Great video with good demonstrations. My problem with flint and steel is finding good rocks in my area that will produce good sparks. I am heading out today and I going to make a real effort to find something that will work. Jason
As a guy who is new to flint and steel I am trying to embrace all that you and everyone else has said about the subject. You are very adamant about flint and steel as your number one go to for fun fire craft. Thanks for all of the great videos, your channel is quickly becoming one of my favorites!
After watching your videos on flint and steel fire-making, I went out, harvested punk wood, charred it while camping, put it in a tin, and then practiced making embers with flint and steel. Today, after a week of doing that reliably, I prepped some jute twine, and produced flame. Very satisfying. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us.
+Craig Swogger that' sur great because I tried and tried with flint&steel and by fluffing my jute with no success even with good sparks so I was wondering char jute will work better. Thanks for your answer.
I want to clarify, that I didn't spark the jute twine with flint and steel, I sparked the charred punk wood with flint and steel, and then put the jute twine on top the punk wood to create the flame. Sorry for the confusion.
Thanks Justin, I'm gold someone is willing to put the resources to the test. I also like the fact that you made the point about the natural resources available to you. Everyones environment is different and yes, we all need to learn what is available to us in our own stomping grounds and learn what will work. Our biggest tool is knowledge and putting it to work for us by working smarter and not harder. I too love learning new things. Dave is right, practice primitive and prepare modern. Also I'd like to have your permission to show my veterans class this video and a few other of yours as a teaching aid before I do the demonstrations for them. I will be selecting videos from various channels as well but I hope to help your channel grow by putting a spotlight on it sort-of-speak. Camp Warrior Thanks you for an honest point of view.
You are one of the few people I follow on youtube that really takes your time to explain something and then show how it's done + giving tips and tricks along the way. You have learned me more in a few weeks then my entire time on youtube. Thank you Justin and may the gods bless you.
My 2 cents: I still learning to use actual flint and steel, but with artificial "flint" that has hotter sparks I've gotten a flame directly from flash tinder. I've never tried cottonwood fluff but I've done it with the silk from milkweed, nettle and cattail. The first two are seasonal but it's easy to gather enough to last for months. Cattail is widespread and available most of the year, although its fibers are short enough that you have to be careful not to pack it so densely that it snuffs itself out. I use cattail by mixing a little with coarser tinder such as dry grass or inner bark fiber. In any case, the Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" is never more applicable than in fire starting. True the more primitive fire starting methods you master the more options you have, but you can bet Daniel Boone himself never went out without the best prepared tinder kit he could make. As the saying goes, when you need a fire the most is when its hardest to start one. Finally, PRACTICE! If you've never actually done something, you don't know how.
a flint and steel spark is at a much lower temperature than ferrocerium metal rod From a Realistic Prospective A Ferrocerium Rod is the better of the two choice But if you had to build a fire by striking rocks together, you would need one rock that has the hardness of quartz, and one rock with a high concentration of Iron Pyrite
Well done. I have never seen it done without charred material before. Ferro rods are a game changer of course, I think a lot of people just confuse the two methods, flint and steel and Ferro rod that is.
It's easy to confuse the two at times for sure. Some people call a ferro rod a fire steel and to me that sounds like flint and steel. So it can for sure happen.
Hi Justin😊, this is great information and has helped tremendously in my fire making, having started off whith a ferro rod I found flint and steel,a whole new ball game, but watching this has opened up new possibilities for me, many thanks for the video, stay safe mate, best wishe's to you and your's, Stuart.uk.
If that one strike start of the charred punk wood doesn't sell it, I don't know what will. This is a great video, honest, open, and helpful as always. Great job Justin. Thank you for "voicing your opinion."
Well done! I like how you back up what you are saying with real time examples. Your point about telling people what they can do without demonstrating it is right in the mark. That's why I like Feral Woodcraft's current series on 52 ferro fires: he is showing us different materials to use to make a fire with ferro rod. Some attempts work and some fail, but we learn as we see real life examples. Keep up the good work.
Chaga is amazing and I'm lucky to have it. Its the only thing I've been able to do elnatural...Of course after its dried for about two weeks. lol Good vid Justin, I can sense the frustration you are having with some of the "groups", I'm right there with you man. I (like you said) question EVERYTHING, even if its from a reputable source. And besides if you do it....that means you have the skill and resources to do it, it doesn't mean I can do it. So I need to go out MYSELF and do it. Then I say its possible for me to do. Good vid man.
Exactly....... See, since I don't have chaga I didn't realize it needed to dry that long so there is another reason to carry a char of some sorts. It's not really groups that are frustrating me it's people giving advise that really don't know what they are saying and I just can't understand why anyone would give advise like that. People are trying to learn this stuff. They need the best info we can give. And you damn right. Question everything and everyone! That is how we really learn.
I think folks want to see themselves as "that guy" or they want folks to turn to them for advise. Maybe its as simple as they want to feel important. I don't know man, I've never (and I hope I never do) had a problem saying "I don't know". JMO
Experience conquers theory and Experiential Knowledge is the key to instruction . Your video is excellent and your philosophy is sound and lucid . Thank you once again and keep up the good work .
I don't think this was a rant. I like the idea that many opinions are a starting point, but success depends on practice. I have never succeeded in making a fire with flint and steel, so, I am impressed by your skill. I think I'll give in another go, but as a hobby rather than for real. Great videos. Keep it up.
Hi Justin, Always love watching your videos. If there is anything new i can learn or even little unknown tricks i love it. As with this video of yours, i have tried myself using the flint and steel on natural materials (Not charred) I am fortunate enough to live where there are tons of Birch,Cedar and Cottonwood. Along with willow,pine and Maple. I also have an abundance of Mullen in my area. I have on found three ways to get a natural material to light using a flint and steel. The bad part for many is that all three come from the birch tree. I dry and grind some of my Chaga into a fine powder that i carry in an old pill bottle. A little pile of this will take a spark easy and then grow into an ember to put in a tinder bundle. The 2nd is the horse hoof fungus. Amadou. But it needs processed. The last is birch bark. Scraping the outer layer of the bark into a powder will take a spark. I've tried cattail fluff,Kapok,Dandelion fluff,cottonwood fluff and others but nothing works with flint and steel. This said, my go to fire making method is one that takes so training and patience. However this method is available in all areas of the world. That would be the hand drill friction fire method. Or the bow drill if you have the materials to make natural cordage. When in the bush all that is really needed is a good knife to make fire. Great job on your videos though. Very well done and educational.
Thank you. I appreciate you sharing those tips with me. Out of the three methods you have shared, I have been successful with chaga. I found the other two methods require way to much time to get to work and if there is any humidity in the air it just doesn't seem to want to work at all. I guess at times the area always dictates results. Thank you again. I have a new striker that throws sparks a lot hotter. Video coming soon.
Justin, Thanks. Not a Rant at all....A Great Teaching lesson. As you know I am just now venturing into Flint and steel, this answers a lot of questions.
Jason... Excellent points! :-) Flint and steel can be a tough one without materials that easily ignite. You had the best of conditions being that you were inside for this test. Throw in things like wind, wet weather, darkness, and green materials, It can be very difficult. Another variable that I have to deal with is the rocks being used to make the spark. Any chert or flint, they throw a storm of sparks, but I've had to buy it. As for rocks in the area either transplanted or natural, they just don't spark the way flint does. If they do it's for one or 2 strikes and the edge is done. I am continually looking for the better rock. Flint and steel is one of my favorite methods for fire starting. Thanks for the real world video. Shad
I agree 100% with all you say. Here in the UK we have a fungus called crampball or king Alfreds cakes. I've achieved an ember with it after powdering it, but it's hard. Plus availability is all, no point in it unless it's common and easy to find . Good stuff, nice to hear someone who talks sense.
Great job dude, now for horse show and chaga mushrooms. I have collected many over the years. All of it is wet when harvested and never dry. You would need to dry them out to use them. So they will be no use for you for a couple days drying. That is my experience. So you need to carry dry amadou or chaga, so you might as well carry charred material. that is my opinion, so great video and hope that lets you know about picking it from a tree and starting a fire, i never could with what i get from birch trees.
