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Post by BORNTHATWAY on May 16, 2012 17:42:16 GMT -7
As you may know fatwood is generally pine wood that is full of pitch. It generally comes from the stump of a pine treee. I always carry a few sticks in my fire kit to get a fire started. I always make a few curls with my knife and then baton some small pieces gather some dry kindling from around my camp put a drop or two of hand sanitizer on the little grouping of fire wood and either use a firesteel or a lighter and there is a fire started that I feed until it grows and I add bigger wood and have a nice fire going.
So, how are the rest of you getting your fire started.
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Post by offtrail on May 16, 2012 18:32:19 GMT -7
Howdy... Most people know i'm into firecraft and most of my fires are started the old way flint and steel or bowdrill. I will use a firesteel but can't remember the last time I used a bic.
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Post by BORNTHATWAY on May 16, 2012 20:51:51 GMT -7
I know my method may not be old school but when a fire is needed due to cold wet or both the quicker a fire is burning the sooner you fight off hypothermis.
I think that it is good to have many ways to start a fire and if you succeed with the primitive methods that is great, but I know that due to my health that alot of primitive methods are not possible for me.
I just want people to know that they do not need to be afraid of using some more modern techniwues. There may be some others out there like me that conserving energy is important due to their health or that they have to do all the tasks to set up camp so use what you can to get the job done.
I hope we can get others to weigh in on different methods they use so that we can all learn something.
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Post by offtrail on May 16, 2012 22:24:38 GMT -7
I sure agree with you on all of that. I only do it now because I can. If in a survival situation the bowdrill would be my last chance attempt. You bring up very good points about health and one should prepare according to ones health. As long as we do that we should be ok . I may not use a bic to light my fires but i still carry them. It's the smart thing to do  |
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Post by Bjarki on May 18, 2012 7:13:29 GMT -7
I always carry a ziplock bag with birch bark in it, instead of using "fresh" stuff found in the nature, this has been drying at least 24 hours in the bag, and is therefor perfect as firestarter. I also have some fatwood sticks of about 3 inches long (give or take) in the bag as well.
And as a last way out I have a small shampoo bottle (the kind you get at hotels, the tiny ones) with petrol/gas/diesel/whatever but this is only being used if all else has failed.
I always carry matches with me in a small ziplock bag, should probs upgrade that to a firesteel though
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Post by rickL675 on May 22, 2012 13:02:45 GMT -7
Good stuff, I usually use a ferro rod or a bic . |
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Post by cajunlady87 on May 22, 2012 13:23:25 GMT -7
I agree with all said thus far. Various situations can dictate which method of firestarting you use, which also falls into the category of carrying at least three methods of starting fires and being adept at using them. We're all guilty of using our dominate hand to achieve a firesteel spark, pocketbook matches, and even the bowdrill firestarter. But if an injury prevents you from doing so, the ease we normally take for granted of doing so just may present problems. Making it a point to become ambidextrous at achieving the same results just in case.
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Post by Lawdog2705 on May 22, 2012 13:43:46 GMT -7
I also carry a small piece of fat lighter along with matches, bic and firesteel to start a fire. If one fails, move on to the next one. I figure it's better to be prepared for anything so carrying all three fire starters can't hurt.
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Post by Dennis on May 22, 2012 14:53:26 GMT -7
My fire starter kit has a fire steel, fat wood, cotton balls with PJ and matches. I always have a bic on me to. When canoeing in the winter I've been known to carry a flare. Now they will start a fire for ya quick.
But I tell ya what I was thinking as I was reading this thread. Most on here are very proficient at starting fires which for the general population is not common. I've meet folks who can't even start a fire with a bic.
