- Joined
- Dec 29, 2007
- Messages
- 1,402
My son wanted to go out in the back woods and "saw trees" today so that would be the plan. He loaded up with his handy Black & Decker toddler saw and I took the opportunity to gather some materials to try out a fire.
Items I took: Busse BM-e, Becker BK-2, and Vic Huntsman Plus. Clipped to a pocket but unused at all was the Cold Steel Pocket Bushman. I really like the CS Pocket Bushman for $24 - it's solid, tough, and locks up tight. I had an EDC in my pocket as well and a RAT Izula tucked in the back left pocket.
The only two knives used were the BM-e and the Vic Huntsman Plus. The BK-2 was used for some prep before we went out on some commercial bought fatwood (Starter Stikk natural fatwood found at Wal Mart for $10) - I haven't been able to go out and find/harvest some from the wilds. I used the Huntsman Plus saw to cut two sticks into 1/3 sized pieced and collected the saw dust - put into a baggie with some wild tinder I got last weekend on a walk (still have to ID it yet).
After he sawed some and I chopped down about a 4" dead tree for fun (and to hear him laugh) I decided to make a fire.
I had the natural tinder, the fatwood chunks, a milsurp magnesium block with striker, pj cotton balls, and matches.
I am learning quickly that I try to rush.
I built a small platform to get the fire attempt off the ground. I cut one of the fatwood chunks into a fuzz stick with the BM-e and tried to ignite the natural tinder and fatwood curls with the firesteel side of the mag/striker hit by the Vic awl. I couldn't get the tinder to take a spark but the fatwood curl would occasionally burn for second but I couldn't get anything sustained.
Now, I was also trying to watch and corral my almost 4 year old as he was sawing trees at the same time.
I didn't have enough tinder and I totally forgot about the fatwood saw dust.
So after trying awhile with the firesteel/awl I went to the match and fatwood. With the tinder it went up and I was able to get some sticks loaded and got a fire going.
Enjoying the fire - note his saw in his hands!
The fire got going for a bit and we sat next to it and shared a few moments before he had to get busy sawing again.
Lessons learned:
Fire making can be difficult managing a toddler at the same time! Especially when they want to be busy.
The BM-e is a very functional big knife - it was used to make the curls on the fatwood - and I just love it.
Preparation is key. I didn't have enough tinder (again) and I didn't have enough small dry sticks to sustain a solid base. I eventually rushed it with some larger dead branches and sent it to a smolder - he was wanting to go in any way.
Get more tinder than you think you need. Have more small pieces or fuzz sticks carved ahead of time and get everything you can. I really didn't feel like baton splitting anything but it would have been absolutely easy if I had wanted to - plenty of dead falls and standing dead wood around.
I'm just not good with a firesteel yet. Especially in the cold. Need to work on that and learn more about it - I didn't shave any magnesium at all.
Multiple ways to start a fire are always necessary! I just didn't take the Bic out cause matches were close.
I need to learn to ID trees more as well to find what barks will burn easiest as well - there was plenty of bark I could have picked up from the dead chop I did.
I also saw a vine growing up the bark - maybe ivy vine, don't know - may see if I can get poison ivy in the winter
. Neither of us touched it bare skinned but a little with gloves, maybe was ivy but don't know if there was any urishol if it was - we will see. 
I should probably wash our gloves.
Fire making is fun but certain ways are much harder and it isn't something that is just done quick or on the fly - preparation and thinking ahead are the keys.
I would give myself a C-: I'm a perfectionist on some things and much more critical of myself on it but we got flame and enjoyed some heat and father/son time.
Items I took: Busse BM-e, Becker BK-2, and Vic Huntsman Plus. Clipped to a pocket but unused at all was the Cold Steel Pocket Bushman. I really like the CS Pocket Bushman for $24 - it's solid, tough, and locks up tight. I had an EDC in my pocket as well and a RAT Izula tucked in the back left pocket.
The only two knives used were the BM-e and the Vic Huntsman Plus. The BK-2 was used for some prep before we went out on some commercial bought fatwood (Starter Stikk natural fatwood found at Wal Mart for $10) - I haven't been able to go out and find/harvest some from the wilds. I used the Huntsman Plus saw to cut two sticks into 1/3 sized pieced and collected the saw dust - put into a baggie with some wild tinder I got last weekend on a walk (still have to ID it yet).
After he sawed some and I chopped down about a 4" dead tree for fun (and to hear him laugh) I decided to make a fire.
I had the natural tinder, the fatwood chunks, a milsurp magnesium block with striker, pj cotton balls, and matches.
I am learning quickly that I try to rush.
I built a small platform to get the fire attempt off the ground. I cut one of the fatwood chunks into a fuzz stick with the BM-e and tried to ignite the natural tinder and fatwood curls with the firesteel side of the mag/striker hit by the Vic awl. I couldn't get the tinder to take a spark but the fatwood curl would occasionally burn for second but I couldn't get anything sustained.
Now, I was also trying to watch and corral my almost 4 year old as he was sawing trees at the same time.
I didn't have enough tinder and I totally forgot about the fatwood saw dust.
So after trying awhile with the firesteel/awl I went to the match and fatwood. With the tinder it went up and I was able to get some sticks loaded and got a fire going.
Enjoying the fire - note his saw in his hands!
The fire got going for a bit and we sat next to it and shared a few moments before he had to get busy sawing again.
Lessons learned:
Fire making can be difficult managing a toddler at the same time! Especially when they want to be busy.
The BM-e is a very functional big knife - it was used to make the curls on the fatwood - and I just love it.
Preparation is key. I didn't have enough tinder (again) and I didn't have enough small dry sticks to sustain a solid base. I eventually rushed it with some larger dead branches and sent it to a smolder - he was wanting to go in any way.
Get more tinder than you think you need. Have more small pieces or fuzz sticks carved ahead of time and get everything you can. I really didn't feel like baton splitting anything but it would have been absolutely easy if I had wanted to - plenty of dead falls and standing dead wood around.
I'm just not good with a firesteel yet. Especially in the cold. Need to work on that and learn more about it - I didn't shave any magnesium at all.
Multiple ways to start a fire are always necessary! I just didn't take the Bic out cause matches were close.
I need to learn to ID trees more as well to find what barks will burn easiest as well - there was plenty of bark I could have picked up from the dead chop I did.
I also saw a vine growing up the bark - maybe ivy vine, don't know - may see if I can get poison ivy in the winter
. Neither of us touched it bare skinned but a little with gloves, maybe was ivy but don't know if there was any urishol if it was - we will see. I should probably wash our gloves.Fire making is fun but certain ways are much harder and it isn't something that is just done quick or on the fly - preparation and thinking ahead are the keys.
I would give myself a C-: I'm a perfectionist on some things and much more critical of myself on it but we got flame and enjoyed some heat and father/son time.
)
