Homework assignment #1

[crashdive123]

Do it for yourself. That's really all that matters.

[Kamel]

Well yeah, but this gives me an excuse to go out and do it, motivation man, its what I need! :P but yah i made 4 35mm film canisters of PJ balls.(thanks Rick for the suggestion) So 20 PJ Balls, but i wont be using them for this, to easy.

[Sparky93]

Mmmm a PB&J does sound good... oh you said PJ... never mind...

[grokh5499]

Well it has been raining or still wet from a rain everytime I had the time to go out and do this! And today it is so overcast there was no use in pulling out the magnifying glass. However seeing as how it has been over a year since I have started a fire with the magnesium flint striker so I figured with everything wet today was a good day to try. I used my magnesium flint striker made by coleman, and my Benchmade locking blade knife that I just got for my birthday last week. It was 83 degrees out with a slight wind. I made myself use only what I had in my backyard, as My 2 year old was running around and I didn't need to worry about her following me across the street. It took a few attempts and several stops and starts. I gathered my fuels, and a leaf from an ivy plant to catch the magnesium pieces since they go everywhere to pour into my old pinecone that I broke up to try to get to dryer tinder. I was surprised how dry the pine needles were on the ground even though it rained last night. I sat with my back to the wind and made sure to bend and twist the top level of the pinecone scales to create dust, and smaller pieces to catch fire. I also had several needles as a bed, and more ready to put on top of the pinecone once it started up. Since "it didn't happen if there are no pics"....
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[Rick]

A successful fire is a good fire. Nice job.

[hunter63]

Now didn't that feel good?.....Nice job.

[Sarge47]

Great job! I don't mind confessing that I would have started a fire the same way! Using a magnifying lens only works when all of the conditions are right! The US Air Force includes the Mag Block Fire Starter in their Air Crew Survival Kits! If they think it's a good choice who am I to argue? You get an "A" for sure!

[hunter63]

Juat a late heads up, don't stare at the coninstrated sun light, might burn your eyes......I had spots in front of mine.....
Yeah I know, hard to focus and not look at it, but hey, just be aware.

[grokh5499]

yeah, I learned that the hard way as a kid...never do that again. I remember burning decorations into an old walking stick as a kid for hours on end, so I was surprised how hard it has been just to wait for the right weather conditions to be able to start a fire with the magnifying glass. Trying to corrdinate free time and suntime has been difficult I have gotten some smolding like jhnnymwr75 did in his thread last month ( by the way congrats!) but no embers yet.

[grokh5499]

Great job! I don't mind confessing that I would have started a fire the same way! Using a magnifying lens only works when all of the conditions are right! The US Air Force includes the Mag Block Fire Starter in their Air Crew Survival Kits! If they think it's a good choice who am I to argue? You get an "A" for sure!

My favorite method too. Used be into the "one match fire" when I first started to learn fire starting in high school - ( over protective parents = late start!) then I discovered the magnesium striker.

[canid]

True story; growing up in Southeast Alaska, I thought for years that starting fire with a magnifying lens was pretty difficult and unreliable. Nearly impossible really. Then I moved down to the lower and learned it was just me. Go figure.

[1stimestar]

Sorry you are all overcome in the heatwave. It's 60 here today and will be 40 tonight.

[crashdive123]

When it's -40 at your place it will be 60 here and 40 at night.

[1stimestar]

When it's -40 at your place it will be 60 here and 40 at night.

Yep but by then I will be snug as a bug in a rug in a cabin and out of this behemoth that is impossible to heat without a small fortune.

[Winter]

True story; growing up in Southeast Alaska, I thought for years that starting fire with a magnifying lens was pretty difficult and unreliable. Nearly impossible really. Then I moved down to the lower and learned it was just me. Go figure.

I didn't know you were SEAK man. Fires are pretty tough to do here most of the yr.

[canid]

Indeed. I had always been told that a person could start a fire that way on a sunny day with dry tinder. What I didn't know yet was that I'd never actually encountered what in most of the world passes for a sunny day, or dry tinder. And that in what for Southeast AK passes for a rain shadow

[wholsomback]

My favorite is a 9volt and steel wool.But have tried all the others too,practice makes perfect.

[MiddleWolf]

Living in So Cal makes it easy to try the magnifying glass most of the year. Now in the Pacific NW it only makes sense to look to the ferro rod as a first choice. But try the glass for fun if conditions allow.

[Hntrofdmnds]

magnifying glass in this weather. You'd have better luck rubbing two wet ducks together!

I used to carry a frenzel lens in my wallet for when my lighter died and i didn't have any matches. I could light my cigarettes with it on a sunny day. You would have to try and hold it right and drag on the cigarette. But, it worked.

I was wondering about this yesterday when i was watching green deane use a loop in one of his videos to look at tiny flowers.

you have cigarettes!????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hntrofdmnds]

Damn caps restriction...