Great video and especially the part of questioning everybody and everything. You are so right about "finding your own path". Don't hear that said often. M. Balamuth is very correct. I use the saw on my Swiss Army Knife to get a quarter-sized pile of chaga and it will ignite. Burns for awhile too. Love the vids and keep em coming. You definitely pass on good tips. I already incorporate a few for my style.
I have watched ur vidz n learned how to char cloth n since leaving at NYC I'll probably won't find any of the mentioned materials here so must go with char cloth... Great vid! 👍😉👌
hey justin, just wanted to say thanks because i learned how to char punk wood and it's use for initial fire from you...i used fero rod mostly before, but now i actually prefer flint&steel. thanks again man, and best regards to you and your family.
Interesting video, especially because i remember we had a short conversation about this like a year ago:) You know i use Chaga a lot. I actually never do anything with it other than cut out a small piece but it have to be the right piece. The closer to the outer layer the harder it is to ignite. I also hold the Chaga on the stone btw. Contrary to what some say i don't believe one can use fresh Chaga. Tried it even with a ferro rod. Does not work. I will say the bottom line IMHO is that it's not possible to light any materials straight from nature without doing something to it:) Good video bro.
Thank you Lars. All I know is I wish I had chaga in my area so I could play with it more. Seems like an amazing resource. I haven't tried it by holding in my hand yet. I'll have to give it a shot.
I also use thin cuts of chaga on top of the rock. I found that the very yellow part of the fungus works best when dried slowly so that it stays somewhat spongy(when you cut it it with your knife it has that squeky sound.
Thank you for both videos I have always wanted to learn how to use flint and steel for fire starting.Ground file for striker.went out in gravel drive found piece of cheer and stuck sparks.My wife was not as impressed.Ha Ha can you imagine her lack of enthusiasm?Well thank you for the information sir.Am going to learn about punk wood now.Jeff
agreed knowing your area and resources is key not every one has the same stuff lying around and practicing with everything you can find is the only way to know for sure thanks for sharing
This is so true! I bought my first ferrocerium rod 2 weeks ago and the first thing I tried to light was a pile of wood shavings. After literally 2000 strikes I finally got an ember. I thought my rod was defective. If it was that hard with a ferrocerium rod, I can imagine it's even harder with flint & steel. Obviously I now know I was just not using the right tinder, and now I can get char cloth lit in one strike, or shaved fatwood in about 30 strikes.
Your right on point man. And I even think I was one of those folks that said with the right knowledge. Which thinking back now I know I should have worded different. I've seen it done with some fungi, but I knew it wasn't easy. Great video... and now I want to try it with birch bark dust and see if that catches a spark. I've tried with rubbing alcohol (which I've seen someone do) and found it not a viable option. Though I'm still learning with flint and steel and am looking to get a better set soon.
An excellent video as always. I've purhcased my first tomahawk and made it a CS Pipe Hawk based on your recommendations. I'm in love with it. It's the most versitile piece of gear that I own. It was a little rough out of the box, but I gave some love to the handle, eye, and blade. I've sanded the handle to get a better friction lock on the head, but it's not as tight as yours seems to be. Could you do a follow-up on your hawk and show what you did to achieve that tight fit? Thanks.
Justin Great Video Brother. I have to commend you on the fact that you think your videos through. You are not ranting on. You are very thoughtful and respectful in your presentation. A professional and a gentlemen. If we are going to endeavor in the practice of primitive skills it also a good idea to have the mind set of those who applied these skills manny moons ago. They were always mindful of the next fire. So they as you suggested charred natural resources for the next fire. Great video Justin. 👍
I have had some success with uncharred sugar maple punk, good success with bone dry dead mullein leaves, great success with very thinly sliced mullein pith and milkweed ovum. Not much uncharred stuff will work but these four have worked for me. The last three were easy, the sugar maple punk was not. Like you say, charred material is the way to go. Especially if your life is on the line. I'm 63 years old and have learned a thing or three and so far it seems that we have learned pretty much the same things regarding flint and steel. Another great vid as usual. Keep it up, Bro. Please.
great vid again justin,,not a rant at all my friend...mabe this will help some one.. at the meet up we took horse hoof fugues that was right of a tree , nowing it was to fresh to use ..with bow drill we was able make some what of charred dust from it that we was able knock a spark into that grew a ember.... great vid justin.. ..bill
Great vid. I use a small box like yours but I put the hole in the side through the lid and the side of the box. Once it's charred I'll put the lid on so the hole is closed to keep moisture out. I totally agree, I love charred wash clothes, and charred punk wood the best. :) Keep on keepin on. To each his own. :)
You should always be thinking ahead about your next fire. Pick up small pieces of charred material from the edge of your campfire and put it in your tin. See an old charred stump? Scrape off some charred material and fiill your tin. The native hunting parties around here carried burning punky wood in a Konk sea shell for thier next fire.
You asked what we think of this video........I think your wise beyond your years and you make way to much sense! hahaha The proof is in the pudding right? I couldn't agree more that there are amazing people that can do amazing things on the Tube, but as a beginer I just wanted some one to show me proven easy methods to start with. Success builds confidence, Thanks for the simple, easy and perfectly understandable demonstration.
That is so true!! Success does build confidence. Did you see my last video called "The truth about flint and steel"? You should check it out. Lots of good tips in that one.
Great advice and very well said! I tried every method you showed with a couple exceptions..we have horseshoe fungus (and I couldn't make that work either), and I also tried cattail fluff. No success. I have no birch trees thus no chaga. I love the idea and will probably try other things as well, yet I can light a fire with a homemade steel, a chunk of quartz and charred punkwood every time...anyway, great video and very well-spoken! Thanks!
Thanks a lot. I appreciate the input. I'm out experimenting with smudges today with moss in one and punk wood in the other. Enjoying a mosquito free afternoon and a coffee.
A great video. I always say that (only) two fires are important in survival/bushcraft/woodsmanship - the first fire and the next fire. The first fire needs to be made by a sure, fast, and easy method (i.e. modern), and the next fire is best made by charring natural materials because of the abundant availability (i.e. it's a perpetual way to have the next fire).
Sure... Especially if you think outside of the box. For example: I used to search for chaga which I could use without charring. I couldn't find any. Then I started looking for Horsehoof fungi and harvesting/making the amadou which could also work without being charred. That was too much work for what it gave me. Then one day I just cut up one Horsehoof fungus in pieces (leaving the "skin" on) and charred it like that. Much less work in preparation. The amadou part takes a spark very easily, and the pieces turn into nice embers, especially because I left the "skin" on.
lol good job mate...i picked up a late 17th century french canadian steel striker replica 2 weeks ago...you were right once you start to use them you end up almost preferring them :) lol....and since part of the woods near my home have become a tinder fungus farm i have been using it a heck of alot lol
Very informative for sure. I have never used Flint and steel before and I have a kit coming from flint & steel .com. I do like your use of the tin with punk wood char. It seams very simple to me for sure. Thanks
Grierwolfe, Thank you for making these videos. I just aquired about 6lbs of flint chert and have been practicing making fire with my steel and also knapping flint for my rifles and pistol. I wanted to ask you what the dimensions of your tin box that you char punkwood in are. I have found alot of punk on my property and want a bigger box to "cook" it in, rather than the Altoids tin I use to make my char cloth in. Thanks.
