firesteels I can't get it right

[Woods Walker]

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?

That is a Strikeforce.

 

[pitdog]

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?

There must be some Pine/Fir/Spruce trees where you can get some resin from ? Add some resin to the cat-tail fluff and you create a flash tinder with a secondary long burn time !

 

[SubaruSTi]

There must be some Pine/Fir/Spruce trees where you can get some resin from ? Add some resin to the cat-tail fluff and you create a flash tinder with a secondary long burn time !

We have two pines near the farm house but none in the woods.

 

[DubVeeKnifeGuy]

I grew up in the Ohio river valley where everything is always soaking wet, eagle scout and all that jazz. It was a point of pride for me that every single fire I lit between star and eagle scout was with one match or a non-flame system like a fire steel. We got flooded out of the cranberry glades, blizzarded out if the Appalachian national forest, hypothermiaed in a canoe monsoon, and every time a fire with no problem.

The point is that there is always, always, always dry tinder somewhere. Under wet materials, inside punky logs, dry inside pine trees, under the bark of deadfall. Even the middle layer off pine needles on the ground works great--not the surface and not touching dirt. Practice makes perfect, charcloth makes it easy. If I can't keep half a gram dry, I've got other issues.

 

[upnorth]

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

Dunno buddy, I just use whatever is around me in whatever region I am in. Some places offer better materials, but all seem to have multiple materials if I look hard enough. Cat tails, old yellow jacket hives, grass. I'd use my gitch but the resulting methane explosion would likely melt my glasses.

 

[Moosez45]

Glad I could be of some help, Subaru.

The worst I ever had it, was this last summer, trout fishing. We had a 5 day HEAVY soaking rain. Even standing dead, was soaked through, I kid you not.

It took us a long time to get a fire going, about 2 hours, and we was using a Bic.

Building a fire is an art, an exercise in patience, and sometimes, just plain old luck.

I've never "needed" a fire and not had one, but sometimes, it takes more work than I planned on.

Either way, fire good.

Moose

 

[SubaruSTi]

Glad I could be of some help, Subaru.

The worst I ever had it, was this last summer, trout fishing. We had a 5 day HEAVY soaking rain. Even standing dead, was soaked through, I kid you not.

It took us a long time to get a fire going, about 2 hours, and we was using a Bic.

Building a fire is an art, an exercise in patience, and sometimes, just plain old luck.

I've never "needed" a fire and not had one, but sometimes, it takes more work than I planned on.

Either way, fire good.

Moose

I agree, just when you think you know what your doing Mother Nature throws a screwball.

 

[SubaruSTi]

I'm also getting much better at making those shavings, if you have a extremely thin sharp knife to scrape them, it comes off easy. My para military two can make a nice pile within a minute easy.

I've ignited cherry several times now, the shavings burn hot easily igniting pencil sized pieces in seconds!

 

[kilroy.45]

Now your getting it the key is alot of fine prep, and keeping it dry, also picking up and saving dry tinder when you find it. Good luck and keep up the practice, it is a great skill to learn.

 

[schmittie]

I've ignited cherry several times now, the shavings burn hot easily igniting pencil sized pieces in seconds!

You seemed determined enough that I was confident you would do it. Well done and congrats! You have learned something you'll never forget.

 

[n8swag]

Look at a 'light my fire 2.0' fire steel. My friend is 6'1 and the spark goes from his stomach all the way to the ground still lit. Striker with 20,000 strikes and its awesome in rain!(tested it) goes around $12.