firesteels I can't get it right

Woods Walker said:
True words.

IMG_0698.jpg
Click to expand...

Jeez, I used to run around with piles of the stuff in my trunk, for a day care crafts project................... Subaru, have you tried long dried dead field grass ? I find that to be quite reliable around here to initiate a fire with a rod.
 
I'm super new here and still learning the ropes, but I make my own charcloth for my firesteel. First strike, every time, great fire---every time. If you have any old cotton clothing (bluejeans work best), it's easy to make and one pair of jeans goes a long, long way.
 
What if its wet and you have no char cloth or dry grass?

I guess if worse came to worse you could cut your hair off or use soe clothing to try and get a fire going.

I'm looking for natural materials in any weather to use with a fire steel
 
SubaruSTi said:
What if its wet and you have no char cloth or dry grass?
Click to expand...

That's where you reach into your fire kit/pack and pull out the dry tinder that you always carry with you.

SubaruSTi said:
I'm looking for natural materials in any weather to use with a fire steel
Click to expand...

Ha. Aren't we all? There are very few natural materials that will work "in any weather" with nothing more than a firesteel. Fatwood would be one of them. I would encourage you to not just think of what you can accomplish solely with a firesteel - think instead of a firesteel as one part of a firebuilding system. My system includes a firesteel, h20-proof matches and a lighter, coupled with several types of prepared tinder. It is still a kit that fits into a very small, easily carryable pouch.

As already stated, trying to get a fire going in truly horrible, wet weather is going to be extremely difficult with just a firesteel....just as it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible with matches or a Bic under the same conditions. Most survival situations involve bad weather - prepare for it by not just having one source of ignition, but several options and reliable tinder. Also as already stated, I couldn't give a shit in a real situation whether my tinder is "natural" or napalm, but I guess that a personal opinion.
 
I made a nice hot fire the other day in 100% humidity and rain off and on with one strike anywhere match and cherry shavings and split wood.

I don't think it's possible to do that with a firesteel
 
And for a real survival situation I would use anything I could but this is just for learning proposes!
 
Cool. There is no substitute for first-hand experience and knowing what works for you and what doesn't.
 
SubaruSTi said:
What if its wet and you have no char cloth or dry grass?

I guess if worse came to worse you could cut your hair off or use soe clothing to try and get a fire going.

I'm looking for natural materials in any weather to use with a fire steel
Click to expand...

Hair will not work. It's protein, like finger nails. You can apply enough heat to make it burn, but withdraw the external heat and it self-extinguishes.

Cotton clothing will work -- if dry.

If you find natural tinder that always works literally regardless of the situation, let us know.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Hair will not work. It's protein, like finger nails. You can apply enough heat to make it burn, but withdraw the external heat and it self-extinguishes.

Cotton clothing will work -- if dry.

If you find natural tinder that always works literally regardless of the situation, let us know.
Click to expand...

Good to know

And I'll be sure to let everyone know but I doubt it's possible.

Preparation is the key for all survival, mental toughness, skills, clothing and kit are all important.
 
SubaruSTi said:
I would never be in a survival situation in IL anyways, you can just walk out of nearly any park in the area and my property is nowhere near big enough to get lost on.

I can easily carry 50 matches for a survival situation use anyhow. But it's fun to practice this stuff, I have for years but I've always been a fan of matches. I guess I'm a novice, maybe someday ill figure a way to do natural materials with a ferro.
Click to expand...

Learning a variety of different fire starting methods is fun and educational. I've done firebow, firesaw, hand drill, flint and steel, mag bar, fire plow, ferro rod, magnifying glass and matches. I carry and use a bic lighter unless I just want to purposely handicap myself for the fun of it. Yes, they can run out of fuel ... after 1,500 - 3,000 lights. Yes they can get wet and have to be dried. Yes, they are less effective in the cold and need to be warmed. Yes, you can accidentally empty one of fuel by carrying it wrong. All of this can be overcome fairly easily. And most tender is easier to ignite with a flame than a spark.

Alternative methods are fun though. Given a choice, I would not bet my life on them.
 
I prefer matches as they are easier to get into a tighter spot to light and I think, burn hotter than a bic.

Lifeboat matches don't seem to burn as hot and they almost seem like they blow out the flame they just lit
 
Practice, practice, practice. Your knife can do most of the work for you if you can find dry anything, but you have to practice.

100_1592.jpg


100_1602.jpg


100_1603.jpg


100_1617.jpg


100_1623.jpg


Even seasoned red oak, will render tinder, if you can make it happen, cap'n.

100_2178.jpg


Moose
 
I ! HAVE MADE FIRE! (insert Tom Hanks voice from cast away) Took a few hard minutes of scraping and and it paid off! It would have been easy all along if I did this scraping like everyone said at the start but its not easy getting a decent pile of them.

Heres a photo of the product before I struck the ferro
31f2fb43b7643d17e0b4d555dc02665b.jpg


Heres the FIRE!!!
06dfd02dd9248930e22e3efbe2f27015.jpg

effee792a042422ff91f6c6c1f5ff047.jpg

f3879a45cd4c32dbcc306405e7ef4a7d.jpg

e327feb726598acab33cf26c99f59cf4.jpg
 
Thanks for all the help guys, Moose your last post was pure inspiration!

Its a good feeling!
 
SubaruSTi said:
What if its wet and you have no char cloth or dry grass?

I guess if worse came to worse you could cut your hair off or use soe clothing to try and get a fire going.

I'm looking for natural materials in any weather to use with a fire steel
Click to expand...

1. Fatwood.

IMG_0536.jpg


2. Chaga.

IMG_1466.jpg


3. Birch bark. I can't state this enough.

IMG_1450.jpg


IMG_1454.jpg


4. Cattail fluff. This is a flash tinder.

IMG_1443.jpg


IMG_1445.jpg


5. Common reed. Also a bit flashy.

IMG_1439.jpg


IMG_1441.jpg


Or just make some wood shavings using your knife.

IMG_0793.jpg
 
None of those things except maybe the cat tails are in my area. I like the shavings method as its easy to get and it stays dry as its in the log.

What firesteel is that in the last pic?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top