redundancy

**hunter63** · 01-23-2010, 10:02 PM

I know what you mean, I know what works, but am sadly lacking on a lot of different kinds.
If you think there may be some around, just take a piece of harden steel with you (hack saw blade or piece of old file will work), on "walk about", when you see something promising, just strike it and see if it sparks.
I tried a couple of pieces of pyrite, (fools gold), just striking them together they will spark as well.
This was tip from Ala (spelling?) of Clan of the Cave Bear, fame.

At a rendezvous being held on a old trading post site, it being my turn to dig the fire pit, I dug up a piece of flint.
Used it to start the camp fire for the weekend, still have it.
Whether it use left over from the old post, or just natural, don't know, but was kinda cool digging up a fire-starter.

**AKS** · 01-23-2010, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by wareagle69

i will stand by mt theory that numb hands will not have the dexterity to flic my bic but the whole hand can close and hold a firesteel, will let ya know how it works out

It gets more dificult the longer your hands are out in the cold. Around -20 it doesn't take long for fingers to go numb but I have always been able to use the bic. It does hurt a bit when the fingers get stiff but so does the fire steel at that temp.

Oh, I have dropped the bic in water before and was able to use it right away by blowing the water out of the top. Only did it a couple of times but it has worked so far.

**Stony** · 01-23-2010, 10:30 PM

I have an unrelated question:
the avatar of wareeagle69 said banned.
why was he banned?

**rwc1969** · 01-24-2010, 10:01 PM

Planned redundancy is a good thing. I only use lighters at the moment and if they do get cold they don't wanna light. Just warm it in your hands or under your armpit for a few seonds and it works fine.

If they get wet they don't work but just roll the sparker along your pantleg or other absorbant material and it will dry off and spark very quick.

I don't use bics anymore because the ones here aren't adjustable and i get a lot of dudds that have too low a flame to light consistently. Therefore, my thumb and I boycott BIC. Too many sore thumbs from repeatedly trying to light those POS.

I use the cheap, third world ones that are 5 for a buck or so and are still adjustable. The flints wear out quick though, they are very very short, so I always carry extra. There's been times I've went thru 3 lighters in a day because of the short flints.

**aflineman** · 01-25-2010, 02:30 PM

I have a number of ways to light a fire. Matches, bic lighter, firesteel, steel wool and a battery. My last ditch though has always been a road flare. I pick up a couple of new ones every fall and replace the ones in my bag. They are heavy, but I like having them there just in case.

**Old GI** · 01-25-2010, 02:46 PM

Referring to plans, an old (he was then, not so much now) Master Sergeant told me "Always have a back-up for your back-up. Same applies here IMHO.

**Trabitha** · 01-25-2010, 04:15 PM

Regarding the bic liter... be careful not to rely on butane lighters too much. The cold is what makes a fire most important to have, and butane is amazingly fickle in freezing temps.
Just store them close to your body to keep the temp. up.

**dscrick** · 01-25-2010, 05:56 PM

I'm a fan of redundancy. Redundant systems offer the best insurance against failure. Mr. Murphy is always lurking in the background.

If the matches are wet, break out the firesteel. Sure, you can revert to bow and drill or some other "No tech" method, but when you are cold & wet and need a fire, I'll take the faster method

**SARKY** · 01-25-2010, 08:17 PM

Although there is considerable redundancy in my kit, I've gotten to the point where I find that the one item that always starts a fire no matter the weather is fire steel! Just have to keep my tinder dry. So in the vein I do carry several including the BlastMatch just in case I do injure a hand I can still start a fire one handed.

**huntermj** · 01-25-2010, 08:41 PM

i feel that fire is too important to leave to one methed.
So much else counts on it, Food, water, warmth.
Thats why i want more then one way to start it.
I praticed with mag blocks and thought it was "ok" Till i was trying to start a fire at 11,000 feet in a white-out with very low temps with one.
even with a windblock of snow the temps and circulating air i couldnt get it going. with gloves off and losing dexterity i knew my window was closing. So i cut a piece of cloth off and smeered it with lipbalm then took a striker to it, Bingo. I thought the mag block was my ace in the hole, i was wrong. cotten balls and jelly is my best way. I can start a friction fire everytime, but in those conditions? Im not betting my life on it.

**rwc1969** · 01-25-2010, 11:51 PM

when you guys say fire steel what are you reffering to?

Ferrocerium rod, misch metal or what?

I wanna get a firesteel and i'd like it to be a good one. I know someone here bought some bulk, but I don't remeber who and can't find the thread. i'd like to get some good bulk firesteel and make some w' handles from some deer antler I have lying around.

**crashdive123** · 01-25-2010, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by rwc1969

when you guys say fire steel what are you reffering to?

Ferrocerium rod, misch metal or what?

I wanna get a firesteel and i'd like it to be a good one. I know someone here bought some bulk, but I don't remeber who and can't find the thread. i'd like to get some good bulk firesteel and make some w' handles from some deer antler I have lying around.

Here are a couple of sources that I have used, and been very pleased with.

http://www.safezonellc.com/firestarters.html

http://www.survivaltopics.com/gear/c...el-Blank-Rods/