Justin, you're 100% right in your thinking. Any way to make it easier, faster and more reliable. Here's one I don't think you know of, uncharred gourd placenta. here's me doing it. New to me flint and steel no char tinder
We've got Fremont Cottonwoods around here [California Central Coast] and it is RAINING that fluff. I gathered some and it takes off like crazy with a ferro rod, but I can't get it to take from just flint and steel. Cracks me up watching Jeremiah Johnson and the Revenant, because both gather a pile of twigs, strike sparks, get fire. yeah, just Hollywood fantasy. I wonder about Cattail fluff if it'd go? Will have to try that. Great video, & thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Just re-watched THE REVENANT. So he spiked the dry grass with black powder, caught a spark with the fork and flint and makes fire. I suppose that's possible. Smokeless would be better [long burning, not a flash-poof!], but of course they didn't have smokeless in 1823.
sorry to dredge up such and old post, but I have just a few things to add. first I was pretty dismayed when I started out because I could not use this as a "survival tool" find a rock use my knife and start a fire.... having to carry special items was to me no better than needing a lighter, if you are going to carry something, why not carry something easy ( lighter matches ferro rod etc ) As I learned more it turned out that my situation is much easier than yours, here in Alaska we have an abundance of quartz, and it will strike sparks like crazy. so far so good, a carbon steel knife, the back of your axe , a car part, a file and a rock ... but wait, no char so dead in the water. the only saving grace is in my area we have a huge amount of horse hoof fungus as well and with careful processing with a knife I have ONCE gotten a spark to take. so it is a back pocket worst case I was not prepared or I have lost my kit... or was in a plane crash...there is hope kinda thing. the biggest problem is the rock itself it is usually a big globby thing, more suitable for the strike the steel against the rock and use char cloth on top. otherwise you have a real tendency to smash your tinder with the rock and scatter it all over. Second thing I wanted to add, I carry my steel in a leather pouch it is quieter and I find the steel and the rock tend to bash my tinder all apart. I don't like having my steel in with my char.... grinds up cloth and makes it worthless and breaks up my punk wood, leaving a lot of useless dust. Also although I usually carry a steel I also have a belt buckle , a blanket pin, some black powder turnscrews and a personal Thors hammer necklace that all work as steels as well ;-)
i will say its hard to find flint steels and i saw the ones i do find are in the 30$ plus range.i know this is a product that will last but its hard to justify a purchase to my wife when its in that area.same thing for fire pistons.lol,i actually saw a vulcan fire piston selling for 1200$.i know thats in the extream range but point is these simple tools that have been in use longer than we have been a nation are selling for rediculous prices.this makes it hard for people like me to get good tools for survival.this cost is why i have yet to get either.i need both.both use the same chared material and do the same job.both will last a very long time if cared for.this is the kind of gear im looking for.these are great videos.
Check out eBay. I picked up one for $12 range and it came with a small piece of flint. Check out member clyde0470 on eBay. Even Track of the Wolf sells them for around $8 + shipping.
You know how to get your point across in a real nice fashion and your one of my favorites....I carry charred punkwood in the tin. But i have a carbon steel knife with me all times out there and plenty of quartz on the ground here in the Sonoran Desert to make spark...so if that's all i have with me i would really like to find a first fire tinder here..... then i'll char' something from that point.Emergency type situation.
i use raw punk , or unprocessed as a coal extender after i have a coal already through use of bow drill {char dust}, flint and steel { char cloth or charred punk, or charred mullein leaf. } like that.im with you on using charred material of some sort to gain your coal in the first place. but i read mullein leaf if dried then fluffed up will work to catch a spark. so im going to go outside right now and try it. i happen to have that material on hand and near by. thanks for your video.
Hi Justin, I know this is an old video but it is still one of the best about flint and steel. You have made it clear that Flint and steel is your prefered fire stsrting method and I just came across some vids where bushcrafters used milkweed ovums as the spark catcher for F&S rather than some form of charred matterial. Have you ever tried that? Some of them made it look like it was hard and others easy. I was wondering what you had to say about it?
Since conditions vary, one needs to prepare for the worst fire making (and other) situation. IMHO, fires come in several steps: Make a spark or friction ember, nurture an ember, make a flame, make some coals, make the fire as big as needed. These early stages can be iffy so give yourself the advantage of having properly prepared.
Thanks for the demonstration. That cotton wood surprises me. I thought that would be reasonable to expect it to light from the flint and steel. I guess I will just stick to my bic.
I'LL TELL YA WHAT I THINK...i think i don't know enough to say what i think! but, maybe one day! i'm watching though and learning! it wasn't a rant, it was another real good video & thx! yesterday i got the pathfinder "C Flint & Steel Kit" in the mail..it comes with an end charred cotton lamp wick you know? well, this morn pretty easily i got the lamp wick lit with an ember! 1st time for me! then i went to the rocks i collected at the RR tracks from your suggestion and they lit the lamp wick too just like the rock did that came with the kit. as a matter of fact the rock that came in the kit looks exactly the same as the ones i got at the RR tracks. the problem must have been the striker because i was at 1st attempting to use a small high carbon steel file. i got little sparks off that file by comparison to the real striker in the kit. you know the file doesn't have smooth sides and i bet that was the problem? anyway, i still have to char the punk wood, but will do so soon and thanks again!!!!
+Martina Dejaquiz You bet. A small file can work great but the teeth just chew the rock up real bad and you loose the sharp edges. You can also just grind the teeth smooth and you will be good to go. Just don't grind the steel hot enough that you can't touch it. If you do it will mess with the temper. Another cool little striker you can use is a good oh allen wrench. Some of them are high carbon and already have smooth sides. Just sand the out coating off and bring on the sparks. Some don't come in high carbon though.
Well just watched this one after the previous flint and steel. Another great one. Just wondering,and I'm gonna try it out. If you take your punk wood and grind it between a flat stone and a hand sized grinding stone to near powder gather it and try the flint and steel. Also could be tried with the fungus and Chaga. I'm guessin the super fine bits may take a spark. May be way off here but worth a shot ?
+Bushcraftcambridge Better produce a lot of heat to dry out the smaller material. Because wet stuff will always be wet stuff, why do you think suppos'ed survival experts will do a bow drill for 8 hours before they get a fire? They are doing bow drill for that long to actually dry out the tip of what they are using, or in some situations I guess they could have the wrong wood to begin with.
I want to use char punk wood but having problems getting sparks reversing it to get sparks going down. Can you do a video on the technic? I can do it with char cloth but in a shtf situation cotton cloathes are not going to sacrificed to start a fire.
Good, finally somebody is straight up honest about flint and steel fire starting. So much BS goes around trying to glorify their skills about this technique and it just chaps my skin. Yes it is good to be prepared ahead of time with the charred material along with your fire kit but in reality if you attempt flint and steel as your primary kit over a ferro rod or bow drill then you will suffer the consequences.
Magnesium and/or Ferrocerium burn way hotter vs flint/quartz/chert.... I have found that extreme deteriorated leaves work very well, because of the low flash point. Dried leaves not so much! The deteriorated leaves look like dried cobwebs bunched up. On extreme deteriorated leaves you can see the veins of the leaves, and will practically turn to dust in your hand. The key is lots of this stuff, and real good spark... I'm like you, i want to use what is available to me naturally! Thanks for the honest assessment, as It's not like you can open your eyes and there's chaga right before you...
Use Chaga all the time sometimes getting it on the first strike.The trick is to get the right pieces when you gather it. The fungus right next to the tree that is a gold/orange color and is soft and spongy. This is the optimum material and when dry this will light first strike. I have never used charred material and have lit hundreds of fires using chaga.
Seen it time and again. People getting Flint and steel confused with ferro rods and strikers. Then you tell em your knife has to be both a striker and be able to she'd Sparks off a rock😀, If they are new to this and haven't any idea what the difference is they look at you like a dog at a bowl of salad. They don't know what to do. That's why these VIDS are so great
The first good video I've seen in awhile. Though frustrating to watch, it showed the truth. Especially when like you said, so many seeing ones video doing it wrong, then take it as right, especially when they show to char a couple dozen of things in nature, but then they use a ferro rod to light it. They could be killing dozens or hundreds of people in the future due to their linear thought (notice I didn't say rightful thought, because many believe what they are teaching is right, in their minds). I like you, whereas hundreds of others say they look to others as teachers (probably because they learned that from books), but then get offended when you try to teach them deeper things (which to me seems important), I like you and believe you when you say you would actually listen if someone had something deeper to say. And believe me I do, :-) Loved your video, you think deeper then most. :-) There is a major difference between someone saying they look at everyone as a teacher because in survival they learned that was an important Ideal which they had to memorize and repeat, then a true listener of the word that may have read it and took it as fact, don't matter if they had to repeat it, as long as they knew it from the center of their being. Whereas you get the former who think they have to regurgitate it from their being to seem important and knowledgeable, others automatically understand it and don't have to use it as a way to seem knowledgeable. They are the ones to listen to. :-) You my friend are one to listen to. :-) Have a nice day. :-)
+TrackerScout Thank you TrackerScout. I appreciate that sir and I certainly believe that. My mind is always open can always be changed or altered. Closed minded is something I am not. Thanks for watching bud and if you have any more to add I'll certainly listen.
