Why Firestels and such?

I ran into the problem of learning several primitive methods and not wanting to go back to the modern conveniences... it's like I was condeming myself to live in the past or something... I felt it the most doing camp chores or working with paracord and not being able to melt the ends of the rope without lighting a full fledged fire. I carry mini bics, now... for the quick flame tasks... But still prefer the old ways when I can afford it.

Rick
 
I'm not saying you shouldn't try to learn to make a fire useing primitive skills.All I am saying is if you want to survive you should give yourself every advantage possible.I just thought it was stupid to see that survival guy out there in the jungle with a fire steel when if he had the ability to carry something to start fires why not take a Zippo.My guess is it wouldn't have looked nearly as cool on TV.The problem was what he took didn't work that time.
 
Can't really add much more except that, with practice, it's just as quick to get a piece of charcloth going with a steel than it is to get a piece of paper going with a lighter. Also, the firesteel/charcloth combo will burn even more aggressively when there's enough wind to blow out a lighter's flame. Granted, I also carry one of oregon's bottle lighters on my keyring. Were I a smoker, I'd probably carry a Bic purely for convenience.
 
Jeff Clark said:
It is real hard to light that pretty girl's cigarette with a fire steel.
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But it gets REAL interesting if you have one of those big honkin 4"x1/2" firesteels and said pretty girl has a beehive hairdo with lots of hairspray to hold it. LOL

BTW, I'm 59.

Rob
 
R.H.Clark said:
I'm not saying you shouldn't try to learn to make a fire useing primitive skills.All I am saying is if you want to survive you should give yourself every advantage possible.I just thought it was stupid to see that survival guy out there in the jungle with a fire steel when if he had the ability to carry something to start fires why not take a Zippo.
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I totally agree, as will probably most people who read this forum... that's why in my bag, I have two Bic lighters, AND a firesteel (and a mag block, and some firestraws..:rolleyes:) If I'm going to start a fire for enjoyment, I'll give it a shot with the firesteel to keep in practice. Were I actually caught in the middle of nowhere and needed a fire, I'd start with a Bic, but if it didn't work, at least I have some practice with the firesteel.

For TV, I think your guess was right; it looks much cooler using a more primitive method.
 
I use firesteels for fun, but always carry see-through bics and a zippo, along with extra zippo lighter fluid. I've had trouble with bics accidentally discharging (put the ziptie on too tight), and have had problems with zippos at high elevation, but I still like the zippo the best.

If it's below zero and I'm cold, it's matches, zippo, or road flare time. I enjoy practicing primitive ways, usually after a good meal in daylight, when I'm warm with lots of time on my hands. When I'm shivering and cold, forget it.
 
What you do, Sodak... is when it's one of those miserable days... you light a fire with your bic. Then step away from that comfort zone and practice primitive fire lighting in the bitter cold... if you find that you just can't take it... you walk back to the warm fire no worse for wear... But until you can get that fire going in bad conditions... consistently... there will be a gap in your skills... some are okay with that... I am not.
Rick
 
Magnussen said:
What you do, Sodak... is when it's one of those miserable days... you light a fire with your bic. Then step away from that comfort zone and practice primitive fire lighting in the bitter cold... if you find that you just can't take it... you walk back to the warm fire no worse for wear... But until you can get that fire going in bad conditions... consistently... there will be a gap in your skills... some are okay with that... I am not.
Rick
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Good point Magnussen, thanks! I'll give that a try. I agree it's good to be prepared!
 
I don't see how a zippo or bic are faster than a fire steel. I might be missing something.

Firesteel:
Put a cotton ball some dry tinder and a few strokes with a fire steel and you have a full on fire.

Bic:
put a cotton ball some dry tinder and 2 thumb strokes and you have a full on fire.

Maybe it is a few seconds faster.
 
My point was...If you are going to use a modern tool like a firesteel why not just use a better modern tool like a lighter.

You guys have very well pointed out that it is possible that a lighter might not work everytime,though I've never had one to fail.Also a firesteel requires a little skill to be effective.I can see learning how to use a firesteel,I just won't leave my lighters at home.

Thank you very much for all the replys.I will be learning to use a firesteel very soon.
 
sodak said:
I use ... a zippo, ... and have had problems with zippos at high elevation, but I still like the zippo the best.
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SODAK, how high in elevation did you have a problem with a Zippo??

I've used my Zippo at 13,000 feet in 0* F temperature, with no problem. Fired up immediately and we got a fire going near a dead elk we were cleaning and quartering.

We were hunting N.E. of Durango, Colorado.

Just wondering.

L.W.
 
chrisaloia said:
Bic:
put a cotton ball some dry tinder and 2 thumb strokes and you have a full on fire.
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You use cotton balls for a lighter? That seems redundant. I just pick up dead <insert name of any plant/wood> that's a little thinner that a pencil (dead pine branches.. etc)and start the fire from there if there isn't anything more fibrous around me, dried grass works well as well. I have never felt the need (even with a fire steel, i.e. birch) to carry tinder, just seems to take up space.
 
I have never felt the need (even with a fire steel, i.e. birch) to carry tinder, just seems to take up space.
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today , this morning , I was glad of having carried a bit of tinder with me , when what didnt have ice on it was soaked thru , it was good to be able to light up a fire without having to russtle around and find dry stuff cos I had it allready with em

as an ex smoker , I have no hassles with a tiny tin taking up less space in my pocket than the pack of smokes used to do . Its a kind of mini kit , with a keychain knife , flint stick and cotton wool stuffed into a lolly tin , was very well appreciated this morning , but yeah , I coulda gone found my bic and started the fire that way too but I was cold , and wanted one now .
 
R.H Clark - No one is telling you to leave your lighters at home. Lighters work great and in 99% of the time there great but its that 1% that will kill you. Having redundancy of the core gear (fire included) is a necessity.
I find that just sticking 5 cotton balls into a small vial doesnt take up any room. And i can keep a fire going all day. So that can probably suffice for 5 days worth of fire if i can find dry tinder.
 
R.H.Clark said:
Also a firesteel requires a little skill to be effective.I can see learning how to use a firesteel,I just won't leave my lighters at home.
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Sounds like a good plan to me.... after you get proficient with the firesteel, start into primitive ways.... but watch out....... its addictive!

Take care
 
Wabajack,

I seem to always run into damp tinder when I try it without my cotton balls. Also cotton balls work so fast. But I am learning and practicing new ways.
 
Leanwolf said:
SODAK, how high in elevation did you have a problem with a Zippo??

I've used my Zippo at 13,000 feet in 0* F temperature, with no problem. Fired up immediately and we got a fire going near a dead elk we were cleaning and quartering.

We were hunting N.E. of Durango, Colorado.

Just wondering.

L.W.
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It was about 10,200, camping in Hall Valley, which is close to Webster and Red Cone Pass in Colorado also. It was a slim model that I got at Walmart, and took 20 or 30 spins of the wheel, and I just filled it - very strange. My refillable butane lighter wouldn't work either, only the bic worked. I wish I had brought another zippo to see if this one is bad, but they're so simple, I can't imagine what could go wrong.
 
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