Fire with true flint and steel

**typ3** · 07-05-2009, 06:47 PM

Howdy,

I'm interested in getting a classic 'flint and steel' striker for fire making. I've been using firesteel for some time, but I'd like to try the challenge of the traditional flint and steel.

Does anyone have any recommendations on where I could pick up a traditional c-shaped steel striker?

Thanks,

Brandon

**crashdive123** · 07-05-2009, 07:17 PM

Here's a source http://www.survivaltopics.com/gear/c...and-FireSteel/ but keep in mind, the steel doesn't need to be c-shaped for it to work. One of our members made a little kit for me (I'll snap a pic later) that works great.

**vthompson** · 07-12-2009, 07:29 AM

You can also pick up a flint & steel kit here:http://crazycrow.com.

**hunter63** · 07-27-2009, 08:39 PM

Old piece of a file works fine.
Just need a hard piece of steel, some knife blades will work, just use the back side so as to not screw up the cutting edge.

**crashdive123** · 07-27-2009, 09:06 PM

Here's a couple of pics of that kit I was talking about. Runs With Beer made it, and it works like a charm. It's an Altoids tin, char cloth, natural flint, and piece of steel. The tin has a small hole in it (covered with tape to help prevent moisture) so that you can make more char in the field if you need to.

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**pocomoonskyeyes** · 07-27-2009, 09:47 PM

This brings up an interesting idea for me Does anyone need any flint? I can pick up some in the pasture where my horses are. I even found a partial arrowhead and some type of cutting tool there. I can bring it to the Jamboree if anyone does. While theres not a massive quantity there is some in all different sizes, Maybe even some big enough to get some blanks out of to make Arrowheads. I'll have to check tomorrow as to how much there is.

**crashdive123** · 07-27-2009, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by pocomoonskyeyes

This brings up an interesting idea for me Does anyone need any flint? I can pick up some in the pasture where my horses are. I even found a partial arrowhead and some type of cutting tool there. I can bring it to the Jamboree if anyone does. While theres not a massive quantity there is some in all different sizes, Maybe even some big enough to get some blanks out of to make Arrowheads. I'll have to check tomorrow as to how much there is.

I sure could use some. I'm bringing my knapping tools, but most of the rock I've got is baked coral.

**hunter63** · 07-27-2009, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

Here's a couple of pics of that kit I was talking about. Runs With Beer made it, and it works like a charm. It's an Altoids tin, char cloth, natural flint, and piece of steel. The tin has a small hole in it (covered with tape to help prevent moisture) so that you can make more char in the field if you need to.

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Ya, beat me to it, we were just talking about this on another forum.
Here what I posted when asked about sealable cans:

I would like to expand on this idea; Works well with a sealable steel can, like shoe polish etc.

Punch a nail size hole in the lid, stuff it with cotton waste, toss it in the fire till it stops smoking.
That it out and it will contain "char cloth", that will catch almost any small spark.

Now take a small candle stub, (like the end when it has burned down too far), melt a little dab of wax to seal the hole till you need more char cloth. Makes it water proof.

Then put in your flint(as in piece of flint/chert rock) and steel(as in small piece of broken file)(or your store bought mag and steel) along with the candle stub, into your new fire starting and char cloth making kit.

When you need more char cloth, take out the other stuff, fill back up with cotton waste (old pieces of sheets, T-shirt material, old gun cleaning patches, as long as it's cotton), throw back in the fire, the fire will melt the wax and bingo, more char cloth.
Repeat as necessary.

**crashdive123** · 07-27-2009, 10:01 PM

I like the wax idea. Thanks.

**pocomoonskyeyes** · 07-27-2009, 10:06 PM

Cool I'll take a 5 gallon bucket out tomorrow and see how full I can get it. Will post more about it then.
Just out of curiosity how big a piece do you need for knapping?

**crashdive123** · 07-27-2009, 10:16 PM

It all depends on what you want to make (keep in mind the rock knows what it wants to be - our job is to figure out what it is). Even frome some good sized flakes you can make some nice points. Arrow or spear heads don't need anything too awfully big. I'm pretty new to it and just learning. I've seen some people make blades that were about 10 inches long.

**pocomoonskyeyes** · 07-27-2009, 10:42 PM

I don't think there are any pieces THAT BIG!!! Lol Maybe a couple of chunks that are Double fist size. It's been plowed and run over by horses for several years at the least.

**crashdive123** · 07-27-2009, 10:43 PM

Those are plenty big to make something.

**Rick** · 07-27-2009, 11:16 PM

Thanks for the wax idea. I have never heard that before. Great idea!!

**hunter63** · 07-28-2009, 09:58 AM

It came to me as I store a bee's wax candle stub in my fire kit, any way, as it really helps to get a fire started in wet and cold weather.

Going rendezvousing tomorrow, for the first time in about five years.
(getting harder and harder to lug all that camp stuff around).
So I'll be looking in my trade stuff to see how many little kits I have left.

P.S. I found a lot of pieces of cert/Flint on roof tops that have rocks holding down the rubber roof, also along railroad tracks.
Seems I'm always looking down for "stuff".

At one camp, as I was digging a fire pit, I found a piece of flint that I used to start the camp fire (still have it), but how cool is it to "dig up your match"?

Dixie Gun Works used to sell a combination fire steel and patch knife, bought one once and thought it was a good idea, don't know if they still have tham or not.........

**pocomoonskyeyes** · 07-28-2009, 03:22 PM

I got maybe a 1/3 of a 5 gal. bucket some are small chips I thought might be good for Flintlocks(not sure how big of a piece is needed for one). One piece is as big as both of my fists (almost)held side by side and spherical in shape. Two more are almost as big. I'll try to get some pics uploaded later. BTW it sparks great!! tried it and pretty decent results.
Oh yeah I'll be bringing it to the Jamboree!!

**crashdive123** · 07-28-2009, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by pocomoonskyeyes

I got maybe a 1/3 of a 5 gal. bucket some are small chips I thought might be good for Flintlocks(not sure how big of a piece is needed for one). One piece is as big as both of my fists (almost)held side by side and spherical in shape. Two more are almost as big. I'll try to get some pics uploaded later. BTW it sparks great!! tried it and pretty decent results.
Oh yeah I'll be bringing it to the Jamboree!!

Cool beans. Oops - I mean Cool Ocean Breeze!