Injured A Hand...now what?

[Mistwalker]

Ok, you're all alone in the woods, you've injured a hand and it's cold. You need to make a fire to warm up...so how do you do it. While this endeavor can be easier...though not as easy as you may think...with a lighter or some matches, try the matches and you'll see. I chose to try it with a knife and firesteel because they are my constant companions in the woods.


As almost always it is damp here today. It didn't rain today but it rained all night the night before last and a good bit of yesterday and it has been damp and foggy all day today.

I started out gathering what tinders I could find in the area I was in and the first thing I ran across were a couple of small cedar trees. I gathered some bark and some of the lower dead branches.

I grabbed a couple of large leaves to prep my tinder and kindling on and gave it a shot. The following is not the only video I shot of this, as you can see by the impressions of my knife in the soft damp earth I tried a few times...stopping to try to prep the bark differently each time.


[youtube]h1Qd-mgPBVY[/youtube]




I think because of all the dampness this would have likely never worked. I got small flames a couple of times from good sparks but they were fleeting and immediately went out. Had I been using two hands there is a chance I could have made them work...and it likely would have worked with matches or a lighter....even a coal from another friction method... but I was having no luck under these circumstances with a firesteel and resorted to a tried and true rain forest tinder, fatwood.


[youtube]R8HSXkOLNnE[/youtube]



For this method you can't be worried about getting your knife dirty.

I look forward to see the ideas some of you come up with and what you try under what conditions.




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[Mannlicher]

Blast Match comes to mine. One handed operation.

 

[Mistwalker]

Blast Match comes to mine. One handed operation.

Yeah...they did for me once too some years ago. They are great under optimum conditions or with chemical tinders or fatwood under less than perfect conditions....in the short term anyway. However they are in my opinion a flawed design for anything long term or with most natural tinders in damp conditions. Unless they have greatly improved the design, which doesn't appear to be the case from the recent pictures I've seen, they break easily and the striker will loosen and fall away after the plastic melts around it from multiple sparkings. Then you're just back to a firesteel and a knife....provided you have a knife. I much prefer the Strike Force as a fire starting tool, it's completely integral also, and much more solidly built. I took the last Blast Match that fell apart on me back to the outfitters where I bought it and exchanged the pieces for a Strike Force and the difference in price.

 

[pitdog]

Good thread...and before anyone says it won't happen to them !!!

 

[Mistwalker]

Thanks Pit, it's happened to me before too. Luckily at the time I had a Bic lighter, but now I think about the "what if's".

 

[pitdog]

Thanks Pit, it's happened to me before too. Luckily at the time I had a Bic lighter, but now I think about the "what if's".

The pic I posted was about a month ago and my had still hurts like crazy now when doing push-ups and stuff so I'm thinking it may have been fractured ! It made me re-think my FAK as well !!!

 

[mtwarden]

I've used sparklite w/ tinderquicks one handed, works well- the thing is so small (and light!) it will always have a place in my kit

 

[pitdog]

I always carry a product similar to the link below, they light real easy using one hand and burn hot for about 9 minutes, plenty long enough to light any wood gathered !

http://www.viewpoints.com/Diamond-Strike-A-Fire-review-d01f4

 

[Mistwalker]

The pic I posted was about a month ago and my had still hurts like crazy now when doing push-ups and stuff so I'm thinking it may have been fractured ! It made me re-think my FAK as well !!!

Yep, funny how now and then while we're out and about life decides to throw those little re-thinking-lessons at us huh?

Could have been worse Pit, and has been for a lot of folks...at least we've been fortunate enough to get the chance to re-think.



