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Need advice - Starting fire with a Fresnel Lens.

Also, it may be that small movements of your hand are causing the smaller lens to move off the hot spot.

Try to rest your hand on something, or wedge the fresnel lens into a stationary object at the right angle.

This keeps heat concentrated on to one spot. Doc-Canada's suggestion about a black dot is excellent as well.
 
LENS BASED FIRE STARTING

Fresnel lenses work quite well- the bigger the better of course. I buy 8.5x11 sixe and cut them to fit my kit containers- centering the middle spot of course.

The best way in my experience to get a fire going with a lens is to use relatively one dimensional tinder- a fluffy ball of plant fiber is less desireable than a piece of punky wood. This is because of the limited depth of focus of the lens. Also, dark is better than light. Of course, it must be DRY, and the sun is strongest near noon.

The lens on a Silva compass works- but is minimal. Same for a Swiss Army knife. THey do work, but BIGGER IS BETTER>
 
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