My first attempt today...

[Thalestin]

Well I got outside today and started to practice my fire making skills. I went for a walk to my local beach and collected a bit of wood and kept my eyes open for some tinder to light up. The only stuff that looked reasonable was some dry grass--keep in mind i am still pretty new at many of these skils but I am learning

Here is a shot of what I collected plus my bravo 1 and fire starter:

Some fuzzies and batoning with my bravo 1

I tried real hard to set the grass but I couldnt get anything to light. I lit the a couple fuzzies briefly but couldnt get a constant flame. So in a jam, I got some toilet paper =D

I still need a lot of practice but at least I did get a little fire. I still need to practice the set up to keep the flame going. Ill try again soon. It was fun and I think I learned quite a bit. The bravo 1 worked well--I really love this knife =D

Feel free to post some tips for me, hope you enjoy the pics

 

[AR fan]

I carry a small ziplock with some PJCB's. The stone pocket on the front of my sheath is large enough that I can carry a fine Folding DMT sharpener and the ziplock of PJCB,s flattened out.
The cotton also works well with hand sanitizer, such as Germ-X applied.

 

[bindlestitch]

Thalestin,
You gave it a good shot for sure. Next time try taking that dry grass in both hands and rubbing it together until you get fine little bits of dust coming from it. Get it good and fuzzed up, see if that helps. Also if you have any cedar trees near by try the same technique with the outer bark. Try for undersides of limbs.
Have fun, hope I helped some.
Later,
Iz
p.s. nice knife:thumbup:

 

[tonym]

Thalestin,
You gave it a good shot for sure. Next time try taking that dry grass in both hands and rubbing it together until you get fine little bits of dust coming from it. Get it good and fuzzed up, see if that helps. :

:thumbup: Yup, that grass should have lit, you just needed to fluff it up like bindlestitch said.

Keep practicing on your fuzz stick making. Try to make longer and thinner courls. Rotate the stick after each cut. The longer thinner curles will catch quiker and burn longer:thumbup:

 

[Dinkum]

With the fuzzies, Split a length of wood like in one of the pics, but then quater it so it looks like a slice of Pizza from the end.

Position you body directly over the wood and start at least 2/3rds of the way up, just try to take of the thinnest sliver of wood. Start at the narrowest portion of the wood (which should be directly in front of you (12 O'Clock) as the taper of the wood gets removed, start your knife at 10 O'Clock, make a curl, return to the top then start at 12 O'Clock, then 2 O'Clock, then go back to the 10O'clock position, this way you are at a slight angle and there is a micro bevel to slice off, the curls (and its easier said than done) should be hair fine (Most wont but thats a practice issue only) and should light easily with a spark stick.

The Bravo should make learning a treat not a chore

Edited( LOL Tony you beat me to it )

 

[Tuxdad]

I've come to realize, I can make fuzz sticks better with some knives better then others... I've got a buck omni that I can make them(fuzz sticks) with all day long, but I have gerber profile, and an old bayonet that I sharpened up that come out similar to what you have.. I'm guessing its the design of the blade that is the issue..

Also if you wanna try making some tinder while walking, get yourself a kids pencil sharpener, not the hand crank type but just the old run of the mill single bladed type.. The one's I have are enclosed so that it collects in the end and you can just dump it in a bag.. All you have to do is find some twigs that'll fit it.. Saves you knives for other work and possibly saves your fingers from any cuts and stitches.... HTH

Btw you can also try using jute twine as a tinder, to help you along..:thumbup:

Tux

 

[Thalestin]

great suggestions guys, I will definatly try some of these ideas out. Ill practice making some better fuzz next time. I like the pencil sharpener idea...very innovative. Thanks again all

 

[Watchful]

great suggestions guys, I will definatly try some of these ideas out. Ill practice making some better fuzz next time. I like the pencil sharpener idea...very innovative. Thanks again all

Any fire you get lit is a good one. In my opinion, you succeeded, even if it wasn't the way you hoped. That can happen next time.

Keep in mind that 99% of the people around you wouldn't have even gotten a flame.

One other thing--the purpose of training is to make mistakes. Mistakes can teach more than success: you already learned enough to get a fire going, but now look at how much *more* you learned today.

That's what I love about this group here: just when you think you know the easiest way to do something, someone comes up with an easier tip!

 

[Tuxdad]

I agree...:thumbup: I've been working with fresnels all this past week, and now my next will be a hand drill(my MAJOR weakness !).. Hopefully things will go ok with that, butnot holding my breath..

Best of luck to you !!