I've tried several times to start fire with ferro rod and just what is in the woods in front of me, and so far, no luck. Add some steel wool and it becomes fairly simple. Hard to find much birch here. So paying attention.
Birch bark all the way. most of my jacket and trouser pockets have it in it. Loki's candles!!!!! It's very thick silver birch bark from Canada, washed up on the shores of Shetland. It still lights well. Even bicycle inner tube can take a ferro rod spark if chopped finely enough.
I found my best “natural” char material was made from punk wood. That wood that had was soft and spongy during the first stages of rotting. I would put that in a tin and char it. It would catch a spark. Many people use charred cotton cloth but I must believe that cloth was dear to our ancestors and they were unwilling to sacrifice great amounts to char. The punk wood was everywhere and works as well. The char catches the spark and makes an ember. Fat wood, dry grass and things like cedar bark will take the ember and make a flame. The tender lighter I pictured that looks like a flintlock would shower sparks down on a piece of char which would either get moved to a tender bundle or you could light a sulphuric dipped match into the burning char and blow a,flame. If you want modern survival methods forget flint and steel and buy a bic lighter. You back up can be a ferro rod and both can be used to light cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly. Small things to carry but will work every time. I also carry a candle stub and light that right away.
I use char cloth .Hold the cloth on the stone. Strike the flint. Send the spark on the cloth . Get the ember going . Birds nest of jute fibers . Wrap around ember . Blow til lit . Or i also keep a tin if charred punk . Send a spark into the punk .Blow til it glows. Transfer coal to tinderbundle. Works fast and quick with a ferro rod I'll send you some! Finally something you don't have!
I'd take a snack size Baggie of lint from the clothes drier filter. I got caught out overnight two weeks ago with my pup. Only had the clothes on my back, my daypack with map, tp, left over jerky, matches. Too dry an area to make a fire, was a forest fire already close by. Just slept along a old, burnt log. I bring a sparker set (mag rod w/striker) when backpacking. Duane
Hi I keep a small tin of charcoal made from rotten (punk) wood. I throw my sparks into the tin and when one catches I place my tinder on it and blow. Providing I have prepared correctly and kept the tinder dry it never fails me. Regards Jeremy
Success. Birch bark. I have a fallen birch tree nearby that fell in the spring time. I went and took some of the loose bark off of it and brought it home, to the backyard, on a piece of countertop granite. I then found the Light My Fire Swedish FireKnife with 9.5 cm (3.75 Inch) Sandvik Stainless Steel Blade and Swedish FireSteel Fire Starter. given to me by @Paulyseggs. It has a Mora blade. I scraped the inner bark and got very fine dust and some threads. I set the flint on it and, using the backside of the blade, in a minute or so I had a spark that I could blow into fire. Thanks, Ken [Simple successes are a real treat. I have now tucked that knowledge into my brain. And the brain is the real survival tool]
I can't bring myself to use drier lint!!!!!!!!!!! It's poly-cotton, probably, for a start and it also has small, black, curly............hairs.........! Much prefer jute fluff. When life gives you a jute string factory close to your house, use jute fluff
All of this is fine if you brought all of that with you. In that case just turn the light switch on and fire up the kitchen stove at home. I am purposely limiting myself to steel and striker and what you find in the woods. Knife can be the striker. Ken
@snwcmpr Ahhhhhhh, I see. Silver birch bark but I use the outer paper thin stuff. Everyone (I think) here has referred to the inner bark. Honeysuckle bark. Anything chopped up fine enough will help. Now if it's wet.....down the front of your breeks or under your oxter Chaga is allegedly a fine tinder but I struggle with it. Charred fomes fomentarius or horse hoof fungus is reall nice too. If you have the time amadou!
I like punk also. It also works really well with a magnifying glass. I go for the inner bark of a cottonwood for the "bird's nest"
