I decided some time ago that using a knife for scraping up tinder and striking sparks from a firesteel was, in fact, "a bit dodgy".
Well, I thought to myself; it's time to do it a bit differently :bluThinki
There are a number of reasons for coming up with this set up, not least the safety aspects, having seen quite a few people nick themselves, either scraping up tinder or striking sparks using the back of a knife,some of them quite badly and one in particular who severed a tendon!
I wanted something that could stay on my belt or round my neck, when out and about in "the wilds" or on the water,at least within reason. Rather than have to keep hiding it away, as is the case with knife sheaths with firesteel sleeves.
I wanted something that was almost impossible to injure yourself with in use, whether you were highly skilled and experienced or a newcomer, starting out and I wanted a tool that could be used for a wide range of applications.
I also couldn't really see the point of ruining the edge of a knife, by using it to scrape tinder and that's exactly what that technique will do, sooner or later.
So after a few false starts, I came up with this:
Rather than have to use a knife, I decided that a decent sized, square edged, round ended scraper, would serve nicely.
Not only for striking the sparks but also for producing the tinder as well.
The first ones I made, had no handles, but I wanted to fit cord or thong loops and anyway, the bare steel wasn't good on the hands. So I got hold of some good quality ash and fitted handles, then drilled them for the loops.
The scraper can be used very efficiently but above all, safely, for scraping up tinder from birch bark, fatwood, hessian or other natural materials, as well as for striking copious amounts of sparks from a firesteel and a whole host of other tasks, like conifer resin collection/application, epoxy mixing and spreading ( canoe repairs for example) spreading jam , butter, marmalade etc
Indeed it can also be used to smooth hand carved items before or even instead of, sanding them.
This not very well done bit of video might hopefully illustrate at least some of the advantages:
[video=youtube;bc2wQ9ryts0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc2wQ9ryts0[/video]
The scrapers, supplied with even the better quality firesteels, are either not big enough to handle easily or else are horrible sharp edged stampings, with serrated sections which in my experience, don't really help the spark production at all. As for those that are supplied with bits of hacksaw blade, well the firesteels themselves, are usually fine, they are all too often let down by the lack of a decent scraper.
Anyway, I decided to see what you lot thought of the idea
Steve
Well, I thought to myself; it's time to do it a bit differently :bluThinki
There are a number of reasons for coming up with this set up, not least the safety aspects, having seen quite a few people nick themselves, either scraping up tinder or striking sparks using the back of a knife,some of them quite badly and one in particular who severed a tendon!
I wanted something that could stay on my belt or round my neck, when out and about in "the wilds" or on the water,at least within reason. Rather than have to keep hiding it away, as is the case with knife sheaths with firesteel sleeves.
I wanted something that was almost impossible to injure yourself with in use, whether you were highly skilled and experienced or a newcomer, starting out and I wanted a tool that could be used for a wide range of applications.
I also couldn't really see the point of ruining the edge of a knife, by using it to scrape tinder and that's exactly what that technique will do, sooner or later.
So after a few false starts, I came up with this:
Rather than have to use a knife, I decided that a decent sized, square edged, round ended scraper, would serve nicely.
Not only for striking the sparks but also for producing the tinder as well.
The first ones I made, had no handles, but I wanted to fit cord or thong loops and anyway, the bare steel wasn't good on the hands. So I got hold of some good quality ash and fitted handles, then drilled them for the loops.
The scraper can be used very efficiently but above all, safely, for scraping up tinder from birch bark, fatwood, hessian or other natural materials, as well as for striking copious amounts of sparks from a firesteel and a whole host of other tasks, like conifer resin collection/application, epoxy mixing and spreading ( canoe repairs for example) spreading jam , butter, marmalade etc
Indeed it can also be used to smooth hand carved items before or even instead of, sanding them.
This not very well done bit of video might hopefully illustrate at least some of the advantages:
[video=youtube;bc2wQ9ryts0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc2wQ9ryts0[/video]
The scrapers, supplied with even the better quality firesteels, are either not big enough to handle easily or else are horrible sharp edged stampings, with serrated sections which in my experience, don't really help the spark production at all. As for those that are supplied with bits of hacksaw blade, well the firesteels themselves, are usually fine, they are all too often let down by the lack of a decent scraper.
Anyway, I decided to see what you lot thought of the idea
Steve