+grierwolfe First, where are you located? I am in VT. You seem to be from a a good school, or are just knowledgeable, let me know where you are from, maybe I'll make it there.
+grierwolfe Oh, from KS. I might make it there someday. But any deeper thoughts just let me know, you are right on in your experimenting & Listening to the higher self, good for you! :-)
Thanks for the kind words. One thing I love to teach is how to make char material without a fire :-). Once it hits people or I tell them there like duh why didn't I think of that, lol. I'd write the answer but want to give you time to think, you know it already.
Sorry for the name change. and the answer is bow drill. There are times when you had the right wood, the right condition, but your dust still went out for whatever reason. All is not lost, sometimes you can just produce enough powder with a bow drill in an emergency situation and get it ignited with flint and steel. You created or purposely create char material without a fire.
Funny. I came home with some vining milkweed pods to try this very thing cause of a comment I saw of Lars aka Moscowprepper the other day. I can get them to work using my ferro rod all day long but I just spent this entire video trying with my broken file and flint. Nothing! Good video. John.
Moscowprepper yup. Just as Justin said. We need to test everything. Too many armchair woods guys out there. Kinda like some of my so called survival books. One author says something and ten others read his book and parot him in theirs without trying to see if it was factual.
each area have there rule and you need to learn them.. Chaga is possible for me but pine is more accessible... Bat point i have lot of tree like tulip poplar that dont exist. Thans tu continue.. im looking always for different region to see wath work for them
Milkweed ovum, the piece inside the pod to which the fluff is attached, is another uncharred natural item that will catch and hold a spark from flint and steel.
John Cavanagh I hear you.... I live in the desert too and the search is on. If i find it i will post here :) I found a fungus on the one and only one cottomwood trees for about 5 miles in any direction.... Looks like chaga but not sure. won't take an uncharred spark
From watching and more important listening (the sound of 'hard' scraping) to your processing of the Chaga, I'll suggest that you are not using the best part of the Chaga. There is a soft layer referred to as "Amadou" at the boundary of the Chaga. It is this Amadou that will catch and hold a spark easily. Amadou is also the layer from Horse Hoof Fungus that works the same way. It is, however, also possible to 'process' the hard tubules of the Horse Hoof to make a powder that will also catch a spark. Well dried Horse Hoof tubules (unpowdered) will burn completely once started. Hope this helps.
Amadou is from fomes fomentarius. Chaga is Inonotus obliquus. But there are softer pary of chaga, not unlike cork or balsawood, amadou is like mix between chamois lether and micro felt when done right
Have you tried powdered fatwood? I've made this work, but I wouldn't want to depend on it because sometimes it simply doesn't work when you need it most. But it can work. I'm not a big fan of flint and steel as a primary fire source. The only plus to flint and steel is that it's easy to carry, and easy to use inside homes or businesses, which is fly they used it so readily back before easier ways were found. I prefer friction fire for last ditch fire because it's the only type of fire I can go into the woods and start with no equipment, no char, no piece of steel, and not even a knife, if I have the time. Likewise, it's the only type of fire that means everyone in a group can go their own way without needing flint, or steel, or char. As long as they have a knife, it's easy. That said, you can start a fire with flint and steel without char, and you should know how just in case something happens to your char material. Friction fire is easy in one of a dozen ways, and needs nothing except the knowledge. No steel, no flint, and no char. Not even a knife for several types. But try powdered fatwood, a size size pile, and you may get a fire.
I am new need to learn about stones name of stone to use... please help me, seen your video you had some rocks but do not understand need name of rocks so I can get... thank you...
+robert boose Yeah, like he said. Many believe you need flint, but quartz work also. So do many other rocks. I have found even rounded rocks work as long as they can be broken and produce a sharp enough edge (and are hard enough). Again though, I have flint which I was so excited about getting, that I thought would produce awesome sparks, only to it was a soft flint, didn't produce sparks, and was the first I ever learned about a soft type of flint, it is flint, but never knew it could be soft. But many hard rocks you find will spark, like he said, quartz is the best, but so many others will also work either from driveway, or river/stream beds. If rounded, see if they break at a sharp angle, the only way you learn is by experimenting. I order flint, but I favor quartz 2nd best if I can find it, if not I strike rocks till I find some that will spark.
TrackerScout I found place where to buy big flint, got like 10 pound and must are big as my hand and thick so I am set now...but good to know about other rock...
+robert boose Nice, I did the same thing. We don't have flint here so I was happy when I ordered like 35 pounds. Made my first arrowheads and big shards for cutting, and plenty of sharp edge pieces for my steel and char material.
No sir. It won't hold an edge and breaks right off. The good news is most places with limestone also have chert. Look on the sides of the road where the hills or mountain side have been dug out. You will see veins of chert.
sorry lol. you know, the powder you get from the birch bark? you scrape on the bark with a knife, and it makes a highly combustible powder. great for catching sparks. have you tried that?
Great video with good demonstrations. My problem with flint and steel is finding good rocks in my area that will produce good sparks. I am heading out today and I going to make a real effort to find something that will work.
Jason
It can be a challenge man. We don't have anything in our area. I have to collect else where.
As a guy who is new to flint and steel I am trying to embrace all that you and everyone else has said about the subject. You are very adamant about flint and steel as your number one go to for fun fire craft. Thanks for all of the great videos, your channel is quickly becoming one of my favorites!
Thank you sir. I really appreciate that.
"Practice with the resources you have". Amen. I love this mindset. And you're not off base in anyway in my opinion in this. Great video JW.
Thanks bud. I was hoping I didn't have a broken mind. :)
Practice Primitive, prepare modern-Good Job brother
Thanks Dave. I appreciate it bud.
*****
YOUR LEATHER IS MADE WITH QUALITY LIKE DAYS OF OLD JUST WOW
Thank you Deb!
After watching your videos on flint and steel fire-making, I went out, harvested punk wood, charred it while camping, put it in a tin, and then practiced making embers with flint and steel. Today, after a week of doing that reliably, I prepped some jute twine, and produced flame. Very satisfying. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us.
Graig, did you char your jute?
+Craig Swogger that' sur great because I tried and tried with flint&steel and by fluffing my jute with no success even with good sparks so I was wondering char jute will work better. Thanks for your answer.
I want to clarify, that I didn't spark the jute twine with flint and steel, I sparked the charred punk wood with flint and steel, and then put the jute twine on top the punk wood to create the flame. Sorry for the confusion.
+Craig Swogger no problem Craig I will char some jute and try it flint&steel and let you know but I think it should take an amber quite easy.
Great idea, I should try it too.
Hey Justin. Very good video. I really love the honest, open approach. I think you cover the subject as fair and transparent as anyone could do it.
Thanks Justin, I'm gold someone is willing to put the resources to the test. I also like the fact that you made the point about the natural resources available to you. Everyones environment is different and yes, we all need to learn what is available to us in our own stomping grounds and learn what will work. Our biggest tool is knowledge and putting it to work for us by working smarter and not harder. I too love learning new things. Dave is right, practice primitive and prepare modern. Also I'd like to have your permission to show my veterans class this video and a few other of yours as a teaching aid before I do the demonstrations for them. I will be selecting videos from various channels as well but I hope to help your channel grow by putting a spotlight on it sort-of-speak. Camp Warrior Thanks you for an honest point of view.
Of course man. That would be completely fine. Use all the video you would like. I would appreciate it.
You are one of the few people I follow on youtube that really takes your time to explain something and then show how it's done + giving tips and tricks along the way. You have learned me more in a few weeks then my entire time on youtube. Thank you Justin and may the gods bless you.
Fredrik Nilsson Thank you sir. I really appreciate the.
In my opinion , no one could say it better , then you just did . I thank you and have a great day .
My 2 cents:
I still learning to use actual flint and steel, but with artificial "flint" that has hotter sparks I've gotten a flame directly from flash tinder. I've never tried cottonwood fluff but I've done it with the silk from milkweed, nettle and cattail. The first two are seasonal but it's easy to gather enough to last for months. Cattail is widespread and available most of the year, although its fibers are short enough that you have to be careful not to pack it so densely that it snuffs itself out. I use cattail by mixing a little with coarser tinder such as dry grass or inner bark fiber.
