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Post by offtrail on Nov 7, 2012 20:15:32 GMT -7
Most of us here can build a fire, I hope. We practice with all kinds of methods from a lighter to the bowdrill. We practice in the rain and wet condition. But how many have practiced making fire in the dark. I have never done this but it could be a great skill to have. Learning to feel with your hands and listen with your ears as to what your touching and if it's dry enough to burn. I think much could be learned from practicing fire skills in the dark, so what do you think  |
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Post by angelhelp on Nov 7, 2012 20:35:47 GMT -7
Not only lighting the fire in the dark, but gathering the materials to do so would be a nifty little project to try. Then try it in the dark when it's raining during a new moon.
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Post by blacksmith on Nov 7, 2012 20:46:37 GMT -7
ok your are right I have done this and it can be hard now try it at -20 in the snow that was real fun
it was hard but if I had not done it I was not getting home
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2012 21:09:13 GMT -7
I have gone into my basement at night. Absolutely NO light, and built a fire in my wood stove many many times...using several methods. Took a bit, but yes, I can do it. Good thing to practice!! And it sure make is easier learning like this and then going outside at night, since outside you have some light from the moon and sky!
Another to practice...building a shelter or erecting a tent in darkness. not as easy as you would think!!
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Post by offtrail on Nov 7, 2012 21:10:49 GMT -7
Not only lighting the fire in the dark, but gathering the materials to do so would be a nifty little project to try. Then try it in the dark when it's raining during a new moon. ;D |
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Post by offtrail on Nov 7, 2012 21:20:38 GMT -7
I have gone into my basement at night. Absolutely NO light, and built a fire in my wood stove many many times...using several methods. Took a bit, but yes, I can do it. Good thing to practice!! And it sure make is easier learning like this and then going outside at night, since outside you have some light from the moon and sky! Another to practice...building a shelter or erecting a tent in darkness. not as easy as you would think!! Depending on the moon you could or could not have some light. Good idea Dink knowing how and being able to set up a tent in the dark a must have skill. Don't tell angelhelp for she will have you doing it in the rain and darkness with the wind blowing and being attacked by mosquito's and one arm tied behind your back ;D  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2012 21:35:20 GMT -7
I have gone into my basement at night. Absolutely NO light, and built a fire in my wood stove many many times...using several methods. Took a bit, but yes, I can do it. Good thing to practice!! And it sure make is easier learning like this and then going outside at night, since outside you have some light from the moon and sky! Another to practice...building a shelter or erecting a tent in darkness. not as easy as you would think!! Depending on the moon you could or could not have some light. Good idea Dink knowing how and being able to set up a tent in the dark a must have skill. Don't tell angelhelp for she will have you doing it in the rain and darkness with the wind blowing and being attacked by mosquito's and one arm tied behind your back ;D I am from Missouri...that's a simple request. She has to be on her toes to figure out something us rednecks don't know or can't improvise and do already! |
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Post by offtrail on Nov 7, 2012 23:22:14 GMT -7
Depending on the moon you could or could not have some light. Good idea Dink knowing how and being able to set up a tent in the dark a must have skill. Don't tell angelhelp for she will have you doing it in the rain and darkness with the wind blowing and being attacked by mosquito's and one arm tied behind your back ;D I am from Missouri...that's a simple request. She has to be on her toes to figure out something us rednecks don't know or can't improvise and do already! Silly me I should have known better |
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Post by angelhelp on Nov 8, 2012 4:17:27 GMT -7
Dink knows I grew up in the city. I am constantly amazed at the body of knowledge considered standard/required and possessed by you folks, much of which overlaps with what guys (but never gals) were supposedly born knowing (and which, as a child, I highly resented not being privy to). I am so glad that the (school) days of being ridiculed for asking a "dumb" question are long past, so if I have a question here, I know it'll be answered honestly, completely, and possibly with humor (making the answer easier to retain). A typical dinner conversation at home might have Ceorlmann telling us about something that happened at school, then I add that the situation might have been funny if such-and-such happened. Airborne will invariably give the comment that tops them all, and we have a good laugh. I do the same thing here when I ask questions or when I see something of great interest (like Offtrail, I find fire fascinating). Practicing starting a fire in the dark is only the first step. Of course one must add increasingly adverse circumstances, such as what blacksmith said about trying to do it in "20 below". Well, I can't do it in 20 below because we never get that cool here -- blacksmith, I guess you're just too cool for us  -- but having tried making a fire in the rain and having done it in the wind makes it obvious that those should be the next steps. |
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Post by offtrail on Nov 8, 2012 9:51:32 GMT -7
I believe it was tj that was successful using one arm and a firesteel. Being able to start fire in any condition be it weather or physical is a much needed skill. One other skill that may be the most important of all humor Now if you all excuse me I need to practice my fire skills while standing on my head At least it will be much easier to blow on the amber's ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by pathwinder14 on Nov 8, 2012 10:02:54 GMT -7
I recently started testing myself by trying to light a fire in my back yard at night, in the dark, after the cooler air has made any tinder damp. I try not to use any prepared tinder like cotton balls or lint. I resort to those should I fail to get my natural tinder to light. It is not easy. It has taught me a lot about new and better ways to use my firesteel.
