Fire Steel and Fatwood

Mistwalker

Mistwalker

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
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Earlier I did a little firecraft practice and demo with the firesteel. It had rained for three straight days




When starting a fire under wet conditions you want the driest materials you can find so gather things that are off the ground

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I used fatwood as tinder and kindling as all was so damp.
This is a sycamore leaf I used to catch the shavings and slivers on. I really love working with this little Bushlore knife that Rick made, it handles wonderfully and even after five or six fires started this way (among other things)...as hard as fatwood is this knife still shaves afterward.


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Then collecting my tinder I seperate it into piles and have it on hand ready to use and with everything ready to go, I ignite the shavings
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In the video you will see the steam from how wet everything is. Sorry for the quality but the sun was at just the right angle to cause havoc

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oKnuLhgcYOc
 
Those are great pics and I really enjoyed the video as well. Thank you for posting them. :)
 
This is why I put in a request to get a few pieces of this stuff. I've never tried using fatwood before.
 
dextersp1 said:
Try holding the firesteel steady and moving the striker.
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X2!! It will help your fire making immensely.

And I can't tell by the picture, but by the sound...are you using your knife blade or the spine to strike?
 
Nice job, mistwalker! I like that you showed the various sized twigs you used to grow your fire. People often underestimate how much tinder they will need and have to go off hunting, leaving their fledgling fire untended.

I have found that simply dropping a handful of twigs on the fire risks smothering it. I found it helps to have a log or rock situated near the burning tinder bundle to prop up one end, allowing more air to feed the flames. (It is also less likely to asphixiate your camera operator!) :D

-- FLIX
 
FLIX said:
Nice job, mistwalker! I like that you showed the various sized twigs you used to grow your fire. People often underestimate how much tinder they will need and have to go off hunting, leaving their fledgling fire untended.

I have found that simply dropping a handful of twigs on the fire risks smothering it. I found it helps to have a log or rock situated near the burning tinder bundle to prop up one end, allowing more air to feed the flames. (It is also less likely to asphixiate your camera operator!) :D

-- FLIX
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Thank you very much. We think a lot alike on the subject. She's a good wife, lol, she's goes through a lot of crap for me when she has time, I kept thinking she would move but.....
 
Joezilla said:
X2!! It will help your fire making immensely.

And I can't tell by the picture, but by the sound...are you using your knife blade or the spine to strike?
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I keep meaning to try that but honest I do, but this is just the way I'm used to...been doing it that way for years even with a magnesium fire starter and I always forget to try.

Neither actually, I'm using the striker that comes with the firesteel. I know it took ten sparks to get it but I said fatwood would light that way, I never said it was the easiest tinder to ignite.
 
great stuff man...:thumbup: fatwood is amazing stuff... some friends and I recently harvested a good chunk... i have a nice supply now...

nice looking blade too... i really like Rick's knives..:D
 
mtnfolk mike said:
great stuff man...:thumbup: fatwood is amazing stuff... some friends and I recently harvested a good chunk... i have a nice supply now...

nice looking blade too... i really like Rick's knives..:D
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Thanks. Me too, Rick makes some awesome knives!
 
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