In any case, the Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" is never more applicable than in fire starting. True the more primitive fire starting methods you master the more options you have, but you can bet Daniel Boone himself never went out without the best prepared tinder kit he could make. As the saying goes, when you need a fire the most is when its hardest to start one. Finally, PRACTICE! If you've never actually done something, you don't know how.
a flint and steel spark is at a much lower temperature than ferrocerium metal rod
From a Realistic Prospective A Ferrocerium Rod is the better of the two choice
But if you had to build a fire by striking rocks together, you would need one rock that has the hardness of quartz, and one rock with a high concentration of Iron Pyrite
Well done. I have never seen it done without charred material before. Ferro rods are a game changer of course, I think a lot of people just confuse the two methods, flint and steel and Ferro rod that is.
It's easy to confuse the two at times for sure. Some people call a ferro rod a fire steel and to me that sounds like flint and steel. So it can for sure happen.
Hi Justin😊, this is great information and has helped tremendously in my fire making, having started off whith a ferro rod I found flint and steel,a whole new ball game, but watching this has opened up new possibilities for me, many thanks for the video, stay safe mate, best wishe's to you and your's, Stuart.uk.
If that one strike start of the charred punk wood doesn't sell it, I don't know what will.
This is a great video, honest, open, and helpful as always.
Great job Justin.
Thank you for "voicing your opinion."
Thank you sir. I appreciate it.
Well done!
I like how you back up what you are saying with real time examples. Your point about telling people what they can do without demonstrating it is right in the mark. That's why I like Feral Woodcraft's current series on 52 ferro fires: he is showing us different materials to use to make a fire with ferro rod. Some attempts work and some fail, but we learn as we see real life examples. Keep up the good work.
Exactly. Joe is doing great with that series. He is really teaching people a lot with that one.
Chaga is amazing and I'm lucky to have it. Its the only thing I've been able to do elnatural...Of course after its dried for about two weeks. lol Good vid Justin, I can sense the frustration you are having with some of the "groups", I'm right there with you man. I (like you said) question EVERYTHING, even if its from a reputable source. And besides if you do it....that means you have the skill and resources to do it, it doesn't mean I can do it. So I need to go out MYSELF and do it. Then I say its possible for me to do. Good vid man.
Exactly....... See, since I don't have chaga I didn't realize it needed to dry that long so there is another reason to carry a char of some sorts. It's not really groups that are frustrating me it's people giving advise that really don't know what they are saying and I just can't understand why anyone would give advise like that. People are trying to learn this stuff. They need the best info we can give. And you damn right. Question everything and everyone! That is how we really learn.
I think folks want to see themselves as "that guy" or they want folks to turn to them for advise. Maybe its as simple as they want to feel important. I don't know man, I've never (and I hope I never do) had a problem saying "I don't know". JMO
Experience conquers theory and Experiential Knowledge is the key to instruction .
Your video is excellent and your philosophy is sound and lucid .
Thank you once again and keep up the good work .
I don't think this was a rant. I like the idea that many opinions are a starting point, but success depends on practice. I have never succeeded in making a fire with flint and steel, so, I am impressed by your skill. I think I'll give in another go, but as a hobby rather than for real. Great videos. Keep it up.
+Stephen Wright Thank you Stephen. I really appreciate you watching sir.
Hi Justin, Always love watching your videos. If there is anything new i can learn or even little unknown tricks i love it. As with this video of yours, i have tried myself using the flint and steel on natural materials (Not charred) I am fortunate enough to live where there are tons of Birch,Cedar and Cottonwood. Along with willow,pine and Maple. I also have an abundance of Mullen in my area. I have on found three ways to get a natural material to light using a flint and steel. The bad part for many is that all three come from the birch tree. I dry and grind some of my Chaga into a fine powder that i carry in an old pill bottle. A little pile of this will take a spark easy and then grow into an ember to put in a tinder bundle. The 2nd is the horse hoof fungus. Amadou. But it needs processed. The last is birch bark. Scraping the outer layer of the bark into a powder will take a spark. I've tried cattail fluff,Kapok,Dandelion fluff,cottonwood fluff and others but nothing works with flint and steel. This said, my go to fire making method is one that takes so training and patience. However this method is available in all areas of the world. That would be the hand drill friction fire method. Or the bow drill if you have the materials to make natural cordage. When in the bush all that is really needed is a good knife to make fire. Great job on your videos though. Very well done and educational.
Thank you. I appreciate you sharing those tips with me. Out of the three methods you have shared, I have been successful with chaga. I found the other two methods require way to much time to get to work and if there is any humidity in the air it just doesn't seem to want to work at all. I guess at times the area always dictates results. Thank you again. I have a new striker that throws sparks a lot hotter. Video coming soon.
Justin, Thanks. Not a Rant at all....A Great Teaching lesson. As you know I am just now venturing into Flint and steel, this answers a lot of questions.
Glad you liked it bud.
Jason... Excellent points! :-) Flint and steel can be a tough one without materials that easily ignite. You had the best of conditions being that you were inside for this test. Throw in things like wind, wet weather, darkness, and green materials, It can be very difficult.
Another variable that I have to deal with is the rocks being used to make the spark. Any chert or flint, they throw a storm of sparks, but I've had to buy it. As for rocks in the area either transplanted or natural, they just don't spark the way flint does. If they do it's for one or 2 strikes and the edge is done. I am continually looking for the better rock.
Flint and steel is one of my favorite methods for fire starting. Thanks for the real world video.
Shad
You are absolutely correct bud. So with all the variables working against us it just makes sense to carry something that can help us.
Agreed.. Charred material of sorts, is so easy to make and carry.
I agree 100% with all you say. Here in the UK we have a fungus called crampball or king Alfreds cakes. I've achieved an ember with it after powdering it, but it's hard. Plus availability is all, no point in it unless it's common and easy to find . Good stuff, nice to hear someone who talks sense.
Great job dude, now for horse show and chaga mushrooms. I have collected many over the years. All of it is wet when harvested and never dry. You would need to dry them out to use them. So they will be no use for you for a couple days drying. That is my experience. So you need to carry dry amadou or chaga, so you might as well carry charred material. that is my opinion, so great video and hope that lets you know about picking it from a tree and starting a fire, i never could with what i get from birch trees.
So see there. That just validates my point even more. This is something I really don't know because I don't have it. Great stuff. Thanks man.
I thought the video was very educational. I have flint and steel but haven't tried building a fire yet. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Chris. Glad you liked it bud.
Great video and especially the part of questioning everybody and everything. You are so right about "finding your own path". Don't hear that said often. M. Balamuth is very correct. I use the saw on my Swiss Army Knife to get a quarter-sized pile of chaga and it will ignite. Burns for awhile too. Love the vids and keep em coming. You definitely pass on good tips. I already incorporate a few for my style.
I have watched ur vidz n learned how to char cloth n since leaving at NYC I'll probably won't find any of the mentioned materials here so must go with char cloth... Great vid! 👍😉👌
hey justin, just wanted to say thanks because i learned how to char punk wood and it's use for initial fire from you...i used fero rod mostly before, but now i actually prefer flint&steel. thanks again man, and best regards to you and your family.
Interesting video, especially because i remember we had a short conversation about this like a year ago:) You know i use Chaga a lot. I actually never do anything with it other than cut out a small piece but it have to be the right piece. The closer to the outer layer the harder it is to ignite. I also hold the Chaga on the stone btw. Contrary to what some say i don't believe one can use fresh Chaga. Tried it even with a ferro rod. Does not work.
I will say the bottom line IMHO is that it's not possible to light any materials straight from nature without doing something to it:) Good video bro.
Thank you Lars. All I know is I wish I had chaga in my area so I could play with it more. Seems like an amazing resource. I haven't tried it by holding in my hand yet. I'll have to give it a shot.
I also use thin cuts of chaga on top of the rock. I found that the very yellow part of the fungus works best when dried slowly so that it stays somewhat spongy(when you cut it it with your knife it has that squeky sound.