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Post by orly152 on May 22, 2012 15:23:03 GMT -7
I agree with all said thus far. Various situations can dictate which method of firestarting you use, which also falls into the category of carrying at least three methods of starting fires and being adept at using them. We're all guilty of using our dominate hand to achieve a firesteel spark, pocketbook matches, and even the bowdrill firestarter. But if an injury prevents you from doing so, the ease we normally take for granted of doing so just may present problems. Making it a point to become ambidextrous at achieving the same results just in case. +1 my friend and I also agree with the others. Cajun, you brought up a good point about using our dominate hand to achieve a spark from a firesteel. I couldnt agree with you more about learning how to use our nondominant hand to start a fire or whatever task we are trying to accomplish. I practice with my nondominant hand starting a fire and most important using weapons and when doing firearms training. You be surprised how many people drown in a cup of water when it comes to using their nondominant hand. As far as my fire starting kit. I'm a firm believer of caring several methods of starting a fire. My fire starting kit consist of: 1) firesteel with magnesium rod 2) Waterproof Strike Anywhere matches in a 35mm plastic film canister 3) Bic Lighter as a last resort 4) cotton petroleum jelly balls in the 35mm plastic film canister 5) Fatwood 6) Char Cloth in a Altoids tin container All items are in a Ziploc bag. |
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Post by Cwi555 on May 22, 2012 15:23:48 GMT -7
My fire starter kit has a fire steel, fat wood, cotton balls with PJ and matches. I always have a bic on me to. When canoeing in the winter I've been known to carry a flare. Now they will start a fire for ya quick. But I tell ya what I was thinking as I was reading this thread. Most on here are very proficient at starting fires which for the general population is not common. I've meet folks who can't even start a fire with a bic. This is true. I started a fire for a BBQ with a pj ball and ferro c rod. The people next to us were looking at me like I had caste a fire spell or something. |
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Post by missasip on May 22, 2012 16:10:05 GMT -7
My fire starter kit has a fire steel, fat wood, cotton balls with PJ and matches. I always have a bic on me to. When canoeing in the winter I've been known to carry a flare. Now they will start a fire for ya quick. But I tell ya what I was thinking as I was reading this thread. Most on here are very proficient at starting fires which for the general population is not common. I've meet folks who can't even start a fire with a bic. This is true. I started a fire for a BBQ with a pj ball and ferro c rod. The people next to us were looking at me like I had caste a fire spell or something. Good one cwi! Keep 'em guessing. Jimmy |
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Post by Pinpin on May 22, 2012 17:13:17 GMT -7
I carry a variety of tinder and fire starters alike.
For tinder - Cottonballs (with a chapstick on the side), Some of those Tinder-Quik tabs things, and some very fine steel wool. I also carry some wooden craft stick (some spilt, some full) so I always have dry wood. Plus, I got a contractor size pencil sharpener from my local Home Depot to make very thin shavings. I have a magnesium rod but never can get it to catch right.
For fire starters, I got the old Bic lighter, A bunch of those UCO storm matches in a Coleman match case from Walmart with one of the strikers taped to the outside for one handed use if need be, and the trusty ferro rod.
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Post by angelhelp on May 22, 2012 17:41:29 GMT -7
ROFL! That's how my family looked the first time I did it (and for the same purpose). Speaking to the advice to practice with the nondominant hand, I'd also suggest practicing with one hand and a foot. My profession requires me to be fairly ambidextrous anyway, so switching hands is no big deal. If using a ferro rod, though, try securing it with a foot and generating sparks with the nondominant hand. I think I'll present this as a contest to my lads.  |
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Post by oldcoothillbilly on May 22, 2012 19:34:56 GMT -7
I've always found gasoline an a match work real well.
Naw, just kiddin. I carry match's, metal match, flint an steel, fatwood, char cloth, jute, homemade firestarter, magnifyin lens an some cattail heads, oh some fire straws an pj balls.
I think I got it perty well covered. Oh yeah, my new stone bearin block fer bow an drill fire. It actually don't take up as much room as it sounds like it would.
Jeez, fergot the carpenters pencil sharpener.
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