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[Mistwalker]

I've used sparklite w/ tinderquicks one handed, works well- the thing is so small (and light!) it will always have a place in my kit

There is a spark lite in the AMK/Doug Ritter kit that I bought my wife. She has gotten good at using paper towel and toilet paper with it...says she wants to save the tinder quick till she needs it. The spark lite seems to work pretty well, I haven't played with hers...may buy a couple more. One for me and one to replace the one she is training on when the flint wears out

I always carry a product similar to the link below, they light real easy using one hand and burn hot for about 9 minutes, plenty long enough to light any wood gathered !

http://www.viewpoints.com/Diamond-Strike-A-Fire-review-d01f4

I've seen those before. Will they strike anywhere or do they have to have a special surface to strike on?


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[dawsonbob]

Good thread, Mist. Makes me realize that I need to practice that with only one (weak side) hand because, as was pointed out, ya just never know. I like "what if's." The practice could save your life.

ETA: Now if I can only figure out how to make and use a bow drill one handed, I'll feel really special.

 

[tonym]

Great thread Mist! Cedar bark can be a PIA to light when damp. When I encounter it I grab some and try to dry it out in my pack or between layers of my clothing hours before use..



I will be heading out tomorrow with Riley, Marcelo, and Korupt. We will definately get a video of other techniques up. Yours is a great one though!

 

[brians]

What really concerns me is an injured and disabled knee, which is a very likely scenario for us fossils with too many collision sports in our history

I'll hold a firesteel in my teeth if I have to, but if I can't gather resources for fire and shelter, it's going to be a challenge.

 

[Mistwalker]

Good thread, Mist. Makes me realize that I need to practice that with only one (weak side) hand because, as was pointed out, ya just never know. I like "what if's." The practice could save your life.

ETA: Now if I can only figure out how to make and use a bow drill one handed, I'll feel really special.

Thanks Bob, glad you liked the thread. Hell I'm still studying the firebow...maybe I should study it from a one handed perspective

Great thread Mist! Cedar bark can be a PIA to light when damp. When I encounter it I grab some and try to dry it out in my pack or between layers of my clothing hours before use..



I will be heading out tomorrow with Riley, Marcelo, and Korupt. We will definately get a video of other techniques up. Yours is a great one though!

Thanks Tony, Yeah I could see where the Cedar bark would work well in many ways....even for this if I had had more time. I wish I had saved some to dry and then try but I put it all in the pile.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with.

What really concerns me is an injured and disabled knee, which is a very likely scenario for us fossils with too many collision sports in our history

I'll hold a firesteel in my teeth if I have to, but if I can't gather resources for fire and shelter, it's going to be a challenge.

Having had a knee injury and surgery to fix it I know exactly where you are coming from.

In the woods in my neck of the world I could probably crawl or roll to the fuel....it would be painful but there is a good bit in most places I spend time.

 

[brians]

"Survival Rolling", you've coined a new term and method for the forum

I can't wait to see the video I presume you prefer the downhill method.

 

[Mistwalker]

"Survival Rolling", you've coined a new term and method for the forum

I can't wait to see the video I presume you prefer the downhill method.

Well...I don't see the video in my near future...I hope...but if it keeps you alive.....


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[udtjim]

If I have my fire kit then I have matches, a Zippo and a Bic as well. Good point though, many emergencies become so because of injury. Of everything in my kit, the firest eel would be my last resort if I really needed a fire bad.

 

[TheGame]

Seems like it would be a good idea to try one handed ways to start fire.. good thread. Now, I just need to get out and do it.

 

[dawsonbob]

Thanks Bob, glad you liked the thread. Hell I'm still studying the firebow...maybe I should study it from a one handed perspective

I was just having a grin. A one-handed bow drill might be a little difficult. A fire plow might be possible one handed, but your arm would be so tired before you got fire that you might die of exhaustion before you actually got fire.

The one technique I'm sure of one-handed is the little known "Bic" technique. After many years of study in a little known Tibetan monastery, I've mastered that one.

 

[Mistwalker]

.... Of everything in my kit, the firest eel would be my last resort if I really needed a fire bad.

Me too, that's why I started the training with it

Seems like it would be a good idea to try one handed ways to start fire.. good thread. Now, I just need to get out and do it.

That's always the hardest part....easy for me because I live surrounded by woods...literally.


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