basic firecraft

[Graham_S]

i just spent the weekend teaching basic firelighting to scouts (nothing too complicated, just firelighting using a firesteel. i only had an hour with each group of scouts so it had to be quick to learn) and it struck me how important preperation is.
i've noticed that people seem to focus on getting an ember/lighting tinder and overlook the rest of the process.
success on the first try seemed to depend on the level of the preperation that each team made.
the teams that succeeded had prepared piles of wood segregated into;
1. tinder,
2. kindling,
3. thicker wood.
the grade of fuel required was available and at hand when it was needed and in large quantities.

in preperation lies the key to success.

 

[rich59]

A mate of mine puts it to scouts "graded wood makes finer fire" - a take off of an old "Homepride" flour advert.

 

[Wayne]

Thats one of the main reasons i teach bow drill. After all the effort to get an ember it hurts when the fire dies.

Certainly reinforces that proper planning prevents pxxx poor performance.
Good to see you out there teaching the youngsters such a valuable skill. :You_Rock_

I was chatting with another bushcrafter this weekend about how many people can acheive an ember but fail to light a match properly etc.

 

[sodajoe]

I agree Graham_S, selecting the right fuel at the right stage of the fire is crucial. I have just learnt this myself.

 

[tomtom]

i nearly always transfer my friction achived ember in to a nice big cramp ball straight away as an easy way of keeping it going and making it bigger.. then you take a bit of time over your turning it in to a blazing fire

 

[Graham_S]

i have to say, i'm a lot better now than i was on friday
it's too embarresing to fail with a dozen scouts watching.

 

[bushtuckerman]

tomtom,

genious idea of using cramp ball, i hadn't heard of doing this. i normally am so scared of failing to make a coal productive that i have plenty of dry tinder and brush wood close at hand!

cramp balls can get deceivingly hot, they really are amazingly useful.

 

[tomtom]

i learnt the hard way after loseing more than one hard earnt ember one i blew it off of and on too the floor while trying to feed it with a bit more O2 and another i carved a very neat but somewhat small catching devicer and my hand was lest than steady when i way trying gently to transfer it to my tinder bundle.. the enevitable happened and it dissapeared in to damp mud.. you live and learn and by posting here i hope it wont just be me who learns from my mistake

as you say a crampball does get very hot and its a good way of getting the most out of you ember and maximising your chance of converting it to a fire..

tomtom,

genious idea of using cramp ball, i hadn't heard of doing this. i normally am so scared of failing to make a coal productive that i have plenty of dry tinder and brush wood close at hand!

cramp balls can get deceivingly hot, they really are amazingly useful.