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Ive just brought back some quite old fomes fomentarius, and its been soaking in a rain bucket for a few days. I'll be attempting to remove the rock hard cuticle and see if i can find a decent tremulous layer, to make amadou, if not, it should still take a spark and burn for a long time anyway?
I'll soon find out.
Bits of quartz, quartzite on beaches, get struck on the back of my carbon blade, just to see if i can get a spark.
I think the flint and steel is my favorite method.
Been on the road for a week. Actually took my bowdrill kit with me and found the time to try.
Some char and a little bit of smoke on the 5th try.
Years ago, I did practice with a ferro rod, magnesium block & knife to use birch bark as tinder.
Eventually got good flame in 30 seconds. I have many reasons to spend time back in the mountains where I live.
I keep that block in my pack more for old time's sake.
I'm convinced that it's worthwhile to learn how to do it before you really need to do it.
Used the wood stove in the garden today for sitting out in the evening. The feather sticks made from ash log was not effective for the fire steel due to dampness off rain on them. Eventually had to get a cotton wools which ignited by first strike of the fire steel. Heat from the stove fobbed away the midges.
I think it depends what you mean by firelighting. Oh so many decades back now I practised how to light a coal fire and how to keep it going throughout the winter, but that was in a time very different to our own. I used matches because like Mount Everest they were there and readily available. The art was with the kindling and the newspaper
Try taking a group of scouts into the woods, the first thing they want to do is light a fire, I love it as I sit there for a couple of hours just watching, as they try and out do each other. Most times they will light one,, the look on there face when they do...
I used to. Our old apartment had a wood burning fireplace and every time the wife wanted the fire going I grabbed by flint steel and charcloth. It's a good way to keep your hand in. Now our new place has a gas fire that lights with a click...took all the fun out of it.
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