Firestarting

[ImKidd]

Not sure if this is where this goes but, any tips?

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[Student762]

You'll have better luck in the wilderness and survival skills sub forum buddy. Use the search function too there's a bunch of really good threads that people have made in the past. Lots of stuff out there mate, best of luck.

 

[Codger_64]

You have a good start there. What is the problem? Trouble getting the magnesium block shavings to ignite?

 

[unimogbert]

Practice. Expect to use up a block and sparking insert as you learn what works, what doesn't, how to hold it, how to spark it, and what to use to make the sparks.

Kid I took hiking put a dry branch in the fire pit and threw sparks at it. Fail. Not even close.

 

[gadgetgeek]

More details needed. I can pretty much guarantee that every firemaking mistake has been made by someone here, so ask away, and we'll do our best to set you on the right track. But like all things, expect to put in the practice as well, advice will only get you so far.

 

[unimogbert]

Actually, everyone here has survived to this point. So there might be a few firemaking mistakes possible but we survivors haven't made them.

(mistakes with gunpowder, compressed match heads, gasoline, diesel, and charcoal lighter fluid might be life-threatening)

 

[Codger_64]

Actually, everyone here has survived to this point. So there might be a few firemaking mistakes possible but we survivors haven't made them.

(mistakes with gunpowder, compressed match heads, gasoline, diesel, and charcoal lighter fluid might be life-threatening)

Many people, more so today than in the past, have survived without ever having started a fire. Turn on a light switch. Boot a computer or phone. Turn on the microwave or cookstove. I count it as a good thing that young people are becoming interested in "outing", getting out of the house hiking, camping, whatever. And this forum provides some mentoring in skills which isn't available IRL to many. Hopefully, if the OP returns (I left him a VM suggesting he do so), he can tell us where his problem lies and get good suggestions as to how to fix it. Firestarting is a very basic skill that it does one well to learn, IMHO, if one is to leave the house and sidewalks for any period of time.

 

[Greykilt]

Many people, more so today than in the past, have survived without ever having started a fire. Turn on a light switch. Boot a computer or phone. Turn on the microwave or cookstove. I count it as a good thing that young people are becoming interested in "outing", getting out of the house hiking, camping, whatever. And this forum provides some mentoring in skills which isn't available IRL to many. Hopefully, if the OP returns (I left him a VM suggesting he do so), he can tell us where his problem lies and get good suggestions as to how to fix it. Firestarting is a very basic skill that it does one well to learn, IMHO, if one is to leave the house and sidewalks for any period of time.

I realize there are quite a few stone and steel purists out there and I may very well be among there numbers, but in the end (and each one of us defines what that 'end" means) whatever works is the best choice. Among Celtic people's to make fire meant life. No weapon-No Food Preperation-No Food Storage-No religion existed without it. He who could make it didn't just live, he ruled.
Of course all we computer savvy survivalist folk (and you wouldn't be reading this post if you didn't have one) are far from those days but the ability is no less important.
I have flint and steel. I have a brass tinderbox just like great grandpa. And if the moon is out and the wind is right and I angle my teeth that certain way, yep, I can catch me some char cloth into a nice smoldering ember. I carry a ferro rod on a paracord around me neck. I got a Bic jr in the watch pocket of me overalls. Every cotton ball from every bottle of Aspirin or Tylenol or Advil goes into me ziploc. I got a little block of 100% fully sustainable french parafin in the same bag. I've got some REI garaunted water proof matches in the glove box. I been thinking I'm ready to go. But here was one I hadn't thought of that I'd like to share.
I've got a friend and he's a welder. Got the GMC Flatbed and the Lincoln Heliarc mounted on the back. Oxy/Acetylene tanks at an angle on the side each in their respective tube. Yards of red and green hoses on loop mounts. Tig Mig and Jig, he's complete. And he smokes. Like a train. So we're up at the house and out on the porch. He pulls out his camels and can't locate his zippo. He looks at me, I shake me head no, he shrugs. On his side as it has been for the last 30 years is his striker, a welders constant companion. He pulls up his Carhart pant leg and fetches a loose string from his white crew sock. He pulls Mebe 6 inches off. Then he grabs his Pepsi can, Pepsi still in it, sets the bunched up string on the can top, puts the camel in his lips and strikes his striker over the thread. Instant flame and lights off that cig.
Whoa, that was simple and very impressive. That afternoon I tossed a striker into me bag.

Now considering that a 'Light My Fire' Scout runs $15 at REI and a torch striker is $3.50 at Home Depot, no contest. And it's one handed too. If it gets wet shake it off, good to go. Just wanted to share.
Stay outta the wind and on this side of the dirt.

 

[unimogbert]

I agree firestarting is a skill that should be learned but as I think about it, I'm closing in on 60 years old and with hundreds of dayhikes and many tens of backpack and jeeping camping trips behind me I have yet to actually need to build a fire. Most of my backpacking has been where fire is either not allowed or I've carried stoves anyway. Jeep & motorcycle camping has always been stove work. Even when family camping as a little kid, the fire has, so far, only been for entertainment.