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Post by offtrail on Nov 8, 2012 10:32:18 GMT -7
I recently started testing myself by trying to light a fire in my back yard at night, in the dark, after the cooler air has made any tinder damp. I try not to use any prepared tinder like cotton balls or lint. I resort to those should I fail to get my natural tinder to light. It is not easy. It has taught me a lot about new and better ways to use my firesteel. That's how you do it and how you get better at fireskills. Saving your fire prep until it is needed is a very good idea but when you do use it make sure you replace it quickly. Small strips of rubber work great when it is raining out and the tinder needs drying out. |
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Post by cajunlady87 on Nov 8, 2012 13:23:04 GMT -7
Great thought OT, keep submitting those great ideas. |
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Post by woodyz on Nov 8, 2012 14:50:22 GMT -7
For as long as I can remember I have always laid a fire before I went to sleep. I don't know when or why I started doing this but it is a habit. When I am camping, I more than likely will have a fire going at bed time, even if we are staying in the RV (which is how camping gets accomplished for me these days  ), but I will still have a fire going in a fire pit outside. If it is supposed to get windy I will sometimes put out the fire before retiring but generally I just bank it well and leave it to burn down. If a fire is needed in less than 4 hours the banked fire will start right back up, but any longer and othe measures must be available. I have taken to keeping either a box or can left over from the last meal, sometimes it could just be a mylar bag. I will use this container to build my fire bed. It is a little different depending on the container. I will place tinder under small sticks, under little finger sized sticks, basicly a mini fire stack. I like card board boxes best because I can make a hole in the side and light the tender and let the whole box start my fire. Cans also have a hole or several holes in the bottom and act as a chimny to start a fire. Put this fire bed in the fire ring after raking what is left in there and stack the usual fire starting logs over in. Most time I don't need to even light it the coals from the previous fire will. Even if I were hiking and what I had was what was in my pack I would have a plastic bag or other usable container. Lighting this pre-made fire bed is easier in the dark, wind, or rain to get a fire going. If I get somewhere and wood is dry I make sure I gether extra and put it somewhere it will stay the dryest. Remember wet can get to wood from a bove or below when stacking it to remain dry. If it is already wet when I get there I have found the method of creating a wood stack verticle instead of horizontal to work best in burning wet wood. A tea candle or wax earplugs and some scraping off the wet center piece of wood, gives the wax long enought to dry and burn. The wood will burn from the top down as the wood dries around it. |
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Post by offtrail on Nov 8, 2012 15:45:43 GMT -7
Good stuff woodyz thanks for sharing your tips and tricks |
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-- but having tried making a fire in the rain and having done it in the wind makes it obvious that those should be the next steps. 
), but I will still have a fire going in a fire pit outside. If it is supposed to get windy I will sometimes put out the fire before retiring but generally I just bank it well and leave it to burn down.