Ugh - fero and PJCB failure tonight

[myright]

So I went out back to get the fire going in the backyard to enjoy some beer and sit around the fire.

I got some cotton in PJ and tried to light it with some sparks. I couldn't get it going.... the wind was killing me and I didn't have a good way to sheild the wind. I switched to a match and it went up in no time. I put some fatwood on top of it and that's all she wrote

I'm sure I could have made it work eventually but I got a bit discourage and was anxious to enjoy the flames and beer :thumbup:

I've always had good luck with sparks and PJCB... not tonight.

 

[pitdog]

The main thing is that you selected an alternative method and achieved your goal.
This would also apply in a survival situation, if you were to go to bits and panic just because things didn't work out straight away then you would be setting yourself up to fail, it's all about trying to remain calm and think things through !

 

[theonew]

Which kind of firesteel were you using?

 

[lambertiana]

Were the cotton balls real cotton or polyester? Both are available, and the polyester ones do not work. Make sure you use real cotton.

 

[myright]

The main thing is that you selected an alternative method and achieved your goal.
This would also apply in a survival situation, if you were to go to bits and panic just because things didn't work out straight away then you would be setting yourself up to fail, it's all about trying to remain calm and think things through !

True, thanks.

If I didn't have my buddy and my wife waiting for fire I would have given it a little more time.

A big multiplier here is that it was night time. I had the light from the moon and that was it. I did reach my goal, and carry matches in my kit when out and about also. I'll give it another try tomorrow night and see what I come up with.

My backyard is pretty wide open so any little bit of wind hits you from darn near every direction.

 

[myright]

Were the cotton balls real cotton or polyester? Both are available, and the polyester ones do not work. Make sure you use real cotton.

Cotton - they were the condensed make up removals ones. I stole them from my wife

Which kind of firesteel were you using?

I'm not exactly sure kind it is. I got it in a give-a-way - I think it came from Storl.

I was using the back of a knife instead of the normal piece of hacksaw blade as well so I wasn't get that big shower of sparks I'm used to. Using the back of a knife is new to me but I'm trying to practice it more and more.

 

[bladz]

Wow, I would expect the PG cotton balls to go up like a torch. I have some trouble getting a spark with many tinder types, but not cotton balls. They could have been damp or the wind was keeping the sparks off mark. The thought of beer was probably not helping.

 

[siguy]

Did you fluff up the cotton balls? That makes a big difference. If you leave them in a clump, they won't light very easily.

Also, hold the wad of cotton balls to the ground with the tip of your firesteel, and when you scrape your scraper down the steel, all the sparks will go straight into the cotton balls.

 

[theonew]

If it came from Storl than it's probably the mischmetal type. I do have a hard time directing the sparks from those ones. I think I just need more practice with them. The super hot burning gobs they produce do seem to expand the range of tinder that can be used.

 

[taurn]

Try digging a small pit next time

 

[hoopster]

I did something similar the other night with a ferro/magnesium striker. Tried a dried up alcohol pad and fatwood. The pad eventually had to be shredded and fluffed up before it would ignite. Took me about a half hour from start to finish but I was determined not to use matches. It's good practice and I learned not to rush your preparations if you're to be successful in a life or death situation.

 

[myright]

Did you fluff up the cotton balls? That makes a big difference. If you leave them in a clump, they won't light very easily.

Also, hold the wad of cotton balls to the ground with the tip of your firesteel, and when you scrape your scraper down the steel, all the sparks will go straight into the cotton balls.

Nope - I didn't fluff them at all. They weren't even cotton balls - they were the flat cotton discs that come in a sleeve.

Good call, Simon - I'll play around some more tomorrow. I wish it were easier to take video at night It would be much easier for you guys to disect what I'm doing if I could post some video.

 

[myright]

I did something similar the other night with a ferro/magnesium striker. Tried a dried up alcohol pad and fatwood. The pad eventually had to be shredded and fluffed up before it would ignite. Took me about a half hour from start to finish but I was determined not to use matches. It's good practice and I learned not to rush your preparations if you're to be successful in a life or death situation.