*****
You made a good video with some good points! I think Chaga is the closet anyone will come to catch a spark with "unprocessed" materials.
Teuvo Jormanainen
Precisely Teuvo:)
Your advice is very good. Your attitude is outstanding.
Thank you for both videos I have always wanted to learn how to use flint and steel for fire starting.Ground file for striker.went out in gravel drive found piece of cheer and stuck sparks.My wife was not as impressed.Ha Ha can you imagine her lack of enthusiasm?Well thank you for the information sir.Am going to learn about punk wood now.Jeff
Jeff Long Thank you Jeff. I'm glad you liked it.
agreed knowing your area and resources is key not every one has the same stuff lying around and practicing with everything you can find is the only way to know for sure thanks for sharing
I think knowing your are and resources is the most important thing.
This is so true! I bought my first ferrocerium rod 2 weeks ago and the first thing I tried to light was a pile of wood shavings. After literally 2000 strikes I finally got an ember. I thought my rod was defective. If it was that hard with a ferrocerium rod, I can imagine it's even harder with flint & steel. Obviously I now know I was just not using the right tinder, and now I can get char cloth lit in one strike, or shaved fatwood in about 30 strikes.
Your right on point man. And I even think I was one of those folks that said with the right knowledge. Which thinking back now I know I should have worded different. I've seen it done with some fungi, but I knew it wasn't easy. Great video... and now I want to try it with birch bark dust and see if that catches a spark. I've tried with rubbing alcohol (which I've seen someone do) and found it not a viable option. Though I'm still learning with flint and steel and am looking to get a better set soon.
Thanks man. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
An excellent video as always. I've purhcased my first tomahawk and made it a CS Pipe Hawk based on your recommendations. I'm in love with it. It's the most versitile piece of gear that I own. It was a little rough out of the box, but I gave some love to the handle, eye, and blade. I've sanded the handle to get a better friction lock on the head, but it's not as tight as yours seems to be. Could you do a follow-up on your hawk and show what you did to achieve that tight fit? Thanks.
Yeah I can do that. It won't be until I get another hawk though.
Justin Great Video Brother. I have to commend you on the fact that you think your videos through. You are not ranting on. You are very thoughtful and respectful in your presentation. A professional and a gentlemen. If we are going to endeavor in the practice of primitive skills it also a good idea to have the mind set of those who applied these skills manny moons ago. They were always mindful of the next fire. So they as you suggested charred natural resources for the next fire. Great video Justin. 👍
Great video, and not just the F&S knowledge, but the knowledge offered in the summary as well.
Thank you sir.
I have had some success with uncharred sugar maple punk, good success with bone dry dead mullein leaves, great success with very thinly sliced mullein pith and milkweed ovum. Not much uncharred stuff will work but these four have worked for me. The last three were easy, the sugar maple punk was not. Like you say, charred material is the way to go. Especially if your life is on the line. I'm 63 years old and have learned a thing or three and so far it seems that we have learned pretty much the same things regarding flint and steel. Another great vid as usual. Keep it up, Bro. Please.
scarz1951 I appreciate the info. I'll make sure to try those items as well. Thank you.
great vid again justin,,not a rant at all my friend...mabe this will help some one.. at the meet up we took horse hoof fugues that was right of a tree , nowing it was to fresh to use ..with bow drill we was able make some what of charred dust from it that we was able knock a spark into that grew a ember....
great vid justin..
..bill
Now dang it Bill. I hear this stuff and get frustrated that Kansas doesn't have anything good. lol.... I'm moving.
Great vid. I use a small box like yours but I put the hole in the side through the lid and the side of the box. Once it's charred I'll put the lid on so the hole is closed to keep moisture out. I totally agree, I love charred wash clothes, and charred punk wood the best. :) Keep on keepin on. To each his own. :)
Thanks man. I'm glad you like them. I appreciate all the comments.
You should always be thinking ahead about your next fire. Pick up small pieces of charred material from the edge of your campfire and put it in your tin.
See an old charred stump? Scrape off some charred material and fiill your tin.
The native hunting parties around here carried burning punky wood in a
Konk sea shell for thier next fire.
You asked what we think of this video........I think your wise beyond your years and you make way to much sense! hahaha The proof is in the pudding right? I couldn't agree more that there are amazing people that can do amazing things on the Tube, but as a beginer I just wanted some one to show me proven easy methods to start with. Success builds confidence, Thanks for the simple, easy and perfectly understandable demonstration.
That is so true!! Success does build confidence. Did you see my last video called "The truth about flint and steel"? You should check it out. Lots of good tips in that one.
I will for sure, thanks
The truth about flint and steel + unspoken tips
Great advice and very well said! I tried every method you showed with a couple exceptions..we have horseshoe fungus (and I couldn't make that work either), and I also tried cattail fluff. No success. I have no birch trees thus no chaga. I love the idea and will probably try other things as well, yet I can light a fire with a homemade steel, a chunk of quartz and charred punkwood every time...anyway, great video and very well-spoken! Thanks!
Thanks a lot. I appreciate the input. I'm out experimenting with smudges today with moss in one and punk wood in the other. Enjoying a mosquito free afternoon and a coffee.
Bushcraftcambridge Your very welcome man. Have a great one.
A great video. I always say that (only) two fires are important in survival/bushcraft/woodsmanship - the first fire and the next fire. The first fire needs to be made by a sure, fast, and easy method (i.e. modern), and the next fire is best made by charring natural materials because of the abundant availability (i.e. it's a perpetual way to have the next fire).
Exactly, and the best part is materials are available to char in every single wilderness environment.
Sure... Especially if you think outside of the box. For example: I used to search for chaga which I could use without charring. I couldn't find any. Then I started looking for Horsehoof fungi and harvesting/making the amadou which could also work without being charred. That was too much work for what it gave me. Then one day I just cut up one Horsehoof fungus in pieces (leaving the "skin" on) and charred it like that. Much less work in preparation. The amadou part takes a spark very easily, and the pieces turn into nice embers, especially because I left the "skin" on.
lol good job mate...i picked up a late 17th century french canadian steel striker replica 2 weeks ago...you were right once you start to use them you end up almost preferring them :) lol....and since part of the woods near my home have become a tinder fungus farm i have been using it a heck of alot lol
still keep a lighter and a ferro rod as back up however..just in case :)
That's awesome man. Glad to hear your enjoying it.
I've had really good luck with punk wood from a pine tree that was charred...good stuff
Very informative for sure. I have never used Flint and steel before and I have a kit coming from flint & steel .com. I do like your use of the tin with punk wood char. It seams very simple to me for sure. Thanks
Grierwolfe, Thank you for making these videos. I just aquired about 6lbs of flint chert and have been practicing making fire with my steel and also knapping flint for my rifles and pistol. I wanted to ask you what the dimensions of your tin box that you char punkwood in are. I have found alot of punk on my property and want a bigger box to "cook" it in, rather than the Altoids tin I use to make my char cloth in. Thanks.
Justin, you're 100% right in your thinking. Any way to make it easier, faster and more reliable.
Here's one I don't think you know of, uncharred gourd placenta. here's me doing it. New to me flint and steel no char tinder
Thank you. I'll check it out.
We've got Fremont Cottonwoods around here [California Central Coast] and it is RAINING that fluff. I gathered some and it takes off like crazy with a ferro rod, but I can't get it to take from just flint and steel. Cracks me up watching Jeremiah Johnson and the Revenant, because both gather a pile of twigs, strike sparks, get fire. yeah, just Hollywood fantasy. I wonder about Cattail fluff if it'd go? Will have to try that. Great video, & thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Just re-watched THE REVENANT. So he spiked the dry grass with black powder, caught a spark with the fork and flint and makes fire. I suppose that's possible. Smokeless would be better [long burning, not a flash-poof!], but of course they didn't have smokeless in 1823.
sorry to dredge up such and old post, but I have just a few things to add.
first I was pretty dismayed when I started out because I could not use this as a "survival tool" find a rock use my knife and start a fire.... having to carry special items was to me no better than needing a lighter, if you are going to carry something, why not carry something easy ( lighter matches ferro rod etc )
As I learned more it turned out that my situation is much easier than yours, here in Alaska we have an abundance of quartz, and it will strike sparks like crazy. so far so good, a carbon steel knife, the back of your axe , a car part, a file and a rock ... but wait, no char so dead in the water. the only saving grace is in my area we have a huge amount of horse hoof fungus as well and with careful processing with a knife I have ONCE gotten a spark to take. so it is a back pocket worst case I was not prepared or I have lost my kit... or was in a plane crash...there is hope kinda thing. the biggest problem is the rock itself it is usually a big globby thing, more suitable for the strike the steel against the rock and use char cloth on top. otherwise you have a real tendency to smash your tinder with the rock and scatter it all over.
