I need help assembling my fire kit
I have a small aged tin for storage, a striker, flint and char cloth.
What else do I need in the kit
and do you carry the kit in a bag or on the belt in a separate leather pouch or bag?
The Tin
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u247/jbullard1954/Acoutraments/Picture007.jpg)
The Kit So Far
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u247/jbullard1954/Acoutraments/Picture005-1.jpg)
I'm not speaking from experience here, but I'm thinking that your char would be vulnerable in with the flint and steel. As fragile as char is, I'm thinking it would end up being a pile of dust in no time.
Jerry, you also need to add some tow to your kit to make your birds nest from. Like RM said it is also a good idea to keep your extra char in a small tin. Just keep a piece or 2 in the big tin.
OK tell the dummy what is "tow" and where I get it
I made a heck of a smoke today but never got a flame
Hey Jerry, I think that tin looks familiar 8)
Quote from: melsdad on September 16, 2008
Hey Jerry, I think that tin looks familiar 8)
It should ;D
The small one is in my bag and holds pre-lubed patches cut with your cutter and the large one is holding a handfull of Char Cloth
How is the patch cutter working for you anyways. I haven't heard much feedback from the fella's that have them.
It's working real good
I rolled the edge on it using Black Locust as a back up board but I reground it at a steeper angle and it will cut through12-15 layers of ticking with one blow from a 16 ounce ball peen I cut about 300 patches in just a few minutes
now jb i know this aint period correct but once i get my char cloth going i through on dryer lint from the lint trap that stuff flares up like nobodies business....
Quote from: Da Backwoodsman on September 16, 2008
now jb i know this aint period correct but once i get my char cloth going i through on dryer lint from the lint trap that stuff flares up like nobodies business....
Well here I go digging through the trash basket in the laundry room
My wife just constantly shaking her head like she thinks I'm crazy and its all because I got on my walnut dyed pants and my Beth shirt. I didnt realize just how comfortable these cotton shirts are.
OK now she knows I'm crazy I pull out the flint,steel and char and with the drier lint proceed to make a small fire on the bar in the kitchen. I did have it all on a cookie sheet ::)
well now jb dont go burning down the house on my account dont want misse jb lookin fer me
And she walked off shaking her head and saying "He made a fire without any matches, he's crazy, just plain old crazy"
;D
;D
;D
too funny after about a minute of shooting sparks with my flint and steel the wife throws a bic at me and starts grumbling
Beth used to do that with me, now she's used to it. lol.
Tow is a natural fiber from...brain fart...flax, I think. You can also use old bailing twine (untreated), hemp rope, jute rope (untreated), and many natural fibers like dried pine needles.
I know one thing... if you nave a dog like our "Charlie the Incredible Velcro Lab" that sheds all year long, then your dryer lint will have a 'bit' of dog hair in it and will stink when it lights off. 'good thing I have a couple coffee cans packed full of "pre-Charlie" lint!
And yeah, wife thinks I'm a nut of a pack-rat!
Tommy
Quote from: jbullard1 on September 16, 2008
OK tell the dummy what is "tow" and where I get it
I made a heck of a smoke today but never got a flame
Tow can be tricky to find (cheap), but, the other day my wife found that if you get these coconut basket refills that hang on your porch and tear them apart they work as good if not better than tow. They're pretty cheap now that flower growin' seaon is over. BTW, she uses them to make repros of "Skookum dolls", not fire ;)...Bud
Hey Jerry, just went outside to make a fire for the heck of it and tried a little of the coconut liner. It seems to have some kind of waxy waterproof coating on it. As far as I know it could be Napalm, it lit that fast. Once I had an ember in my char, the stuff readily ignited with just a few puffs. Not a Bic but purty near as quick ;D...Bud
Good tip, Bud!
Your tinder doesn't have to be Tow, it can be almost anything that is shredded and will let air pass through easily. I have never been able to get dryer lint to work for me. I do use lots of other things. Cedar bark works great, just plain ol' dry grass will work also. The leaves shed leaves from a cypress tree works fine. I've even used the dried oak blooms when they drop off in the spring.
One thing to remember, hold the tinder above your head when you blow on the glowing charcloth. Tinder will sometime burst into flame.....taking your eyebrows, mustach, and part of your beard if you are not careful.....speaking from experience here. ;D
(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/laffingman67/headslap.gif)(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/laffingman67/rotf-1.gif)
i like to use cedar bark myself, easy to shread and birdnest and flames up quickly.
Yes david I like Cedar Bark also. The bark seems to burn longer than some other types of tinder.
The way I carry my char cloth is putting in in a piece of heavy brown paper folded up and tied with a string. Keeps it dry and safe. Also paper might come in handy. Dilly
Jerry here is a pic of my fire kit.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p182/lg40402/flintandsteel.jpg)
A tin for baking and storing char cloth,flint and steel,extra cotton and some hemp rope.
And a bees wax candle.
Here is one of my fire kits with several Mike Ameling steels, English grey flint, Texas blue flint, small tin with char and tinder fungus and linen tow. Old tin cigar box from Backwoods Tin.
(http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp268/gonzoque/th_DSC00103.jpg) (http://s418.photobucket.com/albums/pp268/gonzoque/?action=view¤t=DSC00103.jpg)
Larry
I use an old Altoids tin that was burned in the fire,put my char in first,a piece of leather over that to protect it from the flint and steel on top of the leather. I also keep some jute twine to unravel for the nest. The twine takes up less space than tow. I also have a few pieces of birch bark to keep the fire going untill the kindeling catches.
A few years ago I was given a Horn about 4" long and 2" in dia. to keep fire
kit in, It dose not hold a lot, but enough to get a fire started and I have never
separated the componets and have never had the char turn to powder
Greetings brothers. When you use the lint out of the dryer, make sure that it is only natural fibers. I like to clean it out after the cotton T-shirts/undies,sox have gone thru the dryer. Obviously (I would hope), you are aware that synthetic fibers will not ignite, I don't care how good your sparks from your flint and steel are. I like hemp; sisle; cotton string better for my tinder. Megwetch, Sinnanatha
Greetings again. During dinner I got to thinking(dangerous), and I remembered three other items that I have had a lot of success with for tinder. When my parents were alive, and lived in Florida, I used to peel the outer, fine shred bark from the palm trees in their yard. I'm not sure how PC it is, but it seems to have some oil (palm oil?)in it that takes to the spark/heat very well. I also use the fine bark shreds off the cedar trees in my yard. When I cut one down for fire wood, I just peel the bark shreds off before I split it and sore it in old plastic pretzel jars until I need it for an event. The third one is the inner bark from popple trees. Again, when I cut one down, I take the inner bark, that is against the wood and dry it and use it for tinder. Works very good. Megwetch, Sinnanatha
Quote from: Sinnanatha on January 31, 2009
Greetings brothers. When you use the lint out of the dryer, make sure that it is only natural fibers. I like to clean it out after the cotton T-shirts/undies,sox have gone thru the dryer. Obviously (I would hope), you are aware that synthetic fibers will not ignite, I don't care how good your sparks from your flint and steel are. I like hemp; sisle; cotton string better for my tinder. Megwetch, Sinnanatha
I've been reading up on fire making techniques and decided to try some dryer lint today using a piece of hacksaw blade and flint, and it lit quick! I wonder if humidity affects lint or charcloth ability to ignite? Anyway, mky fire kit will include dryer lint for sure now that I know how well it works.
Yes humidity effects char
For each event I make new char
Ah, I see. Best to keep dryer lint in an air tight container and add some fresh to it beforehand too I would think. I'm just tickled seeing how quickly a few sparks will start a fire, right after eating a microwave dinner! &)
I also came across a ready made char maker today, which was just a round tin with a tight fitting lid that had a small hole in it for the gas to escape.
I use a tin that is about 3 1/2" across and inside it I keep another smaller tin, like the ones #11 caps come in to keep my char cloth in. That way I can keep my flint, steel, char and tow all in the same tin without fear of the char getting damaged or damp. I also keep a few pieces of uncharred cloth in the main tin. It keeps the contents from rattling around and can be charred out in the field if I need it. Also, on the side of the main tin, I drill a 1/8" hole through the side of the lid and the tin about half way up the edge of the lid. That way I can make more char in it from the fire I get lit with the original char and because it is in the side of the tin, it can be turned so the holes do not line up and the outer tin is then sealed fairly well to help keep the contents dry. To make the char, cut or tear the all natural fiber cloth (synthetics just melt) into pieces slightly larger than what you want your char to be when it is done as it does shrink a bit when it gets charred. Place these pieces of cloth in a stack inside the tin and place the lid on it with the holes lined up so the smoke can escape. Place the tin close to the fire and watch it start to smoke. Soon it will start to shoot smoke out as if it is being blown out by pressure and is a good thing but the hole may flame up. Ifit does flame up, just get it away from the fire and blow the flame out and put it back to the fire. The char is done when the smoke stops. Let the tin cool and then open it to see if the char is done. If you put too much cloth in the stack, the ones in the middle may not be done all the way. The char should all be black. You can also char pieces of punk wood the same way and it too will catch a spark. New steel wool will also catch a spark and flame up but is not my preference. The oils on it are what flames.
For tow, I use any natural fiber rope or twine, shredded inner bark from a cedar tree, or shredded stalks from some of the weeds that grow around here that have a string type structure to it--you can try different ones that grow in your area for this. Cut, dry and shred them once they are ready to be tried. Some work better than others, while some wont work at all. You can even use the black fungus that grows on birch trees as char without having to char it-just scrape it into a powder and it will catch a spark and smolder til you can get your fire going.
Hope this helps you some.
Voy
1688 I glad you said that about the hole in the tin I didn't think any one was going to mention that and it good to know . dntn
Forgot to put in my last response that when you put the tin to the fire to make your char to place it with the hole aiming up.
Voy
I fold my charcloth into a small canvas envelope and put it in the tin. Otherwise, the flint & steel will pulverize the charcloth. The charcloth needs to be protected. I also put a small "bird's nest" into the tin which also protects the charcloth.
Now to rain on your parade, the use of charcloth by the mountain trappers cannot be documented and therefore its historical correctness is in question. However, you can use tinder fungus or pieces of charred campfire wood in place of the charcloth. I have also learned to use the bow & drill to start fire and carry the drill, leather lace and fireboard in my kit too. The bow can be made anywhere. Have fun!
I like to use the iner bark from cotton wood trees it shreds up real nice and makes a good nest I also like to put a pice of cat tail flufe in the center of my birds nest I also use untreated jute twine it can be unraveled and used as tender or used for tieing things doun it can be twisted to make it stronger or unravled I use tinder funges and char cloth in my fire piston I have given all my scouts drier lint I know it workes good with a match or a bic but do not know how well it works wit a flint and still or a fire piston pine neddles worke real wall also if u are not wored about the pc police cotton balls soked in vasaline is a good one and kleenx holds a sparke good also
dntn I love the idea of the hole alignment in the side of the tin, cleverrrrr, just goes to show the ingenuity of simplicity!!! :applause:
I sell many variations of this basic fire kit. Flint, steel, char cloth & tin, fatwood splinters, brain tan belt bag & cloth drawstring bag for tinder (excelsior in this case).
(http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr223/Sheasmtn/firekit-1.jpg)
Or this, our primitive survival kit. The kit consists of two sizes of hand forged fishing hooks, four .36 cal. "split shot", two .32 cal. "Hole" weights one wooden "reel", one primitive cork bobber, 25 ft. of waxed linen thread & a brain tanned pouch to carry it in. Extremely light, weighs just ounces. About 2 1/2 - 3" wide. Also includes everything needed to start a fire by the traditional Mountain Man method. Included is a "japaned" tin to hold everything in, a large flint, a hand forged fire steel, some char cloth to catch the spark & tinder to get flame. I also include detailed instructions, complete with photos, on how to start your own campfire. All this fits into the brain tanned Elk belt bag. Fits up to a 3" belt.
(http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr223/Sheasmtn/survivalkit-1.jpg)
dntn Great lookin kits Rev..
dntn The original survival kits, excellent iron work, whatcha makin ya steels out of? I gotts lot'sa files but I baby em so they last forever, (almost), got two worn out that I'm savin fer knives, but if I hafta I hafta. Realy like the hooks.
I know this thread goes back quite a ways but I think this video is relevant to the topic of fire kits;
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n517/armymedic308/flintsteelfire_zps8da583d2.mp4
Smooth out the char cloth on the bottom of the tin. Cut a disk of scrap leather just a bit smaller than the tin and drop it on top of the cloth. This "protects" mine from the striker and the flint.
Great idea that I will have to employ for my fire kit.
I like to use old blue jean material for my char, catches easy and since I wear 100% cotton Jeans don't have to worry about synthetics....
R.I.J.--like the leather disk idea...R.B. I also use blue jeans..nice char..\
Doug
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Are melon balls flammable? ROFL
They are when you soak them in petroleum jelly
I have three different flint and steel outfits, and I can't get enough sparks out of any of em to start a fire, take the wife's bic, and forget the rest, or, get a Harbor Frieght or Coleman firestarter kit, hack saw blade and magnesium, works great. I hear matches also work great. 'SNTY"ha ha ha
My problem is finding tins to make char cloth and keep it in. I was told the dollar store has it, bull, they have nothing at all. Went to several then gave up, have to figure something else out. went to the dollar store, .99 store, Walmart, nothing doing. One time I found little kids puzzles in the dollar store and the puzzles were in tins. I bought seven of em, gave the grandkids the puzzles in plastic bags, and made fire starter kits, can no longer find them. I hate to go thru ebay, it's costly, but may have to do it.
get yourself some Altoid's Mints. Empty the mints and burn tins in fire to remove paint. OR;
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/107/1
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/132/1/MINK-OIL
use the tin after empty, mink oil makes an excellent patch lube
Go to www.sheasmtn.com and get his tins. They come ready burnt or shiny tin color. Rev is active on this site and could always use more business.
doggoner