Fire / Steel Studies

[Mistwalker]

Sounds good to me, lets see it.

 

[Mistwalker]

he he... Lets see you give a go at prepping some of those leaves. Common man... I double dawg dare ya.......

Rick

I didn't really think about this yesterday...I think I've just been a little distracted by the current project I've been working on...but I'm not understanding the point of the "double dawg dare" . Of all the things I ignited today with a firesteel (part of a challenge elsewhere) the leaves were by far the easiest to catch requiring no prep at all merely a slow sparking of the firesteel to get the edge of an Oak leaf going.

Something I see often with alot of forumites, is the practice of becoming fatwood dependent...etcetera, etcetera.

It got so bad, that someone started to make fatwood fuzz sticks during a speed lighting contest at PWYP. Fuzz sticks in April at a contest based on how fast you can do a fire!!! etcetera, etcetera etcetera......

Broaden

I guess I was too distracted to think about this too...until I finished up today I had a two story exterior wall of a $300,000.00 + house supported by jacks while removing and replacing some rotten structural members...now that it's done and I've had a little time out with the little woman unwinding and getting rid of some stress I feel more like myself again.

Anyway...not sure about where you live or where PWYP happens but around here, the southern end of the Appalachian Temperate Rain Forest, there is a really good chance than a fire in April would be quickest lit by using fatwood or some chemical accelerant as our Springs are usually reeeeaally wet. Ya know the whole "April showers" thing? Well...we have "April floodings". However, I do practice with other materials thanks.

 

[Mistwalker]

Then there is the Trioxane, Hexamine, alcohol prep pads, cotton balls, jean fuzz, dryer lint, sage grass, thistles, starting a fire under damp conditions using one match and a Brazil nut, ....I'm just tired of looking and using up band width. and as far as my research shows the only cigarette filters that will burn are Camels as their filters are cotton where the others are a synthetic, and as an aside Visa cards burn ok using a flame to ignite yet wal-Mart gift cards won't burn at all, and cash burns pretty hot and makes pretty colors. So, I think I can safely say that I don't have fatwood tunnel vision.

And guys...if you didn't notice...the thread was actually meant as a discussion on how different steel types worked with firesteels. I was hoping to get some input from the guys who use the S30V,Infi, 20CV etc. Had I known you two were going to take it in this direction I could have titled it "Fire / Steel / Tinder Studies" and we could have all just gotten really creative with it.

 

[SouthernCross]

G'day Brian

Anyway...not sure about where you live or where PWYP happens but around here, the southern end of the Appalachian Temperate Rain Forest, there is a really good chance than a fire in April would be quickest lit by using fatwood or some chemical accelerant as our Springs are usually reeeeaally wet.

PWYP is the acronym for practice what you preach and is held on private property in North Carolina.

It is an annual get together that was started some years ago on another forum.




Kind regards
Mick

 

[Loosearrow]

Something I see often with alot of forumites, is the practice of becoming fatwood dependent. It should be just one tiny skill in the art of fire making. It got so bad, that someone started to make fatwood fuzz sticks during a speed lighting contest at PWYP. Fuzz sticks in April at a contest based on how fast you can do a fire!!! Don't get fat wood tunnel vision! It may be everywhere here but there will be times when it is not available, in a jungle, desert, parts of every state have spots where pine is missing, and you'll have to scrounge for other stuff. Be it dry fuzz sticks from another wood, pod fluff, fuzz from the sock or news paper, cedar nests, bird nests, coconut husks, corn husks, dead leaves, old rope, cigarette filters, broom sedge, etc. Figure out what else will catch a spark. Experiment and break the cycle, discover how the steel doesn't matter, just the edge where it meets the ferro rod. Find out that you can do it with glass! Broaden

Very good point. I didn't know cigarette filters could be used as tinder. Like your striker knife.

