Me + Firestarting = Fail

Thanks. That would be a good Item in the survival tin I am assuming if you could keep it in a small ziplock like druggies druggies use!
 
You could also buy a 10 lb box of fat wood ($12.00 online) and never have to leave home without it again.
 
Sometimes with a firesteel you can improve the chances of having a hot enough spark by doing two short scrapes on the steel to build up the amount of ferro scraped off right on the end and then use a third full scrape to go for the "spark" .... a simple tip but one often overlooked .... and whether scraped Birch Bark or fat wood the secret is to get it to a very fine powder and plenty of it .... then to have the right tinder to enhance the flame .... I use a pencil sharpener for that and it has always worked if the wood used is inner dry wood ....

Pit makes a good point about using natural tinders .... more and more I see "bushcrafters" going for bragging rites with the use of ammadou and old style fire and steel .... but if I have to prepare tinder with char cloth and ammadou I see no difference from carrying a disposable lighter and inner tube rubber .... they are both "artificial" tinder and the latter works better .... but using what is on hand with a fire steel is a much better way to practise ....
 
hlee said:
You could also buy a 10 lb box of fat wood ($12.00 online) and never have to leave home without it again.
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I bought a box at Home Depot in 2000. Still half-full because rather than use the whole brick, I use only small chunks at a time. At this rate, I've got another 10 years left in that box. Maybe more.

And I likes the fires. Likes them a lot. :D

Saturday, we had heavy snow, temps in the 20s with high wind. All the tinder, kindling, and fuel was wet. I coached my 5 year old to build a fire right on a pile of snow, crisscrossing the fuel (#-shape), and piling tinder and kindling in the middle. I used Vick's Vap-O-Rub and a cotton ball--both things he's familiar with--and hit it with a spark.

We had a damn perfect fire that continued to burn for the next eight hours. Picture perfect.

Sometimes, you can't get a fire started even with a drum of napalm and a flame thrower. Other days, you can get a bonfire roaring with a rock and an angry thought. Keep at it!
 
pitdog said:
I don't have Birch bark where I hike so that for me is not an option, when I lived in the UK I was surrounded by Silver Birch and I have to agree that is great stuff.
Every time I hear Cat-tail down I have to scratch my bald head because in the constantly damp climate over hear that stuff sucks ba**s as tinder. It is always soaked right through and would'nt light with a flame thrower. I find even when it is dry that is only poor at best, just a flash tinder.
Weed heads, old mans beard etc also fail me over here, too damp.
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Yeah, I grew up south of Pit in the PNW and it's difficult to find dry tinder throughout most of the year unless you get a good dry spell for a few days (not often).

I never used a firesteel at that age, but I do remember cedar being a staple at getting a fire going. Even with premade tinder, it's a good idea to know what is an effective fuel to get a fire built up. It's a big PITA in some locations, but what I've found is that natural tinder is available if you learn to identify it during the different seasons and how best to prepare it.

I do agree that you need to look for different types of tinders as you can overlook viable tinders on your narrow minded search for fat wood. Fortunately, my current area has plenty of pine trees and downed pines, but I'm looking for alternatives.

ROCK6
 
I have been in your shoes man. First time I got out to try it I managed to get flames once, then let me kid try. After two hours nothing. Then I tried again for another hour and couldn't get it. I had all kinds of "dry" lawn clippings, some paper towel, and some fatwood shavings. Figured out finally that the grass had gotten slightly damp, and the paper towel had to be shredded and fluffed to actually catch. Keep at it and you will get there!
 
Here's a pic of scraping some birch bark, as was mentioned earlier (in case it helps clarify the suggestion). The blade is held almost perpendicular to the bark and dragged across (enough of an angle to scrape, but not enough to slice). Temp was minus 6 celsius, lots of fresh snow, and bark taken from a nearby birch. It was more difficult to light than in the summer, to be sure.

firetstarting.jpg
 
pitdog said:
As someone else said scrape the fatwood to make nice pile of dust. Also try the pencil sharpener technique. Use ya knife to shape a bit of fatwood down to pencil size and make some shavings with a pencil sharpener, break these shaving up a little with ya hand and they will be good to go.Shavings usually light but the dust definitely will.
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+1. Light My Fire actually sells this same stuff as "Maya Dust."

Maya%20Dust%20And%20Fire%20Strike.jpg
 
ive had so much problems trying to start a fire with a firesteel its no joke...then i started to work smarter.. a one stick fire method.. so i split my wood into various sizes...to catch a spark i needed some fine material...this i got from scraping/even sawing the stick...sawdust, then i made some fine curly feather sticks...(this is the secret ... for me at least) i then place the sawdust, fine featherstick and then place firesteel on featherstick and strike rapidly3-5 in qik sucession...the moment i get a flame, i use another feather stick to catch that flame...then carefully add thicker pieces...

the upside for me is i dont have to rely on pjb...if i can find a stick or twig...im in business

its good to know i can do it tho....took me along time

its fun too, as well as frustrating..lol

the firesteel is now my second best method
 
martino910 said:
ive had so much problems trying to start a fire with a firesteel its no joke...then i started to work smarter.. a one stick fire method.. so i split my wood into various sizes...to catch a spark i needed some fine material...this i got from scraping/even sawing the stick...sawdust, then i made some fine curly feather sticks...(this is the secret ... for me at least) i then place the sawdust, fine featherstick and then place firesteel on featherstick and strike rapidly3-5 in qik sucession...the moment i get a flame, i use another feather stick to catch that flame...then carefully add thicker pieces...

the upside for me is i dont have to rely on pjb...if i can find a stick or twig...im in business

its good to know i can do it tho....took me along time

its fun too, as well as frustrating..lol

the firesteel is now my second best method
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OK, now its time to start on the one stick bow drill. C'mon, get started, we ain't got all day. LOL:)

Moose
 
Someone may have mentioned it already, but I have always had good success using dryer lint to catch the spark. I create a small pile of birch bark and put the dryer lint on top. Typically it flames right up after a strike or two with the firesteel.

Not the best pic, but you get the idea

B%20401.jpg
 
martino910 said:
i'll need at least a year on that one stick bow drill Moose...lol
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Naw, I put a good tutorial just a few days ago, even taught a total woodsnoob how to do it, he got it on his second try. Take a look and give it a shot, what can it hurt.:D

Moose
 
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