Fire Kit

[Chaffa Hosa]

Yes humidity effects char
For each event I make new char

[William]

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.

[voyageur1688]

  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

[skunkkiller]

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 .

[voyageur1688]

  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

[jbtusa]

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!

[sean drake]

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

[NAULTRICK1]

  I love the idea of the hole alignment in the side of the tin, cleverrrrr, just goes to show the ingenuity of simplicity!!!

[Rev]

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).

[Rev]

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.

[Hawken50]

  Great lookin kits Rev..

[NAULTRICK1]

  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.

[William]

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

[R.I.J.]

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.

[William]

Great idea that I will have to employ for my fire kit.