Lets talk tinder....

My wife volunteered me to teach a cub scout troop to make fire. I have never done it before. I bought one of those magnesium starters from Wal Mart. I found that sharp pieces of flint threw the best sparks. We gathered dried fox tail grass for tender and every scout was able to make a fire.
 
Regarding technique. Here is what works for me and was a suggeston obtained from the Ratcutlery's survival tips printable instruction sheet:

When striking, keep your striker stationary and rip the firesteel backwards.

I know it seems so much more intuitative to do it the other way around, but this way the sparks stay directed towards the tinder, and you never accidently knock into your tinder with the striker.

Any dry fluffy grasses work well. I was demo'ing this fragmities tuft a week or so ago.

DSC_0005.jpg


DSC_0006.jpg


DSC_0016-1.jpg
 
"Make smooth, consistent, "slow", high pressure strikes. Since the tip of the rod is anchored down firmly against the tinder (and whatever the tinder is resting upon), it offers much greater resistance, allowing for one to bear down upon the rod with a lot of one's body weight going into the strike."

I prefer the method mentioned in the article - it has been successful on naturals for me. Here's todays birch bark fire and tools of the trade - Grohmann folder, army steel, and mother nature:

SANY0002-9.jpg


Ignition:

SANY0006-5.jpg


And I survive for another day:

SANY0008-6.jpg
 
Evolute said:
I'm glad my article helped, messer454. Cheers.
Click to expand...

Mike, you are always spot on, clear and to the point.

If I could add a couple of things to make life easier. Not necessary, but helpful.

1. BIG firesteel. I use (Mike also IIRC), the 4"x1/2" steel, that I got from exploration products (?). Easier to use than even my lg Army model.

2. Maya wood. This is the fattest of the fatwoods, up to 80% resin. Used to be available from Light my Fire, not sure now. Have seen it on fleabay. Not cheap, but one bag of it is a lifetime supply. Cut a 3 or 4" piece, drill a hole in the end and put it on your keyring. Smells nice too.

Comparing this to regular fatwood is like aviation gas to RaceTrac regular.:eek:

Rob
 
I use birch bark,always have some on me,and collect when see dead birch.Scrapped,it lights up readily.But I always have some vaseline cotton though.
 
My favorite type of tinder is the inner bark of dead trees. It has to be the type of bark that you can strip in long thing strands. The good part about this is that you can get a lot of it from one tree.
 
messer454 said:
Long story short my flint and char cloth got a coal but failed to ignite for me but I got the pine and fatwood to ignite with a striker every time. Go figure. Thanks guys, more practice tomorrow.
Click to expand...


messer - with the char cloth you will only get a coal. You need to blow that coal to flame in a tinder bundle. Not sure if you tried it that way or not, but wanted to post this just in case. :)
 
Question regarding birch bark:

Does it have to be from a dead/dry tree or branch?

Does anything need to be done to it, like shreading/crumbling/etc. or do you just throw your sparks on a couple slabs/sheets?
 
stingray4540 said:
Question regarding birch bark:

Does it have to be from a dead/dry tree or branch?

Does anything need to be done to it, like shreading/crumbling/etc. or do you just throw your sparks on a couple slabs/sheets?
Click to expand...

I like to take it from dead trees,unless very decomposed or soaked.Yes, I either scrape or shred it,mostly shred,it is easier to do,for top layer is as thin as paper.And once I get flame add some sheet.It takes fire readily and,burns like tar.
 
Ya, I just tried it, just by taking some of the outer stuff that was already flaking off my grandpa's tree. Worked like a charm!!!
 
That's the nice thing about a Birch, gather some thick strips and you have both a base and some paper for tinder. Just scrape, peel, slice some of it thin, put it on the base (as above) and you are good to go.
 
I had a pretty tough time today getting a small fire going..everything was soaked in the woods...I had my PSK with me and used some of my tinder to get it going after several failed attempts. I had a great deal of luck with some Hemp rope fluff...I had a flame right away 3 times. I would get a fire going and put it out, start all over trying different tinder...I only had luck with the HEMP today. Gene
 
I just want to say, I am proud of all of you who are taking the time to practice with your kits before you rely on them, in good weather and bad.

I know of some who think just because they have it with them, that the skills will automatically come with them.

On topic, 0000 steel wool for kits? I have some, but wonder if anyone else has used this? It's not natural, I know...but I cheat whenever I can.
 
0000 extra fine steel wool was the subject of my "posting error" above (I initially missed the word "natural"). If you're not limiting yourself to natural tinder, the 0000 steel wool works great. Some guys spray it with WD40, Breakfree or other combustible lubricant/protectant before storing it in a small ziploc. They say it reduces the formation of rust and makes ignition even easier.

DancesWithKnives
 
Thin box with birch bark that I carry an above some fatwood sticks
DSC00029.jpg

spark
DSC00030.jpg

and fire
DSC00031-1.jpg

Usually I do this in the woods,but this was on kitchen floor today after work before my wife came home.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top