Let's Make Some Fire

Thomas Linton said:
Thistle "down"/seeds/"fuzz, right? How does it compare to cattail "down"?
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In my experience, it burns a bit longer. It's not quite so 'flash' a tinder as Cattail. Another one that burns well is the pappus of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Both of these can be lit easily from a fuel depleted Bic, or any other lighter for that matter. This, of course, supports the advice that you should never throw anything away in a survival situation, even a fuel depleted Bic. Besides the remaining firestarting potential, the shiny chrome guard and the colourful plastic case can be altered to use as fish attractants - it can get them within range of your fish spear.

Doc
 
just wanted to say hello and you all have a great little corner here i've away been into various wilderness skills my whole life. after reading this thread i was able to go out and make fire with my firesteel what a great feeling thanks for all the great tips and tricks.
 
There is a guy in Portland Or that makes these. It is a piece of cedar with a peice of round magnesium and a metal match embedded in it. The cedar and magnesium can be shaved off for tinder use.

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Inaddition to PJ cotton balls I carry several peices of pitchwood that I shave and either ignite with an REI match or the metal match. The pitchwood burns hot and is fairly waterproof.
Pitchwood is upper left corner
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I use birch-bark for tinder, frech or old does not matter. Birsch is abundant around where I live. I only carry a couple of cotton balls for emergencies. Just 'fuzz' up the outside of the birch-bark and then hit it with some sparks from the fire steel. 10-30 seconds.
 
One of my favourite kit additions is jute string. You just untwist 6-10" of it and fluff it up and you've got one of the best tinders you will find. And there's plenty of other uses for the string when you're not lighting fires.
 
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