 

[SouthernCross]

Slightly off topic but, if anyone has access to quality fatwood and has a paypal account and would be willing to ship to OZ (I'll cover costs), I would love to give it a try :thumbup:




Kind regards
Mick

 

[Rick Marchand]

I guess that'll do, Mist. You gave it your best shot, at least.








Rick

 

[marthinus]

One thing I still struggle with when trying to light fuzzies is to get it thin enough. Its something I need improvement on, but one only realize this when practicing fire making. In our Savanna's I usually use more of the dried grass as tinder (abundance thereof and takes a spark very easy), but since we do not really have woods like you up north, I am still learning how to carve the wood thin enough. Our wood is so damn hard when dry it really becomes a bit of a struggle to keep the knife at a steady angle without it 'biting' to deep.

Thanks for the great reed so far and I learned a few new things. That is what I love about this part of the forum. People are willing to teach and to learn practical skills.

 

[luckykitty]

Our wood is so damn hard when dry it really becomes a bit of a struggle to keep the knife at a steady angle without it 'biting' to deep.

I've seen a technique in several of the videos on youtube (sorry, have no link) that might help you there. It basically is: you don't move the knife, but you move the wood, you just grab the knife hold it tight and don't move it, and pull the piece of wood.

 

[Mistwalker]

G'day Brian


PWYP is the acronym for practice what you preach and is held on private property in North Carolina.

It is an annual get together that was started some years ago on another forum.




Kind regards
Mick

Thanks Mick,

Terrill invited me, and I even read about the happenings at the last one in an article in T.K., I knew it took place on Terrill's land but never caught where that was at. I couldn't get away at the time anyway.

Very good point. I didn't know cigarette filters could be used as tinder. Like your striker knife.

Been a long time since I tried it and from what I've seen not all of them can, but the cotton ones will burn pretty good.

Slightly off topic but, if anyone has access to quality fatwood and has a paypal account and would be willing to ship to OZ (I'll cover costs), I would love to give it a try :thumbup:




Kind regards
Mick

Mick,

I've got quite a bit laying around, and it's good stuff, just P.M. your address and I'll get some in the mail as soon as I can...don't worry about paying for it.

I guess that'll do, Mist. You gave it your best shot, at least.








Rick

One thing I still struggle with when trying to light fuzzies is to get it thin enough. Its something I need improvement on, but one only realize this when practicing fire making. In our Savanna's I usually use more of the dried grass as tinder (abundance thereof and takes a spark very easy), but since we do not really have woods like you up north, I am still learning how to carve the wood thin enough. Our wood is so damn hard when dry it really becomes a bit of a struggle to keep the knife at a steady angle without it 'biting' to deep.

Thanks for the great reed so far and I learned a few new things. That is what I love about this part of the forum. People are willing to teach and to learn practical skills.

Glad you enjoyed the read. Grasses make good tinder. Try putting a little less pressure on the knife and see if that helps. Justout of curiosity...what type of grind is on the knife(s) you are using?

 

[marthinus]

mistwalker

I only have limited knives on me currently (far from home doing studies), my one knife has a Scandy grind (simmilar to a Mora, only fix blade I have) and the others are pocket knives with flat grind.

I tried lighter pressure and it has worked to make the fuzzies thinner thank you, still struggling to light it (may be the wood? dont know what it is but all I have). I injured my thumb today with an axe, so gripping sticks is a bit difficult. But will keep at it till I get it right. One thing I realized from all my trial and error is that I need a decent fix blade. Cant afford one now, but I want to get a Breeden Pathfinder.

 

[tonym]

Mistwalker, any Birch by you?

 

[Mistwalker]

mistwalker

I only have limited knives on me currently (far from home doing studies), my one knife has a Scandy grind (simmilar to a Mora, only fix blade I have) and the others are pocket knives with flat grind.

I tried lighter pressure and it has worked to make the fuzzies thinner thank you, still struggling to light it (may be the wood? dont know what it is but all I have). I injured my thumb today with an axe, so gripping sticks is a bit difficult. But will keep at it till I get it right. One thing I realized from all my trial and error is that I need a decent fix blade. Cant afford one now, but I want to get a Breeden Pathfinder.

