Can you start a fire?

[Garufa]

24 minutes ago, martin5 said:

I skimmed this thread, and didn’t see anyone mention it. Highwalker teaches primitive fire building classes. It’s a lot of fun and hard work.

Who is this master of fire called Highwalker that you speak of?

[martin5]

Highwalker, that’s what he goes by on here. He’s a former green beret. He taught sear while he was in. He teaches an edible and medicinal wild plant class and wild game processing class. When I took the fire building class 10-ring was there. And no i didn’t get the fire started. I got it smoking so I was close.

[btq96r]

Using a flint was something I learned as a Cub Scout way back when.  Pretty hard to beat for all around utility, plus some small, lightweight, and cheap kit.  Still keep the lesson in mind even when I can use easier methods.

[17doc17]

In my packs I keep lighters, matches, and ferro rods along with cotton balls with petroleum jelly and a tin with char cloth

[gregintenn]

Old Boy Scout here. I can burn a block of ice!

[Tom B]

Gotta say I never tried to start one, but after 27 years as a firefighter I damn well know how to put one out-lol

[rgfarr]

A quality ferro rod makes it fairly easy in dry conditions. One of the commercial fire starter sticks like Blackbeards will start a bunch of fires and helps in less than ideal conditions. Anything more primitive is a whole different skill set. 

[Ronald_55]

I keep  the cotton balls with petroleum jelly on them in my fire kits (individually sandwiched between wax paper squares to reduce handling mess) with a lighter, matches, and ferro rod. I also put a small ziplock holding toothpicks in there. Break a few cheap ones up and you have dry tinder. I figure I should always have the easy option available if I can. I carry a bic in my pocket at all times too even though I have never smoked. I keep a couple small commercial fire started blocks in my hunting bag as another layer. 

We used to carry paper matchbooks in a ziplock when I was a kid and Dad and I hunted. One hunt we had a mishap crossing a creek during mild but chilly weather. By the time we could get set up to start a fire, we could not strike the matches due to shivering. Luckily we could suck it up and finish the hike out. A lesson I have carried with me since.

[Jeb48]

I could when a scout leader 50+ years ago but probably would need at least some barn burner matches now.  

Many years ago I was put in charge of doing a campfire for our church group.  I didn't want to mess with a slow starting fire and laid a nice traditional fire but hid a large piece of wax log in the middle.  A friend that knows more about everything than anyone else came up and started giving advice and I told him it was fine I knew what I was doing.  Stuck a match back in the right spot and caught the wax log going and had a great fire.  I don't think he ever gave advice on fire building again and I never told him about the wax log.

[Darrell]

I can start one with a flint, a steel, and some homemade tinder. If you cut an old t-shirt into 2" squares, put it into a metal can with some air holes and put the can into a fire the shirt will become the best tinder ever. One spark and it starts burning. For me, though, all bets are off it's raining, which probably defeats 80% of the purpose.

[Jpoc700]

Best fire starter duraflame pieces.

[tngunclub]

Made a mistake of thinking my zippo would be good to go long term. Never again. Pack butane, storm matches and flint now. But thinking about those firestarter ropes instead of duraflame.

[10-Ring]

7 hours ago, ### said:

Made a mistake of thinking my zippo would be good to go long term. Never again. Pack butane, storm matches and flint now. But thinking about those firestarter ropes instead of duraflame.

Zippos are cool, but not worth their weight when you really need a fire. Same for flint and steel, it's cool, but takes up space and weight. 2 Bic lighters (just for redundancy) and you have a small and light weight reliable fire source. I've tried for years to add one to my pocket for EDC. I don't smoke and seldom actually need a lighter, so it always finds its way out of my pocket. I have made it a point to put 2 Bics in my boat, all of my vehicles, and my ATVs. 

[rgfarr]

Cheaper version of Blackbeards fire rope but work fantastic. So easy to carry with no real concerns for keeping them dry. 

https://www.amazon.com/Coopers-Bay-FireRope-Tinder-Weatherproof/dp/B09F1W1ZYB/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3907Z77ZLBP0G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2DwYsXJ6Yg4mToX2TmV9hHPnmpTEfJVMkVlrEcl90huBmCZPgKwzjj6FVM2JMVuYjv_klb-O6G7-9G5ZB9gXBuNh08wnQKYn99NmDk_Qcv596k-TvENq7gisFpsTnETIN0PDwfN3Ru-AbyL_OMmT-fRFwQsVp5hKz02hNb_RwwIDdR-plWNlz8w3R6oG5ekWkDMZ-j08tNdQn1UskUz_1w.wExjJBE9rPnHV_9AZDj3rW122JJDtbX2bp6piyfkQOo&dib_tag=se&keywords=cooper+fire+rope&qid=1732196417&sprefix=cooper+fire+rooe%2Caps%2C257&sr=8-1

[Bill P]

I use bic lighters to light my camp stove. Had to start a fire with two matches to pass my tenderfoot test a zillion years ago.