Firestick made easy

[Bear Stone]

Have you ever showered your dry tinder with sparks over and over but for some reason it won't catch?
Okay,
1. Hold the firestick in your fingers in such a way that you can place your thumb on the striking surface.

2. Place some tinder between your thumb and the firestick.

3. Place your knife across the tinder and the firestick and lift your thumb; so now your knife is holding the tinder against the firestick.

4. With a little more pressure than usual, strike, taking the tinder with the knife - it's so much more efficient.

This also works with thicker heavier tinder than usual. For example; dry leaves. Simply put a small dry leaf under the knife and it will catch.

How do we know if the leaf is dry enough?

1. If you can crumple the leaf in your hand it is wet.

2. If the leaf breaks up in your hand it is dry.

Bear

 

[Roving Rich]

I'm gonna have to try this
Thanks Bear

 

[scolebo]

great, just tried it

just light willowherb (seed pods & a few seeds) & birch bark
it seems to wear the firestick (firestriker) away more though

scolebo

 

[Bear Stone]

You're right, it is best to use a little more pressure but look at it this way; you're pretty sure it's going to work first strike. Whereas unless you use Dandylion seed heads or the like it might take sevral strikes to get a take.
My favorite thing about using this method is that it opens up the scope for heavier tinders. :-D

Bear

 

[Ed]

Yep.. a little more pressure and you get a fire with your first strike.... its worth it in my opinion

Good tip :biggthump

Ed

 

[OldJimbo]

This method works great!
I'm amazed that I've never heard of it before.
I had no problem starting some fresh fireweed fluff with a variety of rods, even the small ones. While we use fireweed fluff a great deal, it's always stuff that's collected under rocks etc, and has had the wax washed out of it. The fresher stuff is too waxy to start easily.
I shall be giving the method another try on my way back in to do some work tonight - it's in the -30's with windchill and with a strong wind blowing it'll be interesting to see how the method works. I'm figuring that with the smaller piece of tinder properly ignited and scooped down into a tinder bundle by the striker - things should go rapidly with the wind.
It's sure a supert method to know with the wet conditions that we have most of the year (except when it's really cold like now...).
Thanks, Bear!

 

[OldJimbo]

It worked well in the cold - other than the awkwardness of using gloves.

I'd certainly recommend people giving this method a try, as it could save the day in tough conditions.

 

[Roving Rich]

Doh... I got it wrong. Got confused somewhere and tried this holding the tinder bundle against the back of the knife with me thumb. Seemed to work OK though 8/10 i reckon. Certainly alot more controlled trying to flick sparks into nest of tinder on the floor. Try it and see what you think?
Rich

 

[Ed]

Hey Rich.. I hold my tinnder on the back of my knife when using char cloth.... never had it fail to light yet

Ed

 

[Roving Rich]

Thats the one Ed, made myself some charcloth at the weekend (THANKS FOR THE TUTORIAL SIMON :You_Rock_ )
So its exactly what i was messing with. I try this amazing new technique soon.
Rich

 

[Adi007]

Super technique - tried it the other day and it worked great. Seems ideal for those windy days!
Thanks!

 

[Martyn]

Tried this today, not outdoors, but in me kitchen. I started with a cigarette paper and ended up using a square of 80 gram printer paper. I got it to burst into flames without any shredding or anything.

Give it a go....

Great technique, thanks!!!

 

[Adi007]

It works great with birch bark too ... and dry leaves.

 

[alick]

Another round of thanks here - much better control & works an absolute treat. Thanks :biggthump

 

[Adi007]

Be careful with tinders that catch light easy though ... with cotton wool (with or without vaseline), you could end up with a handful of fire!!!! :bu: