Thank you dor showing this AMAZING technique! I don't live in an area with chaga or amadou, so all of my flint tinders have been charred until now. I know where two big patches of nettles grow, and it's early spring here.
As an old scoutmaster, who has taught innumerable scouts to collect nettles with gloves, boil them for a very nutritional food, I found this fascinating. Thank you for your effort. Now that ia m old might I suggest you seak distinctly and not mumble. It is hard for an old man to hear you. But well done, sir
I admit... Audio on this video is poor. I bought bt-microphone lately, and audio is better on two last videos. I was in boyscouts when i was young boy many years. (My team Even get second place o Finnish scout championships) great time
As a kid, I learned to avoid contact with “stinging nettles” cause they would cause a nasty rash on your skin. I’ve learned here that the dead and drying nettles can be very useful fire tender. These processed nettles rolls could be useful in a fire kit. Thanks for sharing. - Tennessee Smoky
Thanks for the comment sir. The story with these nettles was, when i was trying to make fire with them using rudiger roll technique, and didn't succeed. So i got these ruined leftovers from those rolls, and i thought... What the heck... Lets give it a try with Flint and steel. I was bit of surprised that it catch spark so easily. After that i been using this same technique with fireweed and cattail seeds... Works great on those too.
THANK YOU ! I joined USN in 1959. I started learning fire skills back in 1967 -68 as a new USN SERE Inst. in Calif. USA. My best , was the bamboo fire saw from our jungle JEST Negrito Troopers in the Philippines, 1975- 78, Great duty ! I now use that technique with out local yucca stalks , here in high desert Colorado. 5,000 ft. Always a good thrill to learn from around the World. Be safe - Be Prepared.
Two things I would add: If you keep rolling the ash infused nettle with a little more pressure and a little quicker the friction should start to cause the roll to smolder and ignite! See David West Channel for fire rolling reference. If you gather green Stinging nettle fibers, dry it, and process it the exact same way you can achieve an ignition with flint and steel directly in just a few strikes! But it MUST be from green live stinging nettles, see Wilderness Strong channel for example. But I did not know that rolling ash infused dead stinging nettle fibers will also ignite after rolling. Thank you for that tip!
Thanks for comment. Yes i'm familiar that rolling technique... Works great with rust too, and with other natural materials like cotton and juniper park. David West is totally expert with this IMO. Latele i've been making some experiments with ash andjuniper park(inner part of juniper park) with Flint and steel, so far result are very promising... Maybe i make video of that soon. Those green nettles in firemaking are pretty tricky, cause if i understand it right you have to Harvest them in just the right time to make it work. Anyway... Have a great springtime. Winter here in Finland have been unbelievable long this year. I sure hope that soon it would be warmer weather. - Juha
Thank You ! from Colorado , USA. Great to know a " natural tinder " for the F& S fire method. Mtn Mel , Ret .USN SERE-POW Inst. here at 7,000 ft. survival tipi camp.
Check out my comments on this vid for more "NUTs" aka Natural Uncharred Tinders that will catch the sparks from F&S in their raw, natural, uncharred state. There are at least two dozen that I know of so far. Expect there will be at least twice that when we've tried more.
NUTs solve the "First Fire" issue with F&S. Since chars can be made without a metal tin or even without a container of any kind, we should always have char after that first fire. While starting fires with F&S and NUTs is fun, using chars instead of NUTs is faster and easier. From a survival standpoint we want to maximize our time and calories. I say "chars" because there are dozens of plants and fungi that we can char then use like charcloth. Any NUT or good CEs aka Coal Extenders (think of things that burn like a punk or incense stick) can be charred to catch sparks from F&S. Two of the most commonly found and used CEs are punkwood and cattail fluff.
Good to see others looking beyond chars for tinders with F&S. There are at least thirty natural materials we can find and process in the wild, then use to catch the sparks from F&S, all in the same day and all without charring.
Tried only chaka, amadou and nettles. Even punkwood need charring i quess. Im gonna try that fluffy dtuff from fireweeds, and thistles after flowering season is over. I managed to light up oldmans beard (usnea)moss with firesteel, but it dont work with f&s. Great firestarter especially after rubbing some resin into it.
Plant fluffs (milkweed, thistles, etc) work best when we roll them between our palms (like making a ball of dough) until they hold themselves together and resemble a cotton ball. Uncharred fluffs can catch the sparks from F&S, but they all take more work than chaga, chars, etc. (Which can often yield an ember in 1-15 strikes.) Be prepared for 30-100 strikes to achieve an ember with uncharred fluffs.
Punkwood can catch the sparks from F&S without being charred. I have done it many times with many trees from several species. They say the Inuit have 27 words for snow. We ought to have a lot more terms for punkwood. Each type of tree produces slightly different punkwoods. Red/Brown rot vs White rot. (Hint: Red/Brown is for smoke, White is for fire.) How far along the rot is. How much like styrofoam the punkwood is. How crumbly. And so on. Cutting uncharred punkwoods into wedges is a good way to go. (Most folks prefer holding the tinder on top of the flint vs striking over a container.) Thin edges take sparks more easily, but go out too quickly. Thick parts grow embers better, but won't catch as easily. Wedges are the best of both worlds. Another solid method is grinding into fine dust. Dusts catch sparks well and grow embers well. Dusts are always a good way to go with F&S. If your punkwood is too crumbly to slice with a sharp knife, it's probably too far gone to catch sparks from F&S without charring. If it's not super light (compared to normal wood of that species) and compressible between two fingers without falling apart (like styrofoam), then it's not rotted enough. When working with uncharred tinders for F&S, keep the concept of "micro-charring" in mind. That's when a spark lands on the tinder, leaves a tiny burned area, then goes out. These tiny charred areas allow the next spark to land on them to burn just enough longer to form an ember. Not all uncharred tinders require micro-charring to create an ember. Most will show some micro-charring before an ember is created. Expect 30-100 strikes to achieve an ember with most uncharred tinders, including uncharred punkwoods.
Really cool! Thank you for the great instructional! If you don't mind a small feedback on the video quality, I'd consider investing in a small rode lav mic. because your voice is hard to hear at times. These you can clip onto your coat and get your voice clearly without the wind noise.
I was speaking of learning the " Bamboo Fire Saw " method from those super village people - whom taught our Pilots / SEALS, etc going into Vietnam . ( I see NO harm in that ! ) Sorry if WHO ever was offended, Duh. Ol warrior - Mtn Mel, Ret USN SERE, 59 - 82.
Check out the "Flint and Steel Fire WITHOUT CHAR | Amazing Results!" video on the Wilderness Strong youtube channel. They go over the use of nettles for F&S in detail. Think you'll find it helpful. - Cheers!
I know the video. Tried that couple of times, and i failed badly. Even try to cheat and dry those nettlefibers in afterheat of sauna. Maybe i try it again with dead nettles next winter.
Well done, natual tinder, no need the shop, where and how to know if its nettles, well the right nettles? Some close up of living plants to help. Thank you
Thanks for the comment sir. They can be identify, by the stem, that still got those stingers even they are dead (not stinging anymore thou) They also got that fiberous inside, when you break them. Up here north, we only got those stinging nettles, so identifying is easier.
Actually...i dont know. I think that ash will dry up those fibers, so that they can catch spark much easier. I been tryin to this without ash, and it dont work at all. Just trying to do some amadou tinder without ash lye, or processing it without any tools. Will see what comes out.
@@jumawild thankyou brother. Just a backyard beginner having fun there's still so much to learn. We are blessed with some great materials here in New Zealand.😁👍👏👏👏
Just tried to fireroll some green fresh nettles...not working... need to dry more, but i managed to make fire with Flint and steel with it. Dried it about 3hours. Dont know why the fireroll didn't work, got to figure it out.
