sparks from flint and steel

[Lucky Buckeye]

Well, guess I'll go back and try some more to do it right. Has really been frustrating with nothing to show for it. Char cloth and punk wood, all sorts of stuff, but, you gotta get a dang spark to do it. No sparks, no fire. That's where I am at right now. Will try some more I guess.

See if you got an old railroad spike laying around and try it. They are real hard metal. Point it at your tinder and strike. It is heavier and won't change the strike angle as easily. Also be in low light so you can see sparks. Might do the trick for you.

[beowulf]

Well, guess I'll go back and try some more to do it right. Has really been frustrating with nothing to show for it. Char cloth and punk wood, all sorts of stuff, but, you gotta get a dang spark to do it. No sparks, no fire. That's where I am at right now. Will try some more I guess.

haave you watched the video I posted a link to ? guy explains a lot , well worth watching ! https://youtu.be/FYEnrbZWMaU

[hotfxr]

So I watched that video and was impressed. I have always had a hard time getting enough spark from the traditional flint & steel, so I always went to my backup of magnesium rod and knife. After watching the vid I went out and gave it another try and was pleasantly surprised at the spark I was getting. Now to make up some more char cloth and see if I can finally start a fire with it. Hey Beezlebob, watch the video, if it can help me, it can help you.

[beowulf]

my steel is made from an old file that had the teeth ground off one edge ! throws a heck of a shower of sparks ! about a three inch section of an old mill bastard , had no way to heat the metal at the time , so came up with a different idea , it is notched on each end and fasted in a heavy D shaped piece of leather , so I can hold it . not traditional , but works ! lol

[DandJofAZ]

Well, guess I'll go back and try some more to do it right. Has really been frustrating with nothing to show for it. Char cloth and punk wood, all sorts of stuff, but, you gotta get a dang spark to do it. No sparks, no fire. That's where I am at right now. Will try some more I guess.

See if you got an old railroad spike laying around and try it. They are real hard metal. Point it at your tinder and strike. It is heavier and won't change the strike angle as easily. Also be in low light so you can see sparks. Might do the trick for you.

The older spikes from switching yards and corners work best. Look for HC in the printed code on top if still viable./ 
Doug 

[markinmi]

I see so many new guys(no offence) try to stike a spark by scraping the steel with the flint like you would scrape a firestick with a knife, Its more of a glancing blow,Ive done it strikeing the flint with the sgeel and viceyvercy

[flintboomer]

I see so many new guys(no offence) try to stike a spark by scraping the steel with the flint like you would scrape a firestick with a knife, Its more of a glancing blow,Ive done it strikeing the flint with the sgeel and viceyvercy

Also, remember that you are slicing off bits of steel with the sharp edge of the flint and it takes a rather sharp blow to do it!
If you are unsure of the angle look at a flintlock. Your best sparks come from the bottom half of the frizzen where the angle is sharpest, just before it flips back out of the way.

[nit wit]

Call Turkey Track, I guarantee they will spark and they are fairly priced.
Good folks! Send yours back to track.

Nit Wit