I think that, sooner or later, matches are going to run out, and lighters are going to dry up. Is there anything that can start a fire quite easily, but last indefinitely (like flint)? Judging by the replies I will go and get it sometime.
Best long-term firestarting tool/technique?
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but require some skill and prepared tinder (char cloth or tinder fungus) to work.
The upside is you can usually find rocks that will make steel spark. If you understand the process, you can have fire.
A 'Ferro rod' is a better alternitive. Made from a mixture of materials, its full name is Ferrocium (sp?) Light My Fire makes very good ones.
They last for thousands of strikes, and put out much hotter, bigger sparks than a flint and steel. The tinder isn't as critical as a ferro rod will catch dry grass, fine feather sticks and scrapings on fire. This is my prefered method of fire.
I just lit my grill to make dinner with a traditional flint and steel, you can see the process here:
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Magnesium fire starters! Just one will last forever & they're cheap. Takes a while to get good at using it, but definitely a good skill to have. My 2 cents...
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You can see that flint and steel puts out weak sparks that you have to catch on the char cloth, then that is put into a tinder bundle and blown into a flame.
If I used a ferro rod, I could have just put big fat hot sparks directly into the grass tinder bundle and it would have lit right up.
www.bensbackwoods.com
and www.firesteel.com are good places to get them
If I used a ferro rod, I could have just put big fat hot sparks directly into the grass tinder bundle and it would have lit right up.
www.bensbackwoods.com
and www.firesteel.com are good places to get them
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This is a block of magnesium, with a ferro rod glued to the side. I've seen the glue fail and you can lose the rod.
it works by scraping a pile of magnesium from the block and then lighting it with the ferro rod. Magnesium burns Very Hot and will help you to get the fire going.
You don't have to use the magnesium if you find good tinder.
You can find these magnesium/ferro rod combos at Walmart and the camping section of most big box sporting goods stores.
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There are manu great firestarting methods
using a bow is pretty effeective
the fire plow is another useful way to go
fire pistons are good as well
all those methods start a fire based on friction
other methods that are good
magnifying glass
flint and steel
one thing I highly recomend is alwayse carry a little tinder with you
i carry a setup similar to this one
I have a pencil sharpener and a large taper tool for larger up to 1 in branches branches
and a tobacco pouch full of some pre shaved shavings so I alwayse have a little bit to get started
and a small 6 in piece of aluminum arrow shaft to act as a blower
the hardes part of fire making is dry tinder to get the rest going
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Ive had the same problem with the rod before, but only once. Thanks Zen, forgot about that.
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Learn bow and drill since it is renewable and even if you loose your fire starter (whatever it is) or find yourself stuck in the woods without it, you can make a bow and drill.
If i know I am going to be out somewhere long term, I would take the flint and steel (with magnesium) fire starter since you can start hundreds or thousands of fires fairly easily.
If i know I am going to be out somewhere long term, I would take the flint and steel (with magnesium) fire starter since you can start hundreds or thousands of fires fairly easily.
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A simple magnifying glass will work forever. I use that and; the magnesium bar, 9 volt battery with steel wool, flint with cotton balls & vasoline plus
bic lighters and zippo with plenty of flint and fuel stocked.
bic lighters and zippo with plenty of flint and fuel stocked.
Lots of great methods of firestarting, as mentioned, but I think for ease of use lighters will always be the best bet. A 10-pack of cheap bics would probably light enough fires for years. 100 would probably last a lifetime and be great for trade. I have about a half-dozen of the extra-long ones for grills stored as well. (And a couple magnesiums)
Eventually, if society ever really did break down and we went back 'to the old days', at most times every homestead will have a fire lit 24/7 from which to make other fires, so the need for new firemaking becomes less. And Les Stroud must have used the 'carrying fire' trick a half-dozen times on his show, so its even possible to 'carry' that fire a days march away and make another fire.=)
Eventually, if society ever really did break down and we went back 'to the old days', at most times every homestead will have a fire lit 24/7 from which to make other fires, so the need for new firemaking becomes less. And Les Stroud must have used the 'carrying fire' trick a half-dozen times on his show, so its even possible to 'carry' that fire a days march away and make another fire.=)
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Flint and steel is the best. Just gotta make sure to have a steady supply of tinder. You can char a lot of things besides cloth.
A ferro rod will wear down faster than you think.
A ferro rod will wear down faster than you think.
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