks for watching
....and btw..the AD still shaved when I was done..though the fatwood, did leave some tack..and pull a few hairs in the process...which is par for the course..ol' fatwood does that .Thanks again all for your coaching, and feedback..
If you are learning to make a fire..don't give up!! Keep trying!! and keep your blade sharp!!
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