I just got my first ferrocerium rod (stop snickering back there). My son (who is in Boy Scouts) told me the best tinder is dry paper towel. After trying several tinders, he's right. My first ever strike on the rod I used paper towel, and it started right up, no problem. Paper towel is a cheap, fast solution to tinder, if you can keep it dry.
I also tried dryer lint, char cloth, magnesium. The magnesium shavings wouldn't light after 8 sparks, perhaps they needed to be in powder form.
I also found that a 1.5x2.5 inch square of char cloth did not start the fire because it burned too fast. But I'm not an expert yet with the ferro rod. Larger squares would be helpful.
Just a note for ya.
Bookmarks