A scandi grind is heralded by many as the best grind for making fuzzies. If it is good and sharp it should work fine with practice. Flat grinds work well too. I am working on getting better at it with convex grinds at the moment. From what I have seen in my years as a woodworker and cabinet maker...few woods (none that I have run across) won't catch when dry enough shaved thin enough. I have lit shavings from Pine, Sycamore, Birch, and Oak that I know of for sure. Just keep practicing. And by the way axes are for chopping wood not thumbs

 

[marthinus]

A scandi grind is heralded by many as the best grind for making fuzzies. If it is good and sharp it should work fine with practice. Flat grinds work well too. I am working on getting better at it with convex grinds at the moment. From what I have seen in my years as a woodworker and cabinet maker...few woods (none that I have run across) won't catch when dry enough shaved thin enough. I have lit shavings from Pine, Sycamore, Birch, and Oak that I know of for sure. Just keep practicing. And by the way axes are for chopping wood not thumbs

Will do! Will succeed in due time! The axe thing really sucked. But I got to comfortable and did not watch what I was doing.

 

[dawsonbob]

Will do! Will succeed in due time! The axe thing really sucked. But I got to comfortable and did not watch what I was doing.

Out of curiosity, did you cut your thumb on the blade of the axe, or smash it with the poll?

Not that I've ever smashed my thumb with the poll, but I've heard it could happen.

 

[Mistwalker]

Will do! Will succeed in due time! The axe thing really sucked. But I got to comfortable and did not watch what I was doing.

Keep practicing and i'm sure you will.

Out of curiosity, did you cut your thumb on the blade of the axe, or smash it with the poll?

Not that I've ever smashed my thumb with the poll, but I've heard it could happen.

Most axe incidents I've seen come from using part of the body to hold whats being chopped. A friend in high school was holding the piece he was splitting against up-right by holding it against another piece with his foot. He split the piece and chopped right through his shoe and split his foot open between the second and third toe. It took about three weeks to heal and that would have reeeeeaally sucked in a "stranded" situation. Another friend was holding the piece while he set the axe and the axe went deeper than he expected causing him to need stitches in his thumb.

 

[dawsonbob]

Keep practicing and i'm sure you will.

Most axe incidents I've seen come from using part of the body to hold whats being chopped. A friend in high school was holding the piece he was splitting against up-right by holding it against another piece with his foot. He split the piece and chopped right through his shoe and split his foot open between the second and third toe. It took about three weeks to heal and that would have reeeeeaally sucked in a "stranded" situation. Another friend was holding the piece while he set the axe and the axe went deeper than he expected causing him to need stitches in his thumb.

I've never cut myself with an axe (just about the only thing I haven't cut myself with), but I have smashed my thumb (dumb) driving a tent stake. I learned that both ends of the axe will bite.

 

[Mistwalker]

I've never cut myself with an axe (just about the only thing I haven't cut myself with), but I have smashed my thumb (dumb) driving a tent stake. I learned that both ends of the axe will bite.

Lol they can bite that's for sure. I've never cut myself with one, or smashed anything but had a chip ricochet and hit me in the eye once...that hurt.

 

[Mistwalker]

Mistwalker, any Birch by you?

Just Black Birch and Silver Birch

 

[Rick Marchand]

I've never cut myself with an axe (just about the only thing I haven't cut myself with), but I have smashed my thumb (dumb) driving a tent stake. I learned that both ends of the axe will bite.

I had a newbie grab my Granfors Bruks Hunter and use it to split kindling on top of a boulder. I was out for a hike at the time. Wasn't happy when I got back. Sometimes the owner can bite too. I apologized for making her cry afterwards... but was smiling on the inside.

Rick

BTW.... UNBELIEVABLY DAMMAGED EDGE ON THE GB!!

now I'm mad again..... maybe I'll call her.



LOL