YES, green nettle will work. Watch this; ua-cam.com/video/Zkr5pi_Augs/v-deo.html Here, they process nettle three different ways to take a spark from flint and steel, including green nettle.
Yes i know. Thats the only way i can make fire with it that way. Firerolling those green nettles isnt a picnic either, video of that maybe out soon if i ever make it..
Of course you must know " David West Ch. " here on You Tube. He is a total , amazing , excellent Fire Maker . Hope you can watch. Very UNIQUE methods !
I busted out laughing at the Arthur Brown reference. 😂😂😅😅
Thumbs up all the way! We enjoyed watching a fellow nettle/fire lover. Thanks for the great video.
Thank you. I really like your nettle series here on UA-cam. Been trying that couple of time, but my technigue need more work.
Thank you dor showing this AMAZING technique! I don't live in an area with chaga or amadou, so all of my flint tinders have been charred until now. I know where two big patches of nettles grow, and it's early spring here.
Thanks for the comment sir. Cattails works great too. Try them also, if you find them in your area.
Try this link
How to Make a Flint & Steel Fire | No Char, No Chaga
ua-cam.com/video/Zkr5pi_Augs/v-deo.html
Love Nettles!
Tried this last 2 days with good success!
Thanks for sharing,
Steve
How to Make a Flint & Steel Fire | No Char, No Chaga
ua-cam.com/video/Zkr5pi_Augs/v-deo.html
Jumawild, excellent video. Thank you for taking the time to do it.
As an old scoutmaster, who has taught innumerable scouts to collect nettles with gloves, boil them for a very nutritional food, I found this fascinating. Thank you for your effort. Now that ia m old might I suggest you seak distinctly and not mumble. It is hard for an old man to hear you. But well done, sir
Speak, sorry!
I admit... Audio on this video is poor.
I bought bt-microphone lately, and audio is better on two last videos.
I was in boyscouts when i was young boy many years. (My team Even get second place o Finnish scout championships) great time
As a kid, I learned to avoid contact with “stinging nettles” cause they would cause a nasty rash on your skin. I’ve learned here that the dead and drying nettles can be very useful fire tender. These processed nettles rolls could be useful in a fire kit. Thanks for sharing. - Tennessee Smoky
Thanks for the comment sir.
The story with these nettles was, when i was trying to make fire with them using rudiger roll technique, and didn't succeed.
So i got these ruined leftovers from those rolls, and i thought... What the heck... Lets give it a try with Flint and steel.
I was bit of surprised that it catch spark so easily.
After that i been using this same technique with fireweed and cattail seeds... Works great on those too.
THANK YOU !
I joined USN in 1959. I started learning fire skills back in 1967 -68 as a new USN SERE Inst. in Calif. USA. My best , was the bamboo fire saw from our jungle JEST Negrito Troopers in the Philippines, 1975- 78, Great duty ! I now use that technique with out local yucca stalks , here in high desert Colorado. 5,000 ft. Always a good thrill to learn from around the World. Be safe - Be Prepared.
Do not know why part of my comment about our Negrito Native guides was " lined out " in my comment - ??? !
@@meldeweese6875 It's because you used hyphens without spaces around that piece of text. -Like this.- It's just youtube formatting being wonky.
Two things I would add:
If you keep rolling the ash infused nettle with a little more pressure and a little quicker the friction should start to cause the roll to smolder and ignite! See David West Channel for fire rolling reference.
If you gather green Stinging nettle fibers, dry it, and process it the exact same way you can achieve an ignition with flint and steel directly in just a few strikes! But it MUST be from green live stinging nettles, see Wilderness Strong channel for example.
But I did not know that rolling ash infused dead stinging nettle fibers will also ignite after rolling. Thank you for that tip!
The GREEN STINGING NETTLE method does not require ASH or Rolling!
