I have made fires with bow drills most of my life. Other that using optics that is aobut the only non 'match' way I had ever tried. I used matches or a cig lighter most of the time and a bow drill if I was going primitive or with boy scouts.
I saw the fire piston online near the begining of the year and had to make one...(it is now my favorite fire starter) and then somebody was using a hand drill at a get together, so I did that for a few days. Never had tried flint and steel until today though.
I took some char cloth I had made for my piston, a piece of Texas rock which I had for knapping, and an old file. Took me about 4 or 5 wacks but then there was a spark on my cloth. I quickly gathered some oasge shavings off the floor (from scraping a bow) and blew me a little fire.
You know I will probably have to make me a respectable striker now, to be able to add it to the firestarting techniques I share with the scouts.
I saw the fire piston online near the begining of the year and had to make one...(it is now my favorite fire starter) and then somebody was using a hand drill at a get together, so I did that for a few days. Never had tried flint and steel until today though.
I took some char cloth I had made for my piston, a piece of Texas rock which I had for knapping, and an old file. Took me about 4 or 5 wacks but then there was a spark on my cloth. I quickly gathered some oasge shavings off the floor (from scraping a bow) and blew me a little fire.
You know I will probably have to make me a respectable striker now, to be able to add it to the firestarting techniques I share with the scouts.