The blastmatch

[Silverback]

Can I just say about the Blastmatch that the one I have had for about 3 years has been fantastic. No way am I linked to whoever makes them just happy to use one.

Amongst many other firemaking tools I have been using my one in the classes I run and have had no problems with it.

I appreciate that they are more prone to fail (based on what others have said) in comparison to a normal Swedish firesteel or traditional steel but please do not dicount it as it is a great training aid especially with groups of kids.

When I have large numbers of kids to teach/entertain/keep out of trouble I sometimes use the Blastmatch with char cloth. I line up on a piece of wood one piece of char cloth per kid then they take it in turn to light their cloth with the Blastmatch. Any kid who is not stong enough I get them to plunge it with the assistance of one of their friends. All this has to be done very fast to build a team spirit.

When all the clothes are charring they are piled into a tinder bundle, one kid holds it and the rest take turns blowing it into flame. Works a treat and then time permitting then I move onto strikers new and old, and then to friction.

Do I carry one all the time? No.
Are they a Gimmick? Probably yes but kids love them.
Could I rely on one? Yes. If the plunge system fails or the rod comes loose it will work just as a normal striker with a sharp piece of rock.

As a different teaching tool I think they are great and are good for fast team work getting a fire going. Keeps kids interested and makes them more willing to try harder methods after seeing they can make fire in what many would call more bushcrafty ways.

Cheers

George

My thoughts exactly Seoras - I demo to a lot of kids groups (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Guides etc.) and use mine in pretty much the same way as you. When you are pushed for time but want to offer some interaction for the kids, it is a quick and effective variation to the rod and steel method. In ideal circumstances I always try and offer the chance to use both

 

[ZDP-189]

I get plenty of sparks, just can"t get anything to light. I am striking properly and all.

 

[British Red]

Very strange ZDP. I notice you are in Hong Kong which makes a lot of the natural tinders I use difficult (I have no idea what grows over there). What I could do is prepare a bunch of natural tinders I have had success with and send you a selection if you like?

The big technique is to prep your tinder very finely and make sure its bone dry. Anything fibrous (cedar bark, clematis bark etc.) should be rubbed until as fine as human hair and then bundled into a very loose nest into which the sparks are directed. Birch bark should be shaved to produce a fine powder or strips so thin they let light pass through. A dry feather stick with hair thick curls should catch okay.

Have you tried loosely fluffed up cotton wool? Thats probably the easiest starter.

Anyway I don't want to Hijack the thread but I'm confident I can get you lighting natural tinders if that has any appeal? If so, we can start a new thread and take it from there

Red

 

[h2o]

why not try scraping some fine bits almost dust of some bamboo and try to light that.