Tinder and tinder cases...

[Rick Marchand]

Although I have little disposable income I am interested in the pouch and the traditional flint/steel. P.S. Love the snaps that resemble coinage. Very nice touch.

Thanks Eyegor,
I use real coins for buttons... they are stronger, sit flatter and if I do a pouch for someone I usually try and get the coin with thier year of birth. The coins are gunblued and then buffed to shine the highspots.
Rick

 

[Eyegor]

Thanks Eyegor,
I use real coins for buttons... they are stronger, sit flatter and if I do a pouch for someone I usually try and get the coin with thier year of birth. The coins are gunblued and then buffed to shine the highspots.
Rick

It just keeps getting better and better. Plus the info gives me a better perspective as to size. Thanks.

 

[cutlerylover]

Good thread! I will post soon when I get my fire piston...I always carry a Zippo, and in my BOB, I alwasy have water proof matches, strike anywhere matches, and a magnesium bar as backups... but I recently starting learnign and reading about other fun methods like the hand drill, and other fire by friction methods...Now that I will have a fire piston I have made a good amount of char cloth, and I collected some false tinder fungus for use it it as well, which has worked great so far just messign around with it!!! It really holds a coal well...Ill post tons of pics soon...

 

[cutlerylover]

Well I got the fire piston today and I have ben playing with it all day...The char cloth is by far much easier to get lit than the tinder fungus I have, but I realize I have "false" tinder fungus otherwise known as shelf or hoof fungus, so its not as good as true tinder fungus which is found on birch trees...Also the tinder fungus I have is still damp from when I got it two days ago in the rain, so it could just be its not dry enough? I alos read that the inside of the pods on milkweed also make a good tinder for this fire piston...Anyway this thing is just plain fun to play with, and I already got a fire going with some char cloth...Here are some pics I took...

 

[Foilist]

I found a tiny aluminum pill fob about the size of the top joint of my index finger. Inside is stuffed one vaseline cotton ball and the fob is attached to my firesteel as last ditch, emergency tinder.

My main supply of vaseline cotton balls is kept in 35mm film containers.

 

[Foilist]

I'm ready to hear you all shout BLASPHEMY!!!!

But come one guys... firesteels, vaseline soaked cottonballs, sawdust, pine needles, firestraws, char cloths - etc

I'm sure this has been said before, but seriously, why not simply keep one of those jet-type butane lighters (not the bic type) and a couple esbit tabs and call it a day????

Is it just the "adventure/fun" factor or the "I can do it the hard way" attitude?

I don't intend for this to be a combative arguement. I'd just like to hear your angle on carrying a jet-type butane lighter and esbit tabs for emergency firestarting.

I freely admit that I don't "need" to use firesteels or other, non-Bic methods; I just find it more fun!

 

[lotoblades]

I mostly use a firesteel,and keep pj cotton in film canisters or a matchcase.I use and collect natural tender when possible. Flint and still kit with charcloth stays in a lowly altoids tin.I rarely use matches or a lighter anymore,but always have at least one of the two just the same.

I keep thinking a more square container,slightly larger than a zippo would be easier to carry than a round matchcase,just havn't looked for anything yet

 

[Fieldtestornothing]

I use a Army Earplugg case with 4 quick tinder, 2 water purification tablets, and my button compass. I tape the top shut and make my own loop of 550 around it. Works for me as my EDC.

 

[cutlerylover]

The cotton ball and vasaline combo is new to me, but I am going to try it out tonight, I know it works so I will also add a pill container full of those to my kit...

 

[cutlerylover]

Every person that posts here EDCs a BIC or similar, it's been discussed to death, the firesteel is just bombproof. Chris

True for me...I have all kind sof fire stuff in my BOB, 3 different kinds of matches, magnesium bar, disposable lighter, and now a fire piston...I have charcloth for the fire piston and soon will have the vasaline cotton balls...BUT...most of that stuff is for fun/ backup fire...I ALWAYS have a Zippo on me with at least 3/4 filled with fluid...And I don't even smoke, lol...but I am good to have around for the smokers sicne I alwasy have a light, lol....Anyway, for me the fire piston is just pure fun! For when I have time to mess around when startign a fire, same with the magnesium bar...When I mean businsess and just want or need a fire and I am feeling lazy, I go with my Zippo...