Second thing I wanted to add, I carry my steel in a leather pouch it is quieter and I find the steel and the rock tend to bash my tinder all apart. I don't like having my steel in with my char.... grinds up cloth and makes it worthless and breaks up my punk wood, leaving a lot of useless dust.
Also although I usually carry a steel I also have a belt buckle , a blanket pin, some black powder turnscrews and a personal Thors hammer necklace that all work as steels as well ;-)
i will say its hard to find flint steels and i saw the ones i do find are in the 30$ plus range.i know this is a product that will last but its hard to justify a purchase to my wife when its in that area.same thing for fire pistons.lol,i actually saw a vulcan fire piston selling for 1200$.i know thats in the extream range but point is these simple tools that have been in use longer than we have been a nation are selling for rediculous prices.this makes it hard for people like me to get good tools for survival.this cost is why i have yet to get either.i need both.both use the same chared material and do the same job.both will last a very long time if cared for.this is the kind of gear im looking for.these are great videos.
Check out eBay. I picked up one for $12 range and it came with a small piece of flint. Check out member clyde0470 on eBay. Even Track of the Wolf sells them for around $8 + shipping.
Good demo. Carry whatever it takes to get that fire started. Now I'll put that in my tender bundle and smoke it. Thanks again.
You know how to get your point across in a real nice fashion and your one of my favorites....I carry charred punkwood in the tin. But i have a carbon steel knife with me all times out there and plenty of quartz on the ground here in the Sonoran Desert to make spark...so if that's all i have with me i would really like to find a first fire tinder here..... then i'll char' something from that point.Emergency type situation.
i use raw punk , or unprocessed as a coal extender after i have a coal already through use of bow drill {char dust}, flint and steel { char cloth or charred punk, or charred mullein leaf. } like that.im with you on using charred material of some sort to gain your coal in the first place. but i read mullein leaf if dried then fluffed up will work to catch a spark. so im going to go outside right now and try it. i happen to have that material on hand and near by. thanks for your video.
Hi...I just saw a video using dried stingy neddle..or you can grind it...hope you try this...
bought flint and steel from TCD forge following your recommendations. thanks
Hi Justin, I know this is an old video but it is still one of the best about flint and steel. You have made it clear that Flint and steel is your prefered fire stsrting method and I just came across some vids where bushcrafters used milkweed ovums as the spark catcher for F&S rather than some form of charred matterial. Have you ever tried that? Some of them made it look like it was hard and others easy. I was wondering what you had to say about it?
Since conditions vary, one needs to prepare for the worst fire making (and other) situation. IMHO, fires come in several steps: Make a spark or friction ember, nurture an ember, make a flame, make some coals, make the fire as big as needed. These early stages can be iffy so give yourself the advantage of having properly prepared.
That is a serious steel strike. That thing shoots crazy sparks
Thank you sir. That was one of the first ones I made.
Thanks for the demonstration. That cotton wood surprises me. I thought that would be reasonable to expect it to light from the flint and steel. I guess I will just stick to my bic.
Yeah, it really gives the impression that it should work, but it just never does. Thanks for watching bud.
I all ways enjoy your Videos and do thank you for your thoughts and the fact that you take action when you teach us things so no offense here THANKS
Glad you liked it bud.
I'LL TELL YA WHAT I THINK...i think i don't know enough to say what i think! but, maybe one day! i'm watching though and learning! it wasn't a rant, it was another real good video & thx! yesterday i got the pathfinder "C Flint & Steel Kit" in the mail..it comes with an end charred cotton lamp wick you know? well, this morn pretty easily i got the lamp wick lit with an ember! 1st time for me! then i went to the rocks i collected at the RR tracks from your suggestion and they lit the lamp wick too just like the rock did that came with the kit. as a matter of fact the rock that came in the kit looks exactly the same as the ones i got at the RR tracks. the problem must have been the striker because i was at 1st attempting to use a small high carbon steel file. i got little sparks off that file by comparison to the real striker in the kit. you know the file doesn't have smooth sides and i bet that was the problem? anyway, i still have to char the punk wood, but will do so soon and thanks again!!!!
+Martina Dejaquiz You bet. A small file can work great but the teeth just chew the rock up real bad and you loose the sharp edges. You can also just grind the teeth smooth and you will be good to go. Just don't grind the steel hot enough that you can't touch it. If you do it will mess with the temper. Another cool little striker you can use is a good oh allen wrench. Some of them are high carbon and already have smooth sides. Just sand the out coating off and bring on the sparks. Some don't come in high carbon though.
So...what is it about the charred materal that allows it to catch the spark and burn or hold the ember.
Thank you for your videos!
Well just watched this one after the previous flint and steel. Another great one. Just wondering,and I'm gonna try it out. If you take your punk wood and grind it between a flat stone and a hand sized grinding stone to near powder gather it and try the flint and steel. Also could be tried with the fungus and Chaga. I'm guessin the super fine bits may take a spark. May be way off here but worth a shot ?
Bushcraftcambridge Oh that works pretty good but if you live in an area wit high humidity it will reek havoc on it.
+Bushcraftcambridge Better produce a lot of heat to dry out the smaller material. Because wet stuff will always be wet stuff, why do you think suppos'ed survival experts will do a bow drill for 8 hours before they get a fire? They are doing bow drill for that long to actually dry out the tip of what they are using, or in some situations I guess they could have the wrong wood to begin with.
I want to use char punk wood but having problems getting sparks reversing it to get sparks going down. Can you do a video on the technic? I can do it with char cloth but in a shtf situation cotton cloathes are not going to sacrificed to start a fire.
Good stuff Justin flint and and steel is next on my list to learn
You will really enjoy it bud.
great info as always and I seen those post but chose to stay out cause to much confusion was being given.
thanks for the link to my page
No problem man.
Good, finally somebody is straight up honest about flint and steel fire starting. So much BS goes around trying to glorify their skills about this technique and it just chaps my skin. Yes it is good to be prepared ahead of time with the charred material along with your fire kit but in reality if you attempt flint and steel as your primary kit over a ferro rod or bow drill then you will suffer the consequences.
Magnesium and/or Ferrocerium burn way hotter vs flint/quartz/chert.... I have found that extreme deteriorated leaves work very well, because of the low flash point. Dried leaves not so much! The deteriorated leaves look like dried cobwebs bunched up. On extreme deteriorated leaves you can see the veins of the leaves, and will practically turn to dust in your hand. The key is lots of this stuff, and real good spark... I'm like you, i want to use what is available to me naturally! Thanks for the honest assessment, as It's not like you can open your eyes and there's chaga right before you...
Point proven brother. Charred punk wood rules. Sustainable resource.😊👍👏👏👏💥💥💥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🥳🥳🥳🥳
Another great and honest video, Justin. Really like it! Cheers Marc
Thank you Marc. Really appreciate man..
I have question for you ? What about Titanium steel strike can they work with out chard material ?
Where do you buy your metal containers? And Whats the dimensions of them?
Use Chaga all the time sometimes getting it on the first strike.The trick is to get the right pieces when you gather it. The fungus right next to the tree that is a gold/orange color and is soft and spongy. This is the optimum material and when dry this will light first strike. I have never used charred material and have lit hundreds of fires using chaga.
louie thomas I would love to be able to use it a lot but I don't have native birch so I'm very limited to the amount of chaga I have on hand.
That fire steel throws some sparks. What kind is it?
