Fire steel.

[Pattree]

At the Mind Moot I was introduced to flint and steel. Heretofore I have been exclusively a ferro guy. I don’t even carry a back up alternative - ferro works.

But -
Some skills just appeal for their own sake don’t they?
So some questions:

Why do so many of the steels on eBay cost three figures??? What should I be paying for a good steel?

I have a couple of old files and can readily obtain more for <£1 each. Is there a way to prepare them? Should I remove the teeth from the edge that I intend to use as the stroke face? Oh I can find out for myself by experimenting but you guys might have an answer before I can get out the angle grinder and face shield.

I’m also about to hit a big flint nodule with a lump hammer once I’ve established that it isn’t a personal friend of one of my children.

I’m also about to make char cloth for no reason other than that I want to. As I shall have to obtain cloth and start from scratch - What is the very best fabric to start with?

Ta.

 

[Chris]

At the Mind Moot I was introduced to flint and steel. Heretofore I have been exclusively a ferro guy. I don’t even carry a back up alternative - ferro works.

But -
Some skills just appeal for their own sake don’t they?
So some questions:

Why do so many of the steels on eBay cost three figures??? What should I be paying for a good steel?

I have a couple of old files and can readily obtain more for <£1 each. Is there a way to prepare them? Should I remove the teeth from the edge that I intend to use as the stroke face? Oh I can find out for myself by experimenting but you guys might have an answer before I can get out the angle grinder and face shield.

I’m also about to hit a big flint nodule with a lump hammer once I’ve established that it isn’t a personal friend of one of my children.

I’m also about to make char cloth for no reason other than that I want to. As I shall have to obtain cloth and start from scratch - What is the very best fabric to start with?

Ta.

I got a lovely flint and steel set from @John Fenna - he might be able to answer.

It looks like it was probably just snapped, and then sharp edge on the bent end rounded with a file to get rid of sharp bits, and then job's a good 'un. The teeth are still on the file, nothing else appears to have been modified. Remember that as long as you have a flat-ish steel face (the side of the file), it's the flint that's scraping the metal off rather than vice versa, so nothing special as long as you can easily hold it whilst striking.

You can see the flint and steel from him in use here if you want - shows the size/shape of it from 12:26 onwards (sorry to post my own video but it's relevant to this thread):

 

[trashcanman1984]

You need a smooth section to strike the fint on, I ground the whole of spine / narrow edge and now it can work for fint and a ferro rod

 

[John Fenna]

I grind the teeth off the edge of a broken file - and smooth the broken edges - and that is it! A good file (solid Carbon Steel, not case hardened toffee) needs no treating. A case hardened bit of tat ain't worth diddly. Put the file in a vise and thwack it with a hammer - if it snaps - game on! If it bends - bin it.
Learn how to keep your flint razor sharp with gentle tapping of the edge and even a modest sized flint will last for ages.
I find the best fabric for charring is - 100% cotton tea towels, good quality, brand new. The loops help trap a spark and give good exposure to air. Soap residue and "optical brighteners" left in old towels and clothing seem to act as fire retardants!
Have fun!

 

[John Fenna]

Not being a regular user of Farcebook and the net I have only just seen Chris's video
Thanks for the kind words - and I still have some F&S kits for sale and will have a few at the Moot....
PS the breeze was blowing the sparks away from your char - it would have caught sooner if you had faced the other way

 

[Pattree]

Thanks @Chris
It’s so helpful to see an experienced fire maker thrashing his flint as we did who were new to it. So many videos show a single swipe creating an ember - it’s far too much to aspire to.

 

[Pattree]

@John Fenna
I just might be at the Summer Moot for an overnight.
How much shall I need to rob the piggy bank for one of your kits?

 

[Chris]

Not being a regular user of Farcebook and the net I have only just seen Chris's video
Thanks for the kind words - and I still have some F&S kits for sale and will have a few at the Moot....
PS the breeze was blowing the sparks away from your char - it would have caught sooner if you had faced the other way

You're not the first person who's told me my videos would be better if I faced away from the camera!
Thanks for the tip.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Generally speaking, I believe that carbon steel is your friend when it comes to making flint strikers and old files are a known quantity for this purpose. I wasn't aware that the steels were so expensive online though (three figures is definitely exorbitant).

I use a multi-purpose striker which I got from the bushcraft store for not a lot of money (less than a tenner). It functions as a flint striker, ferro rod striker and a bearing block when bow drilling. I've used it for all three purposes with no problems.

