Traditional Firesteel with flint and charcloth

[Phaestos]

Hey guys,

Might anyone here know where I can get myself a traditional lump of high carbon firesteel? I'm trying to learn as many ways of lighting fire as possible, and this one really appeals to me. I also need flint, which living in a city is difficult to get my hands on. As well, although I have charcloth, I am wondering which is the fungus skin people use normally to catch the spark?

Cheers,

 

[Jared]

http://sharkdesigns.co.uk/home_pages/1_fire_online_store.html#fire_steels

 

[Dreadhead]

there are plenty of good makers on here. I have a firesteel set made by Mullius, and also have a set from Whittler Kev. Both are outstanding

 

[crosslandkelly]

Can't help with flint, but a piece of broken file will work as a steel. Cramp balls (king Alfreds cakes) will take a spark.

 

[Stringmaker]

I can pop a piece of flint in the post for you; I am surrounded by it here.

Zap me a PM with your address.

 

[copper_head]

John fenna makes fire steel sets

 

[milius2]

This is one of the simplest ways of lighting fire once you get to learn it. I do make some steels from time to time and people love them, but you can make one yourself from an old file, just cut a piece of flat file about 2'' or 3'' and you're sorted that's how I started. John Fenna makes great traditional sets with tinder fungus, I'm still to master that

 

[Niels]

You don't neccesarily need flint. Any rock harder than steel will do, like christals and quartz But flint is best

 

[John Fenna]

If you are after a cheap and effective set - drop me a PM.
I have just made up a whole load of them for the craft markets I will be attending

 

[Gray]

Matt, if you dont get sorted, let me know. I'll sort you out with a few bits. Johns kits are the dogs though, you'd be better off with one of them tbh.

 

[Phaestos]

Cheers guys. As usual, you're all legends. John, pm is inbound my good man!

 

[John Fenna]

PM to you sir!

 

[jackcbr]

Got some flint and charcloth if you need it. I'm using an old file at the moment until I can get it in a bushcraft forge and make a more suitable striker.

 

[Gus1990]

Neils right about not needing flint. Where I am there is no flint, but I pick up pieces of quartz when I'm on hill walks and they work a treat. Apparently granite also works but I've not tried it.

 

[ateallthepies]

Just though I would post a vid I made on a fire start kit to give you some ideas...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWvM3-MhcG4

HTH,

Steve.

 

[Stringmaker]

Neils right about not needing flint. Where I am there is no flint, but I pick up pieces of quartz when I'm on hill walks and they work a treat. Apparently granite also works but I've not tried it.

I have flint, quartz and iron pyrite in my kit. Iron pyrite is great.

 

[ForgeCorvus]

I have flint, quartz and iron pyrite in my kit. Iron pyrite is great.

Pyrite on the steel or on the flint ?

 

[Bumbler]

If you don't have flint you can use quartz. It's one of the most common minerals on earth. In Norway we do not have any natural flint except in one single location. So I used flint.
And old file makes a good enough striker.

 

[maddave]

Just though I would post a vid I made on a fire start kit to give you some ideas...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWvM3-MhcG4

HTH,



Steve.

good informative vid that !! and a comprehensive fire kit, thanks for sharing