Thanks for comment.
Yes i'm familiar that rolling technique... Works great with rust too, and with other natural materials like cotton and juniper park.
David West is totally expert with this IMO.
Latele i've been making some experiments with ash andjuniper park(inner part of juniper park) with Flint and steel, so far result are very promising... Maybe i make video of that soon.
Those green nettles in firemaking are pretty tricky, cause if i understand it right you have to Harvest them in just the right time to make it work.
Anyway... Have a great springtime.
Winter here in Finland have been unbelievable long this year. I sure hope that soon it would be warmer weather.
- Juha
Great information, thank you Juha. I would love see those videos if you have made them already! Subscribed.
Thank You ! from Colorado , USA.
Great to know a " natural tinder " for the F& S fire method. Mtn Mel , Ret .USN SERE-POW Inst. here at 7,000 ft. survival tipi camp.
Check out my comments on this vid for more "NUTs" aka Natural Uncharred Tinders that will catch the sparks from F&S in their raw, natural, uncharred state. There are at least two dozen that I know of so far. Expect there will be at least twice that when we've tried more.
NUTs solve the "First Fire" issue with F&S. Since chars can be made without a metal tin or even without a container of any kind, we should always have char after that first fire. While starting fires with F&S and NUTs is fun, using chars instead of NUTs is faster and easier. From a survival standpoint we want to maximize our time and calories.
I say "chars" because there are dozens of plants and fungi that we can char then use like charcloth. Any NUT or good CEs aka Coal Extenders (think of things that burn like a punk or incense stick) can be charred to catch sparks from F&S. Two of the most commonly found and used CEs are punkwood and cattail fluff.
Absolutely wonderful video! Very instructive and original on it's kind.Congratulations! A big Like from me, subscribed to the channel as well.
Great video
Good job 👍
Good to see others looking beyond chars for tinders with F&S. There are at least thirty natural materials we can find and process in the wild, then use to catch the sparks from F&S, all in the same day and all without charring.
Tried only chaka, amadou and nettles. Even punkwood need charring i quess. Im gonna try that fluffy dtuff from fireweeds, and thistles after flowering season is over. I managed to light up oldmans beard (usnea)moss with firesteel, but it dont work with f&s. Great firestarter especially after rubbing some resin into it.
Plant fluffs (milkweed, thistles, etc) work best when we roll them between our palms (like making a ball of dough) until they hold themselves together and resemble a cotton ball. Uncharred fluffs can catch the sparks from F&S, but they all take more work than chaga, chars, etc. (Which can often yield an ember in 1-15 strikes.) Be prepared for 30-100 strikes to achieve an ember with uncharred fluffs.
Punkwood can catch the sparks from F&S without being charred. I have done it many times with many trees from several species.
They say the Inuit have 27 words for snow. We ought to have a lot more terms for punkwood. Each type of tree produces slightly different punkwoods. Red/Brown rot vs White rot. (Hint: Red/Brown is for smoke, White is for fire.) How far along the rot is. How much like styrofoam the punkwood is. How crumbly. And so on.
Cutting uncharred punkwoods into wedges is a good way to go. (Most folks prefer holding the tinder on top of the flint vs striking over a container.) Thin edges take sparks more easily, but go out too quickly. Thick parts grow embers better, but won't catch as easily. Wedges are the best of both worlds.
Another solid method is grinding into fine dust. Dusts catch sparks well and grow embers well. Dusts are always a good way to go with F&S.
If your punkwood is too crumbly to slice with a sharp knife, it's probably too far gone to catch sparks from F&S without charring. If it's not super light (compared to normal wood of that species) and compressible between two fingers without falling apart (like styrofoam), then it's not rotted enough.
When working with uncharred tinders for F&S, keep the concept of "micro-charring" in mind. That's when a spark lands on the tinder, leaves a tiny burned area, then goes out. These tiny charred areas allow the next spark to land on them to burn just enough longer to form an ember.