As far as char cloth is concerned, all you need to do is ensure that your char material is made from natural fibres. 100% cotton t shirts work well. Denim jeans and tea towels are perhaps a little better as they're more fibrous. It's also quite fun trying to char other natural materials such as punk wood.

 

[trashcanman1984]

Thanks @Chris
It’s so helpful to see an experienced fire maker thrashing his flint as we did who were new to it. So many videos show a single swipe creating an ember - it’s far too much to aspire to.

If the steel striker is good quality and heat treatment, pretty much you get a viable spark every time....here is my video, which I believe you instigated?

 

[Pattree]

Just a thought.
Has anyone tried angle iron?
I’m only asking because I walk past a lump of it several times a day.

 

[John Fenna]

@John Fenna
I just might be at the Summer Moot for an overnight.
How much shall I need to rob the piggy bank for one of your kits?

Currently I am asking £15.00 and for that you get a prepared file steel striker, a bunch of flint and a chunk of charcloth all in a leather pouch

 

[Falstaff]

Bit discouraging, The steel I got from John snapped in two, thereby proving it's high carbon content as he says. (And showing my rubbish striking technique) The bit left still gives off sparks ok, but I fancied making my own.
I've got hold of an old file, and it gives off the same amount and types of sparks off the grinder, as John one does.
But I cannot seem to get a spark off it, when I do a comparision on the same flint with John's and my effort. I used a grinder flap-wheel to grind a smooth edge. It's still a 10inch file and maybe it,ll be better if I cut it shorter? How flat does the side of the file have to be? I've tried grinding the other edge of John,s and that doesn't spark either.

 

[trashcanman1984]

Just a thought.
Has anyone tried angle iron?
I’m only asking because I walk past a lump of it several times a day.

No, it will be mild steel. You need a high carbon steel for the task you want. Old files go for around 50p at boot fairs

 

[Pattree]

OK - yes there is a junk shop/emporium near here where I can do a deal on a bundle of old files and rasps that have been there all the time I’ve visited.

Angle iron is bloody hard. It doesn’t feel mild!
But
I’ve got files so I’ll use files or more than likely buy a set from John.

 

[MrEd]

At the Mind Moot I was introduced to flint and steel. Heretofore I have been exclusively a ferro guy. I don’t even carry a back up alternative - ferro works.

But -
Some skills just appeal for their own sake don’t they?
So some questions:

Why do so many of the steels on eBay cost three figures??? What should I be paying for a good steel?

I have a couple of old files and can readily obtain more for <£1 each. Is there a way to prepare them? Should I remove the teeth from the edge that I intend to use as the stroke face? Oh I can find out for myself by experimenting but you guys might have an answer before I can get out the angle grinder and face shield.

I’m also about to hit a big flint nodule with a lump hammer once I’ve established that it isn’t a personal friend of one of my children.

I’m also about to make char cloth for no reason other than that I want to. As I shall have to obtain cloth and start from scratch - What is the very best fabric to start with?

Ta.

I have had good success with char cloth made of old 100% cotton shirts and old denim

 

[Mesquite]

OK - yes there is a junk shop/emporium near here where I can do a deal on a bundle of old files and rasps that have been there all the time I’ve visited.

Angle iron is bloody hard. It doesn’t feel mild!
But
I’ve got files so I’ll use files or more than likely buy a set from John.

Go get yourself a hacksaw blade, snap it into a length about 2" long and use the back edge to strike your flint. Nice and cheap and very effective.

I was lucky enough to watch Mors Kochanski demonstrate how effective it was by striking great big sparks that nearly hit his boots.

 

[Stew]

Go get yourself a hacksaw blade, snap it into a length about 2" long and use the back edge to strike your flint. Nice and cheap and very effective.

I was lucky enough to watch Mors Kochanski demonstrate how effective it was by striking great big sparks that nearly hit his boots.

Are you thinking of a ferro rod as opposed to traditional flint and steel?

 

[Mesquite]

Are you thinking of a ferro rod as opposed to traditional flint and steel?

No, Mors used an ordinary hacksaw blade that he snapped in front of the group and struck sparks using a flint.

We were then each given a piece of blade and flint and everyone did the same, albeit not as successfully as Mors but enough to get an ember on the charcloth.

 

[Stew]

No, Mors used an ordinary hacksaw blade that he snapped in front of the group and struck sparks using a flint.

We were then each given a piece of blade and flint and everyone did the same, albeit not as successfully as Mors but enough to get an ember on the charcloth.

Interesting! I guess the thin profile allows easy (ish) shaving.