I bought a flintsteel to try out today and am very pleased.
First, I went outside and got some tinder(a little bark, dry leaves, and some wood shavings). Then I ripped off a big piece of bark to put on the ground to keep my tinder organized(it kept getting tangled with the grass). After that I unsheathed my RAT 3 and used the spine to start making sparks with the flintsteel. I sat there for 30 mins trying to light the natural tinder. After some frustration, I went to get some more wood. As I was shaving wood off of it I did something really dumb. I thought I could split this woodchip by putting the knife point into a crack and pushing a little. The dirty RAT got its first taste of my blood. So I went inside and put some toilet paper on it and put on the pressure. After a few minutes I went back out to try and start a fire. It still would not light. I was getting some smoke, just no visible flame. So as I am doing this I notice the toilet paper wrapped on my finger and decide to use a little of that. After a few more strikes I had a little flame going, which turned into a big flame. I had fire. As soon as it lit I yelled YES!(honestly) It was very satisfying.
Then, I remembered reading the thing about cotton balls with petroleum jelly rubbed on. So I tried this. I didn't put very much on, maybe two or three rubs. Anyway, I took it outside and scraped the RAT against the flintsteel making some sparks. It instantly went up in flames. One swipe. Even though I only used three or so rubs of the PJ, it burned for a minute and a half.
So I guess the moral of the story is dont push the knife down towards your hand and that making a fire with cottonballs, Petroleum Jelly, a knife, and flintsteel is a very reliable way of making fire. Although making a fire with natural tinder was extremely satisfying, I will now carry a few of those with me along with my knife and flintsteel.
I just thought this may be useful to anyone thinking about getting a flintsteel fire starter.
My stab wound was minor by the way
First, I went outside and got some tinder(a little bark, dry leaves, and some wood shavings). Then I ripped off a big piece of bark to put on the ground to keep my tinder organized(it kept getting tangled with the grass). After that I unsheathed my RAT 3 and used the spine to start making sparks with the flintsteel. I sat there for 30 mins trying to light the natural tinder. After some frustration, I went to get some more wood. As I was shaving wood off of it I did something really dumb. I thought I could split this woodchip by putting the knife point into a crack and pushing a little. The dirty RAT got its first taste of my blood. So I went inside and put some toilet paper on it and put on the pressure. After a few minutes I went back out to try and start a fire. It still would not light. I was getting some smoke, just no visible flame. So as I am doing this I notice the toilet paper wrapped on my finger and decide to use a little of that. After a few more strikes I had a little flame going, which turned into a big flame. I had fire. As soon as it lit I yelled YES!(honestly) It was very satisfying.
Then, I remembered reading the thing about cotton balls with petroleum jelly rubbed on. So I tried this. I didn't put very much on, maybe two or three rubs. Anyway, I took it outside and scraped the RAT against the flintsteel making some sparks. It instantly went up in flames. One swipe. Even though I only used three or so rubs of the PJ, it burned for a minute and a half.
So I guess the moral of the story is dont push the knife down towards your hand and that making a fire with cottonballs, Petroleum Jelly, a knife, and flintsteel is a very reliable way of making fire. Although making a fire with natural tinder was extremely satisfying, I will now carry a few of those with me along with my knife and flintsteel.
I just thought this may be useful to anyone thinking about getting a flintsteel fire starter.
My stab wound was minor by the way