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- Mar 22, 2006
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I posted this on another forum ( I know I'm polygamous) but it sparked some good conversation so figured it might be worth posting here as well
It seems Like Ignition seems to get the majority of the publicity when it comes to fire prep...However I think that proper prep and set up is infinitely as important if not more....I know from my earlier years that I have etinguished many a match lit fire. or was unable to get an independant blaze going...becuas of improper prep So I thought I'd give my 2 cents.. and pen this up for discussion...I know most of this is old hat for most of the folks here... and I by no means am claiming to be an expert.. but just thought it would be a good way to a topic moving.
I think one of the most important things (after assuring the area is safe for a fire) is to create some type of barrier between the infant flame and the earth...
I theorize that the heat from the infant fire might cause moisture in the soil to evaporate which as vapor can suffocate a juvenile flame..I'm no scientist though. But I do know that the barrier is clutch.
here is a little lay i made of bark shingles
The next step is tinder collection.. (this can be dependent on your method of ignition) Flash tinders such as milkweed pods, Cattail danders or fine scrapings will take a spark well but will require secondary more substantial tinders to help the flame transition while other methods (friciton or flame born) might be able to be coaxed directly from a secondary tinder... an example of secondary tinder might be a bundle of dried grasses,fine shavings, cedar or birch bark, etc. There is a bundle of dry grasses in visible in the pic above along with some fine wood scrapings (flash tinder for a ferro) technique the courtesy of Iawodsman. Here's a close up of the scrapings.
Now here;s is the part that really clicked for me when I got it.. the selecton of 3 seperate stage of kindling in adequate amounts.. (before I learned this, this was where I most commonly lost the flame)
THis can also be the most tedious part of fire prep, but the benefit is worth it.. ever since I;ve started making my fires this way I have been successful in getting a blaze everytime regardless of weather conditions.
stage 1 kindling should be thinner than a match stick.. (4 handfulls) 2 hand fulls are put directly on tho the tinder (1 at a time to help build heat to burn larger wood) the other 2 handfulls are kept in reserve in case you flub (you won;t have to dig around for small twigs in the dark.. It's also nice to have this in the am to get things rolling again.
Stage 2 kindling is match stick to pencil thick in diameter..again 4 handfulls of this is optimal but 2 will do if you are just there for the day.these are applied incrementally as the first stage begins to combust.
Stage 3 is pencil to thumb thick..2-3 loads of this will be good.. as this wood will help the blaze to get hot enough to combust the main fuel
Main fuel is thicker than a thumb but on average is around wrist thick for most applications. (this diameter wood will burn through relatively quickly and give you a good bed of coals for cooking faster than huge logs (though they might be better for getting through a winter night.) by the time to are ready to incremetnally add main fuel. the fire should be hot enough that even damp wood will combust.. and the fire once stocked should be relatively stable.
the most important part however is be safe, and enjoy
So lets hear your methods of fire prep..I'm always anxious to see what other folks are up to...
It seems Like Ignition seems to get the majority of the publicity when it comes to fire prep...However I think that proper prep and set up is infinitely as important if not more....I know from my earlier years that I have etinguished many a match lit fire. or was unable to get an independant blaze going...becuas of improper prep So I thought I'd give my 2 cents.. and pen this up for discussion...I know most of this is old hat for most of the folks here... and I by no means am claiming to be an expert.. but just thought it would be a good way to a topic moving.
I think one of the most important things (after assuring the area is safe for a fire) is to create some type of barrier between the infant flame and the earth...
I theorize that the heat from the infant fire might cause moisture in the soil to evaporate which as vapor can suffocate a juvenile flame..I'm no scientist though. But I do know that the barrier is clutch.
here is a little lay i made of bark shingles
The next step is tinder collection.. (this can be dependent on your method of ignition) Flash tinders such as milkweed pods, Cattail danders or fine scrapings will take a spark well but will require secondary more substantial tinders to help the flame transition while other methods (friciton or flame born) might be able to be coaxed directly from a secondary tinder... an example of secondary tinder might be a bundle of dried grasses,fine shavings, cedar or birch bark, etc. There is a bundle of dry grasses in visible in the pic above along with some fine wood scrapings (flash tinder for a ferro) technique the courtesy of Iawodsman. Here's a close up of the scrapings.
Now here;s is the part that really clicked for me when I got it.. the selecton of 3 seperate stage of kindling in adequate amounts.. (before I learned this, this was where I most commonly lost the flame)
THis can also be the most tedious part of fire prep, but the benefit is worth it.. ever since I;ve started making my fires this way I have been successful in getting a blaze everytime regardless of weather conditions.
stage 1 kindling should be thinner than a match stick.. (4 handfulls) 2 hand fulls are put directly on tho the tinder (1 at a time to help build heat to burn larger wood) the other 2 handfulls are kept in reserve in case you flub (you won;t have to dig around for small twigs in the dark.. It's also nice to have this in the am to get things rolling again.
Stage 2 kindling is match stick to pencil thick in diameter..again 4 handfulls of this is optimal but 2 will do if you are just there for the day.these are applied incrementally as the first stage begins to combust.
Stage 3 is pencil to thumb thick..2-3 loads of this will be good.. as this wood will help the blaze to get hot enough to combust the main fuel
Main fuel is thicker than a thumb but on average is around wrist thick for most applications. (this diameter wood will burn through relatively quickly and give you a good bed of coals for cooking faster than huge logs (though they might be better for getting through a winter night.) by the time to are ready to incremetnally add main fuel. the fire should be hot enough that even damp wood will combust.. and the fire once stocked should be relatively stable.
the most important part however is be safe, and enjoy
So lets hear your methods of fire prep..I'm always anxious to see what other folks are up to...
)
) is in the preparation; you need a good spark, but all the spark in the world isn't going to count a tinker's damn if you select the wrong site and/or have inadequate (or insufficient amounts) tinder and kindling
) of not gathering enough tinder, and winding up with my face next to the fire nursing a questionable flame with my breath.
