- Joined
- Jun 3, 2010
- Messages
- 1,516
I generally prefer using small hobo stoves because they offer many of the advantages of a larger fire without all the fuss and restrictions. Also enjoy practicing marginal means to start fires such as friction or flint and steel for the pure joy of doing them. These methods will enhance modern means such as lighters, matches and firesteels as well. The same basic rules apply to all firecraft IMHO.
If a person is looking for quality steel to start a fire Wolf Creek Forge won't do yea wrong. A nice sized striker in the Colonial style along with Texas chert and charred punk wood. Unless mistaken this striker appears to be forged from a high quality American made file as there are still some signs of a file past. This gives the striker character. A good file can toss great sparks if done right. Often people use files for DIY strikers. This one tosses sparks like the last fiery gaps of a drying phoenix. I never actually witnessed such a spectacle however I supposed they go down hard tossing sparks then burning out like glowing char. Often I will use local rocks but got the chert so oh yea..... Why not?
Steel, rock and charred materials alone won't start a fire. For that I will need flames. Gathered this hanging cedar bark on the way to camp.
White Birch bark. This tree was alive however there was one a few feet away dead. I went for the dead tree's bark instead however it is very possible to forage birch bark without harming the tree.
Fluffed up Cedar bark, charred punkwood, White birch bark and kindling ready to go.
A few strikes later. Charred punk smoldering. The tinder bundle easily ignited which then got the White birch bark going which then in turn set the kindling ablaze. I didn't even have to pick up the tinder bundle. Just a few puffs of air set things into motion.
Success.
Here is a short video of the process.
[video=youtube;0hKDY1OfGU0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hKDY1OfGU0[/video]
Thanks for looking.
If a person is looking for quality steel to start a fire Wolf Creek Forge won't do yea wrong. A nice sized striker in the Colonial style along with Texas chert and charred punk wood. Unless mistaken this striker appears to be forged from a high quality American made file as there are still some signs of a file past. This gives the striker character. A good file can toss great sparks if done right. Often people use files for DIY strikers. This one tosses sparks like the last fiery gaps of a drying phoenix. I never actually witnessed such a spectacle however I supposed they go down hard tossing sparks then burning out like glowing char. Often I will use local rocks but got the chert so oh yea..... Why not?
Steel, rock and charred materials alone won't start a fire. For that I will need flames. Gathered this hanging cedar bark on the way to camp.
White Birch bark. This tree was alive however there was one a few feet away dead. I went for the dead tree's bark instead however it is very possible to forage birch bark without harming the tree.
Fluffed up Cedar bark, charred punkwood, White birch bark and kindling ready to go.
A few strikes later. Charred punk smoldering. The tinder bundle easily ignited which then got the White birch bark going which then in turn set the kindling ablaze. I didn't even have to pick up the tinder bundle. Just a few puffs of air set things into motion.
Success.
Here is a short video of the process.
[video=youtube;0hKDY1OfGU0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hKDY1OfGU0[/video]
Thanks for looking.
