No Fatwood, Minimal Kit....Damp Conditions

[Mistwalker]

Saturday I did the post on minimal kit under very wet conditions. I was going to try the same thing again but without the fatwood however while it rained more last night it did not rain today...so instead of soaking wet conditions, it was under damp or less than ideal conditions.

The following is basically a variation of how I usually do a one match fire. However if you really need a fire and you have a match...or a lighter...use it. It will speed things up a good bit.


Since I'm using sparks instead of a match the first thing I did was whittle into the dryer part of a pine limb and laid it in the sun so in a few minutes I could make shavings for tinder.

Then I started gathering kindling materials materials. I gathered the smallest driest twigs I could find by breaking off the very tips of a downed dead pine tree. I wanted a good bit of this. This is where fuzz sticks would work, but why put the extra wear and tear on your edge if you don't need to (I know because it's fun, but you know what I mean here).

Then after getting a good sized pile of those I went up a size gathering a good bit of those also, then up another size to pencil size, then up to some about the thickness of my finger.

After I had my kindling set up I started on my shavings making thin shavings first, then some a little thicker, and then some pretty thick ones using a small piece of bark for a base.

with everything prepped..time for the sparks, this took a bit longer and more patience than with fatwood. It took the right spark hitting the right sliver, but it did finally catch.

Once the flames caught I gently added some of the very smallest twigs.

 

[Mistwalker]

And once that caught I added a little more and moved the fledgling fire to the center of the fire pit and started adding fuel working my way through the different sizes.

Once going good dead pine...even dead pine that was a bit damp a few minutes ago...will produce quite a flame.

 

[Mistwalker]

Just keep adding as much as you can of the finger size, and then work your way up a size once you get a really good heat base going...which doesn't take very long at all. Then you can start adding hard woods that will make better coals.

Once you get the bed of coals going you can throw on a handful of damp finger-size or a bit larger branches, go collect more firewood and come back to a flame.

Here you can see the moisture cooking out of the burning limbs. If you lose the fire at this point it should only be because you ran out of fuel or the hard rains returned.

 

[Hobo-Jack]

Great work. A few times I try to add pieces that are too big, too soon and end up having to start over.

 

[udtjim]

Thanks for some more good tips.:thumbup:

 

[HikingMano]

Very well laid out, thanks Mist :thumbup:. You build it very well and don't jump steps.

I'm diggin that Breeden necker...time to look up your previous thread

 

[Mistwalker]

Great work. A few times I try to add pieces that are too big, too soon and end up having to start over.

Thanks Jack

Yeah, rushing a fire seldom works.

Thanks for some more good tips.:thumbup:

Thanks Jim, glad you found it useful

Very well laid out, thanks Mist :thumbup:. You build it very well and don't jump steps.

I'm diggin that Breeden necker...time to look up your previous thread

Thanks Russel,

Jumping usually just causes you to have to start over...best just to be patient and methodical.

I'm diggin' it too...but I need to make a sheath for it. It was just a prototype design so it came without one lol.

 

[HikingMano]

Jumping usually just causes you to have to start over...best just to be patient and methodical.

Exactly :thumbup:. I think that's often the main culprit when people have difficulty getting a full fire going; it was one of my problems anyway .

 

[Odaon]

With everyone one of your super useful posts I start to like that little Breeden necker more and more. These fire threads you're doing are really great man. Helping me learn more and more with every one. Almost all the threads in here teach me something, it's fricken sweet.

So what's next? :thumbup:

 

[Mistwalker]

Exactly :thumbup:. I think that's often the main culprit when people have difficulty getting a full fire going; it was one of my problems anyway .

You're not alone, it's a problem for a lot of people...it's easier to control once you realize that rushing really only slows you down.

 

[Mistwalker]

With everyone one of your super useful posts I start to like that little Breeden necker more and more. These fire threads you're doing are really great man. Helping me learn more and more with every one. Almost all the threads in here teach me something, it's fricken sweet.

So what's next? :thumbup:

Thanks man.

I'm glad you are enjoying them and learning something, that's what it's all about man.

What's next ? Who knows what I'll find myself inspired by...I'm sort of all over the place at times.

 

[Odaon]

Thanks man.

I'm glad you are enjoying them and learning something, that's what it's all about man.

What's next ? Who knows what I'll find myself inspired by...I'm sort of all over the place at times.

Haha, well I'm sure it'll be good, whatever you choose to do. Hopefully I can get up into the mountains next weekend and do some fly fishing, catch some fish, and find some fat wood. That'd make my week. I'll be on the look out for the next "installment".

 

[TheGame]

I did pretty much the same things today, with the exception I didn't have as much wood, or as big of a fire. Just enough to boil up some pine needle tea out in the woods by the pond. Thanks for the pics :thumbup:

 

[Shotgun]

Another good tutorial. Keep em coming, they're great reads.

 

[Mistwalker]

Haha, well I'm sure it'll be good, whatever you choose to do. Hopefully I can get up into the mountains next weekend and do some fly fishing, catch some fish, and find some fat wood. That'd make my week. I'll be on the look out for the next "installment".

Lucky you, I'd like to be headed out on a fishing trip but it's all I can do to steal away for a few hours at a time with my schedule. Have a safe trip. I hope you catch a bunch...want to see pics too.

I did pretty much the same things today, with the exception I didn't have as much wood, or as big of a fire. Just enough to boil up some pine needle tea out in the woods by the pond. Thanks for the pics :thumbup:

Sounds like you had a good time. I just wanted to make sure I showed it on through to sustained fire.

Another good tutorial. Keep em coming, they're great reads.

Thanks Shotgun, I'm glad you enjoy them.

 

[SouthernCross]

G'day Brian

Great thread as usual :thumbup:



Kind regards
Mick

 

[Mistwalker]

G'day Brian

Great thread as usual :thumbup:



Kind regards
Mick

Thanks Mick,

Glad you like it, I'm having fun testing out my new toy

 

[aarya]

I've made a few fires, and watched other people make fires.
And what i've seen, is that most people are in a hurry to do everything, which in turn is why they skip steps and either have to start over, or use gasoline or other sort of fuels liberally.

To me, if you take your time making a fire, there's less chance of you doing so in inappropriate places, and in turn lessen the chance of setting other things on fire.

That's what i've seen anyway. So good to see people doing it the "proper" way too.

 

[OkefenokeeKnives]

great job Mistwalker
you guys ever give your kids a boyscout firestart and watch them make fire?

 

[dawsonbob]

Hi, Mist. Another great thread; good narrative with good pics to make it easy to follow. I might mention that the pics are not showing up for me on BF (says "Bandwidth Exceeded): I have to right-click and load them individually. Worth it though, for very clear pics.