Seen it time and again. People getting Flint and steel confused with ferro rods and strikers. Then you tell em your knife has to be both a striker and be able to she'd Sparks off a rock😀, If they are new to this and haven't any idea what the difference is they look at you like a dog at a bowl of salad. They don't know what to do. That's why these VIDS are so great
The first good video I've seen in awhile. Though frustrating to watch, it showed the truth. Especially when like you said, so many seeing ones video doing it wrong, then take it as right, especially when they show to char a couple dozen of things in nature, but then they use a ferro rod to light it. They could be killing dozens or hundreds of people in the future due to their linear thought (notice I didn't say rightful thought, because many believe what they are teaching is right, in their minds). I like you, whereas hundreds of others say they look to others as teachers (probably because they learned that from books), but then get offended when you try to teach them deeper things (which to me seems important), I like you and believe you when you say you would actually listen if someone had something deeper to say. And believe me I do, :-) Loved your video, you think deeper then most. :-)
There is a major difference between someone saying they look at everyone as a teacher because in survival they learned that was an important Ideal which they had to memorize and repeat, then a true listener of the word that may have read it and took it as fact, don't matter if they had to repeat it, as long as they knew it from the center of their being. Whereas you get the former who think they have to regurgitate it from their being to seem important and knowledgeable, others automatically understand it and don't have to use it as a way to seem knowledgeable. They are the ones to listen to. :-) You my friend are one to listen to. :-) Have a nice day. :-)
+TrackerScout Thank you TrackerScout. I appreciate that sir and I certainly believe that. My mind is always open can always be changed or altered. Closed minded is something I am not. Thanks for watching bud and if you have any more to add I'll certainly listen.
+grierwolfe First, where are you located? I am in VT. You seem to be from a a good school, or are just knowledgeable, let me know where you are from, maybe I'll make it there.
+grierwolfe Oh, from KS. I might make it there someday. But any deeper thoughts just let me know, you are right on in your experimenting & Listening to the higher self, good for you! :-)
Thanks for the kind words. One thing I love to teach is how to make char material without a fire :-). Once it hits people or I tell them there like duh why didn't I think of that, lol. I'd write the answer but want to give you time to think, you know it already.
Sorry for the name change. and the answer is bow drill. There are times when you had the right wood, the right condition, but your dust still went out for whatever reason. All is not lost, sometimes you can just produce enough powder with a bow drill in an emergency situation and get it ignited with flint and steel. You created or purposely create char material without a fire.
Great video. It's all about being positive and sharing with others. Thank you for doing that.
No problem bud.
Very good. Informative and educational ! Thank you very much
your right... godda know your area and what you have to work with.. be prepared with knowledge and use the skills.
I like this guys Hustle...subscribing
Funny. I came home with some vining milkweed pods to try this very thing cause of a comment I saw of Lars aka Moscowprepper the other day. I can get them to work using my ferro rod all day long but I just spent this entire video trying with my broken file and flint. Nothing!
Good video. John.
It's because the steel sparks are only about 600-700 C range and the ferrorod sparks in the 2000 C range.
Cheers mate:)
Moscowprepper right you are. I just had to see if the Dane knew what he was talking about. ;)
It was fun.
*****
Thanks bro. I really appreciate it. You do too!
OKBushcraft
Always good to check things out yourself:)
Moscowprepper yup. Just as Justin said. We need to test everything. Too many armchair woods guys out there. Kinda like some of my so called survival books. One author says something and ten others read his book and parot him in theirs without trying to see if it was factual.
what is chaga? I looked it up...it says it's some type of mushroom...is that what you have?
each area have there rule and you need to learn them.. Chaga is possible for me but pine is more accessible... Bat point i have lot of tree like tulip poplar that dont exist.
Thans tu continue.. im looking always for different region to see wath work for them
Wonder if he's had any luck with paper think mullein pith shavings or with powdering the punk wood to dust.
Well done. Many good points along with the demos. Thank you.
Thank you Lee.
Milkweed ovum, the piece inside the pod to which the fluff is attached, is another uncharred natural item that will catch and hold a spark from flint and steel.
I use chaga interchangeably with char cloth without issue. When a spark catches you can blow VERY aggressively to grow the ember.
John Cavanagh I really wish we had birch trees so I get my hands on chaga. I have a limited supply.
Unfortunately I buy mine. I live in the desert and it is quite difficult finding natural fire material.
John Cavanagh I hear you.... I live in the desert too and the search is on. If i find it i will post here :) I found a fungus on the one and only one cottomwood trees for about 5 miles in any direction.... Looks like chaga but not sure. won't take an uncharred spark
From watching and more important listening (the sound of 'hard' scraping) to your processing of the Chaga, I'll suggest that you are not using the best part of the Chaga. There is a soft layer referred to as "Amadou" at the boundary of the Chaga. It is this Amadou that will catch and hold a spark easily. Amadou is also the layer from Horse Hoof Fungus that works the same way. It is, however, also possible to 'process' the hard tubules of the Horse Hoof to make a powder that will also catch a spark. Well dried Horse Hoof tubules (unpowdered) will burn completely once started. Hope this helps.
That helps a lot! Thanks man. That is info I had not herd before. I'll give it a try.
Amadou is from fomes fomentarius.
Chaga is Inonotus obliquus. But there are softer pary of chaga, not unlike cork or balsawood, amadou is like mix between chamois lether and micro felt when done right
Have you tried powdered fatwood? I've made this work, but I wouldn't want to depend on it because sometimes it simply doesn't work when you need it most. But it can work. I'm not a big fan of flint and steel as a primary fire source. The only plus to flint and steel is that it's easy to carry, and easy to use inside homes or businesses, which is fly they used it so readily back before easier ways were found. I prefer friction fire for last ditch fire because it's the only type of fire I can go into the woods and start with no equipment, no char, no piece of steel, and not even a knife, if I have the time. Likewise, it's the only type of fire that means everyone in a group can go their own way without needing flint, or steel, or char. As long as they have a knife, it's easy. That said, you can start a fire with flint and steel without char, and you should know how just in case something happens to your char material. Friction fire is easy in one of a dozen ways, and needs nothing except the knowledge. No steel, no flint, and no char. Not even a knife for several types. But try powdered fatwood, a size size pile, and you may get a fire.
Good demonstration. Personally, I don't get why some folks just don't like charred material, be it cloth or punk.
can you knap an edge back into your Flint?
I am new need to learn about stones name of stone to use... please help me, seen your video you had some rocks but do not understand need name of rocks so I can get... thank you...
robert boose Chert, flint, and quartz are the best to use.
+robert boose Yeah, like he said. Many believe you need flint, but quartz work also. So do many other rocks. I have found even rounded rocks work as long as they can be broken and produce a sharp enough edge (and are hard enough). Again though, I have flint which I was so excited about getting, that I thought would produce awesome sparks, only to it was a soft flint, didn't produce sparks, and was the first I ever learned about a soft type of flint, it is flint, but never knew it could be soft. But many hard rocks you find will spark, like he said, quartz is the best, but so many others will also work either from driveway, or river/stream beds. If rounded, see if they break at a sharp angle, the only way you learn is by experimenting. I order flint, but I favor quartz 2nd best if I can find it, if not I strike rocks till I find some that will spark.
TrackerScout I found place where to buy big flint, got like 10 pound and must are big as my hand and thick so I am set now...but good to know about other rock...
+robert boose Nice, I did the same thing. We don't have flint here so I was happy when I ordered like 35 pounds. Made my first arrowheads and big shards for cutting, and plenty of sharp edge pieces for my steel and char material.
Awesome video bro. Thanks for sharing.
thanks I'm just starting should get a starting lot today
Sounds awesome man. Your going to really love it.
question could you use limestone with a steel
No sir. It won't hold an edge and breaks right off. The good news is most places with limestone also have chert. Look on the sides of the road where the hills or mountain side have been dug out. You will see veins of chert.
absolutely char it if you can...great video thanks!
Thank you sir.
does char pine work
Yes, as long as you find a good punky "rooten" piece it will take a spark good after charring it.
processed birch bark works great
what about with birch bark after scraping the oil rich outer layer into dust?
Laglemamu'g Gjiga'qaquj What's the question bud?
sorry lol.
you know, the powder you get from the birch bark? you scrape on the bark with a knife, and it makes a highly combustible powder.
great for catching sparks.
have you tried that?