making a fire

I have allways wanted to learn how to make a fire with flint and steel, made some char cloth, got a striker and flint, some tow came with the kit. I allways thought there was something magical about making a fire this way, I actually got a fire started the first try, pretty neat I must say. where can I buy a bag of tow? is there anything else that will work? thanks, flinch

flinch,

I think Jas. Townsend & Sons sells tow. It's nice and it's p.c., but a piece of un-raveled sisal, jute or hemp rope works equally as well and is considerably cheaper. Cedar bark is also great and doesn't cost anything if you have access to it.

In short, any dry natural fiber will work with a little practice. Dry grass, leaves, even lint from the dryer!

Good luck and congrats on your new found skill! Remember, the more you practice the easier it'll get.


...The Kansan...

I've used unraveled jute, dryer lint, shredded kleenex (unused! :, and old birds nests.

Flinch take and cut some sisal twine into about 3 foot sections, tie these together n hang them outside for about a month. Let the sun n rain weather them into a greyish color. Then ya can cut each of these pieces in half and use each half, one for your actual fire and the other to catch your spark from the char. Just pull them apart into a loose nest and they work great. Ya can also use well dried grasses, the inside of birds nests etc. Hope this helps some YMHS Birdman

Sometimes guys use bits of frayed rope, sissal or manila, either one. It ain't exactly period correct, but it sure does work well.

Cruzatte

My wife used to try to get me to brush the dog :shocking:, and then I bought a flint and steel kit :hmm:, the dog is almost bald , that's right DOG HAIR, and not only is it PC, it FREE :front:


TheGunCellar

"Hair of the dog." :haha:

Non-pc would bring 0000 steel wool into play, realy catches that spark...

Tow works great, but can get expensive. And I've also used all the various ropes - jute, sisal, hemp, manila. They work well, and work even better when they are "weathered" a bunch.

Personally, I really like to use the inner bark of cedar trees, also the inner bark of basswood and cottonwood. When you get your bark, and it's dry, shred and frazzle it up to make your bird's nest. Works wonders for me. And it's all natural and available in the woods around here.

I also save the shavings and scrapings from the cedar poles I worked up for my tent. They work almost as well as the bark.

Just my humble thoughts to share.

Mike Ameling

There is also a black fungus that grows on the bark of the birch tree, it works great as char.
:front:

TheGunCellar

thanks for all the ideas. flinch

I'am new to the pc fire making myself and i thoght of using pine shavins should work I ll have try my hand at making some char cloth first

I'am new to the pc fire making myself and i thoght of using pine shavins should work I ll have try my hand at making some char cloth first

Click to expand...

Here are some good threads on char making...

Char Material

Fire, Let's make some

Flint and steel fire

Can't believe that no one has mentioned the best way to make fire (on a sunny day)...burning glass!!

Meaning no offense...but perhaps that is the very reason it was not mentioned. Depending on the sun to shine... Also..and I guess a lot depends on what you are and where you are...I doubt many trappers or such would have one for long..breakage, etc. Not to mention what would one do with one if they only had it and wished to make a fire after the sun was down?

if it is dark when you want to start your fire with a glass use a flashlight to shine through the lense,,,,,[JUST KIDDING] :kid:

Stumblin', I got a Cash tin with a glass in it. I didn't have much luck with starting a fire with it though. Is there some trick I'm missing? Even Char cloth didn't seem to burn with the glass. :thanks:

P.S. OOOO steel wool and 9 volt battery :thumbsup: :what:

A friend brought his kit with a magnifying glass in the lid to the range yesterday, took a matter of seconds to get the char cloth started. I guess for me, I like the striker and flint, seems more practical. I would think it would be hard to start a fire in the woods with the glass. It still amazes me how easy it is to start a fire with flint and steel, put off getting a flint and steel for years thinking it would be such a pain to actually get a fire started with one. I can even say if I was given a choice (in a survival situation) between matches, lighter, flint and steel, I would choose the flint and steel. I think the main thing you need is plenty of char cloth, (dry char cloth). Found out also that some of the rocks found along the rail road track work about as good as flint. flinch

an old gray hornets nest is really good tinder, and the bark of a river birch burns with black smoke that looks like acetalyne . now try a bow drill to get the fire going, that taakes skill and a calm temper.

I just grab a handful of dried swale grass whenever I find myself walking past an old dead beaver dam. Lights off as quickly as anything else I've ever used.

Dick