I need to practice a bit more and also need to practice being much more patient and not expecting stellar results every time.

Try digging a small pit next time

Good idea :thumbup:

 

[dawsonbob]

Yeah, the ones from Storl (Going Gear) are the best I've ever tried, but like theonew said, directing the spark can be a bit dicy. With a good striker and good technique though, It seems like they'll ignite almost anything short of concrete. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but the range of tinder is pretty wide.

 

[Odaon]

Nope - I didn't fluff them at all. They weren't even cotton balls - they were the flat cotton discs that come in a sleeve.

Good call, Simon - I'll play around some more tomorrow. I wish it were easier to take video at night It would be much easier for you guys to disect what I'm doing if I could post some video.

I could see how the discs would be hard to start in the wind. If you could find a way to get some wisps of cotton out and then spark those it would work great I think.

If it came from Storl than it's probably the mischmetal type. I do have a hard time directing the sparks from those ones. I think I just need more practice with them. The super hot burning gobs they produce do seem to expand the range of tinder that can be used.

Yeah, the ones from Storl (Going Gear) are the best I've ever tried, but like theonew said, directing the spark can be a bit dicy. With a good striker and good technique though, It seems like they'll ignite almost anything short of concrete. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but the range of tinder is pretty wide.

I've been testing with these since I got them a few weeks ago. The best way I've found so far is to use the sharpened edge of my Gossman striker (also the back edge of a dullish Mora works well, and who uses the back edge of a knife anyways ) at an angle to the Firesteel and "slice" down. I can produce the molten globs that the GG Firesteels are known for with only that last 1/2 in. of the steel. I think this method is effectively slicing off a small chunk of FS and lighting it.

Another way to use this method is to put the edge of the striker at the same angle and softly but quickly "slice" down the FS in rapid succession. It take a little practice but it works great. With different edges it takes different angles so just try things till you get it. I'll see if I can make videos of this, but I don't really have a good camera to use.

They can be difficult to control at times. A good way to control them if all you have is a knife spine and not a sharpened striker, or don't want to use the back edge of your knife is to set up like you were going to strike down into your tinder, but pull the FS back instead. Try it out. :thumbup:

 

[myright]

Good advice, Odaon. It's raining right now. I'll give this a try later in the week.

 

[kgd]

Fluffing it is the ticket - also add some vaseline onto them for staying power - better in wind and longer burning. We timed one at over 3 minutes. I use the same makeup remover pads. They are great but need fluffing. I think somebody should post a revived thread on firestraws.

I just pulled one out for demo purposes. Basically a make-up remover pad wadded up with a dollop of vaseline, shoved into a McDonald's drinking straw. Cut the end to fit the pad, then seal the ends of the straw by pinching with pliers and melting with a lighter. When you use them, use your knife tip to slit the firestraw down the center. Tease out some tufts of cotton ball and ignite with ferro rod. The straw itself burns like a little log and the PJCB inside the straw provides the dense fuel. These things will burn for a good 5 minutes. The straw takes up very little room and keeps vaseline from gumming up your PSK contents. The straw itself is also waterproof keeping your tinder nice and ready.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I have turned to corner and am a total believer in fatwood. You can shave dust and curls off and the slightest spark sets it ablaze.

Carl-

 

[Ramm9]

I found that once you try out your misch metal firesteel in the dining room with polished hardwood floors it will suddenly work like magic, probably even better if you toss a couple of cotton balls on the floor.

 

[storl]

Surface area, particle size, and air in between particles/fibers are the key to lighting anything with any method, including firesteels. With cotton balls or pads, you really need to fluff them up, as others have mentioned. It makes a HUGE difference. I rarely cannot light something in the first 1-2 strikes as long as I take a couple of extra seconds to properly prepare the tinder.

Regarding directing the sparks, I finally have the new strikers that I have been promising for ten years or however long. I'll get a video of them up tomorrow.