So even for avid outdoorspeople firestarting isn't necessarily part of the routine. I've been learning more about it for entertainment purposes than as a life-saving skill. Maybe I'm out of sync though. (wouldn't be the first time)

 

[Greykilt]

I agree firestarting is a skill that should be learned but as I think about it, I'm closing in on 60 years old and with hundreds of dayhikes and many tens of backpack and jeeping camping trips behind me I have yet to actually need to build a fire. Most of my backpacking has been where fire is either not allowed or I've carried stoves anyway. Jeep & motorcycle camping has always been stove work. Even when family camping as a little kid, the fire has, so far, only been for entertainment.

So even for avid outdoorspeople firestarting isn't necessarily part of the routine. I've been learning more about it for entertainment purposes than as a life-saving skill. Maybe I'm out of sync though. (wouldn't be the first time)

No, your point is valid and sad at the same time. When the need is perceived gone so to the skill. My son took a CPR class to be a pool lifegaurd. Practiced on a dummy for two days. Passed his test. Has yet to save a life. Was the class worthless?
Ask the people in the pool.

 

[Codger_64]

I agree firestarting is a skill that should be learned but as I think about it, I'm closing in on 60 years old and with hundreds of dayhikes and many tens of backpack and jeeping camping trips behind me I have yet to actually need to build a fire. Most of my backpacking has been where fire is either not allowed or I've carried stoves anyway. Jeep & motorcycle camping has always been stove work. Even when family camping as a little kid, the fire has, so far, only been for entertainment.

So even for avid outdoorspeople firestarting isn't necessarily part of the routine. I've been learning more about it for entertainment purposes than as a life-saving skill. Maybe I'm out of sync though. (wouldn't be the first time)

Nah. Life experiences vary. I belonged to a hunting club at one time with well over one hundred members of every age and background. A fire was a social affair. In the Boy Scouts, it was an essential skill to acquire. I've used stoves. I've built campfires for warming, cooking, drying clothes, boiling water and sometimes just because I could. Likewise I've used many methods. And learned more from failures than successes. So if a person comes here to learn, I hope to be able to help them. Not to tell them that it is an archaic skill of no value like making bone and gourd rattles to ward off mythical evil spirits.

Ignition sources and methods are one of several components to successful fire making. It pays for most of us to know several if not many. No lighter or matches to light your Camel? Take a AA battery out of your flashlight and touch the contacts with a thin strip of the foil/paper packaging from the pack. Poof!

 

[gadgetgeek]

Once. I can think of one fire that was truly necessary for my survival. Considering my luck, I think that's pretty good.

 

[Mannlicher]

my secret is to always have a box of matches.

Good tips so far, and yes, we have all failed at this most basic task, one time or another.

 

[alewn]

If you don't care any more about your body than to smoke, why bother surviving? I am amazed at how many people are so out and out foolish/suicidal as to smoke. Smokers also are fire hazards and consider the ground to exist so that they can throw cigarette butts on it.

 

[STAINLESS90]

I was a smoker from 17-23, it's been two years now and I have no urge to smoke cigarettes. I always butted out my smokes fully and always policed my butts even if it meant putting the filter in my pocket. It's called raising your kids with respect like my mother did. Back to the topic at hand I love firecraft even if I rarely get to use it. I once started a coworkers cigarette with a battery and a bubble gum wrapper (prison lighter) that one got some impressed looks. Flint and steel, ferro rod, solar, and friction are all valuable skills to learn just in case.

 

[Codger_64]

Nobody gets out of this alive. Nobody.

 

[ImKidd]

I forgot I posted for help! Hah! So my main problem is I can get the magnesium shavings to light the brush/tinder.. but what often happens is that burns up before getting any actual wood burning.. is the trick just more starting tinder?
Oh! And im honestly learning for the fun of it. I usually always have a lighter on me and matches in my bag.
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[STAINLESS90]

I forgot I posted for help! Hah! So my main problem is I can get the magnesium shavings to light the brush/tinder.. but what often happens is that burns up before getting any actual wood burning.. is the trick just more starting tinder?
Oh! And im honestly learning for the fun of it. I usually always have a lighter on me and matches in my bag.
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What kind of tinder are you using and what size wood are you trying to light with it?

 

[ImKidd]

What kind of tinder are you using and what size wood are you trying to light with it?

It's mostly dry brush..

And the sticks

Was trying to make some wood chips perhaps. But a little iffy doing it before getting a fixed blade.

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[STAINLESS90]

It's mostly dry brush..

And the sticks

Was trying to make some wood chips perhaps. But a little iffy doing it before getting a fixed blade.

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Make a fire lay from the twigs the smallest ones you can find. If you have some medium sized rocks make it on top of that so you can get underneath it. Then take the dry brush and make something similar to a bird's nest out of it. Not too tight to where it doesn't get airflow just a bundle with a depression in the center. Have some larger sticks in a pile at hand. Now shave magnesium into the the depression of your tinder bundle and then spark into that. When it gets going put it underneath your fire lay and when the twigs get going feed it the larger sticks being careful not to smother it. If that doesn't work ensure all your fire material is dry. Also I would personally collect a larger tinder bundle.