What do you bring for campground fire bundles?

[dogstar]

You know the ones wrapped in clear shrink wrap? Do you douse in lighter fluid, ball up newspaper, and call it good? Or do you break down the wood a bit with an edged tool? If so, what do you use?

I am pretty pathetic in that I live in an urban area, so the only time I have to chop stuff is at the campground. I usually bring a hatchet or hawk to bust up the wood, and have a knife to practice making feather sticks. Things I have used in the past are my Fiskars Hatchet, CS Frontier hawk, CS Hudson Bay hawk, Svord Peasant Knife, and my Lauri puukko.

 

[Danke42]

 

[beeinak]

Watching TV or Youtube these days, one would think a fire could not be started without feather sticks and batoning. Lol. Making feathersticks is fun and helps learn how your blade cuts (they also look cool). That being said twigs and smaller branches, leaves, pine resin, etc work just as well most of the time. If you camp where there is wood/material to scavenge, then it is great practice. I make feathersticks to start fires in my wood stove at my remote cabin- just because it is fun. I also keep a can of sterno with me when traveling during the winter in case I need to make a fire in a hurry in the snow- you can smear it on wood and light it. Good luck and have fun.

 

[dogstar]

Watching TV or Youtube these days, one would think a fire could not be started without feather sticks and batoning. Lol. Making feathersticks is fun and helps learn how your blade cuts (they also look cool). That being said twigs and smaller branches, leaves, pine resin, etc work just as well most of the time. If you camp where there is wood/material to scavenge, then it is great practice. I make feathersticks to start fires in my wood stove at my remote cabin- just because it is fun. I also keep a can of sterno with me when traveling during the winter in case I need to make a fire in a hurry in the snow- you can smear it on wood and light it. Good luck and have fun.

Thanks for your reply. All of the campgrounds I frequent do not allow wood gathering. Yes, feather sticks and kindling is just one way to get the fire going. I have to say it has not failed me yet! The worst feeling is lighting the fire, only to watch it die out in a cloud of white smoke. Since I started making fire with feather sticks and different sizes of kindling, I have never failed. Also, I just need an excuse to use all these sharps I buy!

One thing though, if I don't want to wait all night for the fire to burn out, busting the logs into smaller pieces gives a satisfyingly intense fire that burns quickly, then it's off to a war sleep bag.

 

[beeinak]

You never need an excuse to use sharp instruments!

 

[EngrSorenson]

I typically break down wood that’s provided or purchased if there’s nothing else to forage. I usually like using this:

 

[Sid Post]

You know the ones wrapped in clear shrink wrap? Do you douse in lighter fluid, ball up newspaper, and call it good? Or do you break down the wood a bit with an edged tool? If so, what do you use?

I am pretty pathetic in that I live in an urban area, so the only time I have to chop stuff is at the campground. I usually bring a hatchet or hawk to bust up the wood, and have a knife to practice making feather sticks. Things I have used in the past are my Fiskars Hatchet, CS Frontier hawk, CS Hudson Bay hawk, Svord Peasant Knife, and my Lauri puukko.

If you just want fire, some dryer lint with Vaseline will work well! Also, gather some fallen twigs from your yard or a rest area along the way. Patience and blowing gently will generally get a bigger piece burning after a few minutes.

Diamond Strike-A-Fire Fire Starters, 48 Ct, Strikes like a Match from Walmart also work well!

 

[lmalterna]

If you know someone who is a carpenter or woodworker- have them save you sawdust and plane shavings. Carry in a one gallon ziploc. SPF shavings and dust burn fast, hot and clean.

Bill