Like Rick said, try it on some char cloth, the natural rock will not throw sparks like the commercial fire steels.
I think it's sad that we now think we need need a manufactured fire steel, and tinder like the cotton balls and vaseline to consider this a viable option.
YCC, this is a disclamer, I know this might sound like you don't know what your doing, that is not my intention, you have demonstrated your skills and probaly better tham I am.
I just want to go thru the steps and materials for any body that having a problem.
What you are doing with the flint is literally shaving off pieces of steel that causes them to spark, (getting hot enough from shaving), like spark from your grinder.
Do you have a metal bandaid can? (loose enough you don't need a hole in it), shoe polish can(needs a nail hole) Androids can?
Do you have a old cotton T-shirt ?
Do you have a fire?
Tear it up the T-shirt, put some of it in the can, throw the can into a fire, watch it till it quits smoking, take it out and let cool. Char cloth.
Now take an old file, or even a part of an old file, take your grinder and sorta smooth the edges, the file groves work but makes it harder. ( I know this works, and anybody can find an old file)
Now take a piece of your flint, chert, rock. that has a sharp edge on it, strike which ever in more comfortable for you, steel against the sharp edge of the flint, or vice versa, like you are shaving the steel, in to your now cooled off char cloth.
As soon as even one spark catches the cloth with just a glow, blow on it and transfer it to your tender....... cotton balls, shaved dry bark, cat-tail fuzz, what ever.
(I use the "glow stage" to light my smokes, yeah, I know bad habit, then just snuff it out by closing my air tight can)
Keep blowing on it till you have a flame.
I for one have been trying the bow drill method, and is on the top of my list of shill to master, with found materials, so I'm still learning as well.
And I agree, good luck DT, your in for a long haul.
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