Firesteel Tinders

[Nightwalker]

What tinders do you use with your firesteel?

I've had a firesteel for probably less than a year and I was wondering what sort of tinders you folk use? I carry some char-cloth & (poor) birch-bark with me in my sack, the first campfire I lit by firesteel I did with charcloth wrapped in birch-bark and it work superbly producing flames in just a minute. Then a second time about 5-6 weeks later using the exact same method on a trip to Dartmoor I couldnt light up at all My char-cloth didnt seem to burn as well, neither did the birch-bark I tried for like 20mins whilst my girlfriend waited patiently for tea, I gave up and used a lighter

Firstly my char-cloth was made out of a old sock, im thinking it might have been a little loosely woven, im guessing some more tightly woven cotton might be better. And also does birch-bark loose its flamable attributes a little if kept in a sealed tub for a few months? Thanks for your help and advise on firesteel tinders.

 

[British Red]

A few of mine are listed here

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/content/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=230

Red

 

[sxmolloy]

does birch-bark loose its flamable attributes a little if kept in a sealed tub for a few months?

I've never noticed this before and I often store my birch bark in an air tight container, as well as a rubberised tobacco pouch.

Other options could be: Vaseline soaked cotton wool, bamboo shavings or maya dust to name just a few.

 

[spamel]

Try gathering the fine papery birch bark, crumble it up and keep it in a ziplock. As for charcloth, try different cloths, once you find the good stuff, stick with it. Try old tea towels or dishcloths. Also, once the fluffy seed heads come out, grab some of them and try them, thistle is pretty spectacular stuff, rosebay willowherb works too but you need to get loads of the fluffy stuff and it doesn't burst out quite as thickly as thistle.

If you are using a sheet of birch bark, you need to scrape it up to get fine shavings, I find it a bit too laborious and boring, so tend to go with the papery stuff, but there is no harm in learning to do it that way.

 

[sxmolloy]

Nearly forgot about these. http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=15139

ATB....Stu

 

[Nightwalker]

Thanks for some great suggestions guys, just to let you know I've been using very thing papery birch-bark. I think my char-cloth may have been the issue the second time round.

I would prefer to use a natural tinder as oppose synthetic materials, I suppose thats because would like to keep some things traditional and use materials our ancestors might have, but they didnt have a firesteel oh well I've got a traditional steel to master after I've done the firesteel however I am in need for some decent flint

 

[Ogri the trog]

One of my favourites with the firesteel, are feather sticks as here. http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=13749&highlight=maple post number 11 IIRC

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Northsky]

birch bark, have also tried bullrush seed heads but haven't had a great deal of success, mind the conditions were pretty damp so could be worth another try.

What really works I've found is cotton wool especially if you rub in plenty of vaseline

 

[spamel]

Try cramp balls, little black balls that grow on birch and ash, sometimes called king alfreds cakes, latin name is Daldinia concentrica (had to look up the spelling on that one!). They have concentric circles inside, as the latin name suggests, and they burn like charcoal. You can cook on them like charcoal infact, and they are a great tinder.

Birch polypore can be dried out in tin strips and used like a slow fuse. Once slightly charred, they will take a spark. Also, old fire dogs, or the remnants of a fire, will take a spark. As long as they are dry and it hasn't rained a lot since they were abandoned, take a few of the logs that have been burnt on the ends, and cast some sparks on to them. They will glow just like an ember, and if you blow on it it will grow. Place another fire dog next to it and this will also catch, and pretty soon your fire will be going. Also, you will eventually burn up the eyesore, and hopefully dispose of the fire as the last person should have, leaving no sign of its existence.

 

[Nightwalker]

oo, I know cramp-balls well I have used them for carring fire and a few coals, didnt think of using as tinder with a firesteel, I wonder how easy that is, I'll have to get out collect some more and give it a go!

 

[Eric_Methven]

I've got a traditional steel to master after I've done the firesteel however I am in need for some decent flint

If you're going down the traditional route with flint and steel, it's worth making the very best charcloth you can. You can't beat linen in my opinion. It catches a spark best of all the materials I've tried, and it's traditional. Look for old tea towels in charity shops. If they have 'Irish linen' printed somewhere along the bottom edge you're on to a winner.

Eric

 

[Andy J]

Just followed the link posted by Ogri, fantastic! In the five minutes to read, have saved myself hours of heartache> That makes it sooooo much easier, and I've scattered my fair share of tinder after making my knuckles bleed for the 1000th time.... and then no fire! Many thanks, Andy...

 

[Ogri the trog]

Just followed the link ..... have saved myself hours of heartache> That makes it sooooo much easier, Many thanks, Andy...

No Worries Andy,
Now that you've learnt the technique, do me a favour, go and teach someone else!

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[scottishwolf]

Take a pencil sharpener with you and find any old'dry pencil width stick. Works a treat

 

[Nightwalker]

If you're going down the traditional route with flint and steel, it's worth making the very best charcloth you can. You can't beat linen in my opinion. It catches a spark best of all the materials I've tried, and it's traditional. Look for old tea towels in charity shops. If they have 'Irish linen' printed somewhere along the bottom edge you're on to a winner.

Eric

Im definatly gona work on improving my charcloth with different materials.

Take a pencil sharpener with you and find any old'dry pencil width stick. Works a treat

Nice trick!

I'll get round to reading those other linked-threads today. Thanks all.

 

[Nathan Sturgess]

Bandage and feather sticks I have found light really well with the firesteel

 

[Matt Weir]

I've said it before but I'll say it again, if you can get hold of a hand full of reed mace seed (fluffy head on bullrush) then that goes up first strike so makes a fantastic pre-tinder. It does however burn as fast as it does ignite easily so use more than you think you'll need and be quick with your tinder on there. Even when the head is damp with dew or rain, because it grows so tightly packed it's bone dry on the inside. Once it's collected and pulled apart it needs protecting from moisture so if you gather some to carry then keep it wrapped up beneath the outer layers of your clothing.

 

[Nightwalker]

Cheers matt, I'll have to take a stroll down to my local reservoir and see if I can spot some.

 

[gregorach]

I reckon there's a lot to be said for mixing a "fluff" tinder like thistledown or reedmace in with shredded birch bark. The fluff catches easily and quickly, but doesn't burn well on it's own. The bark burns well, but doesn't catch quite so easily. Mix the two together and you're sorted.

 

[Matt Weir]

I reckon there's a lot to be said for mixing a "fluff" tinder like thistledown or reedmace in with shredded birch bark. The fluff catches easily and quickly, but doesn't burn well on it's own. The bark burns well, but doesn't catch quite so easily. Mix the two together and you're sorted.

Aiye, even better Dunc, mix them! Pretty bombproof way to get your tinder burning.