Not all uncharred tinders require micro-charring to create an ember. Most will show some micro-charring before an ember is created.
Expect 30-100 strikes to achieve an ember with most uncharred tinders, including uncharred punkwoods.
Do you have a list bro?
You have alot of interesting knowledge
Really cool! Thank you for the great instructional!
If you don't mind a small feedback on the video quality, I'd consider investing in a small rode lav mic. because your voice is hard to hear at times. These you can clip onto your coat and get your voice clearly without the wind noise.
Thank you for the feedback.
Microphone is definetly on the way, when i found the one that works with the gimbal i'm using.
@@jumawild Sure thing! And again, thank you for the great video!
I was speaking of learning the " Bamboo Fire Saw " method from those super village people - whom taught our Pilots / SEALS, etc going into Vietnam .
( I see NO harm in that ! ) Sorry if WHO ever was offended, Duh. Ol warrior - Mtn Mel, Ret USN SERE, 59 - 82.
Check out the "Flint and Steel Fire WITHOUT CHAR | Amazing Results!" video on the Wilderness Strong youtube channel. They go over the use of nettles for F&S in detail. Think you'll find it helpful. - Cheers!
I know the video. Tried that couple of times, and i failed badly. Even try to cheat and dry those nettlefibers in afterheat of sauna. Maybe i try it again with dead nettles next winter.
Well done, natual tinder, no need the shop, where and how to know if its nettles, well the right nettles? Some close up of living plants to help. Thank you
Thanks for the comment sir. They can be identify, by the stem, that still got those stingers even they are dead (not stinging anymore thou)
They also got that fiberous inside, when you break them.
Up here north, we only got those stinging nettles, so identifying is easier.
Thanks for the great video. May I ask why you add ash to the nettle fibres? Thanks!
Actually...i dont know.
I think that ash will dry up those fibers, so that they can catch spark much easier.
I been tryin to this without ash, and it dont work at all.
Just trying to do some amadou tinder without ash lye, or processing it without any tools. Will see what comes out.
@@jumawild Thanks for your reply. Interesting... Please keep us updated! :)
Great Video Brother.😁👍👏👏👏 just stubbled upon your channel. Just subbed.😝🤘💥💥💥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥Thanks from New Zealand.🌏👏👏👏😁👍
Thank you. Really like your firemaking videos sir.
@@jumawild thankyou brother. Just a backyard beginner having fun there's still so much to learn. We are blessed with some great materials here in New Zealand.😁👍👏👏👏
@@jumawild may i ask your name? You have some cool videos. What country are you in?
My name is Juha Matikka, and im from Finland
@@jumawild Thankyou brother. Love your channel.👍
👍🏻🔥
Do you think this will work with green nettles as well (if you just dry them a little bit more)?
Honestly, i dont know.
I definetly will try that soon... I think it will do the trick too.
Just tried to fireroll some green fresh nettles...not working...
need to dry more,
but i managed to make fire with Flint and steel with it.
Dried it about 3hours.
Dont know why the fireroll didn't work, got to figure it out.
YES, green nettle will work.
Watch this; ua-cam.com/video/Zkr5pi_Augs/v-deo.html
Here, they process nettle three different ways to take a spark from flint and steel, including green nettle.
Need close ups throughout whole video.,.
A bit overkill on the processing of Stinging Nettle, but what ever makes it work the best, I suppose. lol!
Yes i know. Thats the only way i can make fire with it that way.
Firerolling those green nettles isnt a picnic either, video of that maybe out soon if i ever make it..
Do not know why part of my comment about our Navy Negrito guides in P. I. duty was " crossed out." ? !
Of course you must know " David West Ch. " here on You Tube. He is a total , amazing , excellent Fire Maker . Hope you can watch. Very UNIQUE methods !
One of my favourites. Great firemaking skills, and never cheating