M14 Forum

Sweets · February 21st, 2012, 08:09 AM

I am now the proud owner of a made-in-England olde tyme tinderbox setup complete with an authentic-looking flint and steel, the 'flint' being a spearhead sized chunk of that rock and the 'steel' an open circlet that fits around the fingers (everything but the flint is new, this is not an antique). After several trials, however, I haven't produced much in the way of sparks but HAVE created quite a little mound of chips and am well on the way to making a nice minature arrow head out of the much larger flint. Not wanting to destroy my kit during the learning process, I'm looking to the forum for advice on using the steel on the flint more effectively. This is a skill I want to master but here's NO flint in my area for replacements, so I'm extra nervous.

huntinghawk · February 21st, 2012, 08:24 AM

You hold the flint in one hand & strike with the steel. You want to use the sharpest edge of the flint. You are basically trying to shave off a piece of the steel. Using char cloth held in the hand with the flint, it doesn't take much of a spark.

HH

rstickle · February 21st, 2012, 04:32 PM

Have you tried Googling flint and steel? If I remember correctly there are good instructions on a couple of reenacting web sites. Once you get the hang of it you can get a fire started pretty quickly.

Palladin · February 21st, 2012, 04:46 PM

This booklet might be handy for new users. The company also sells flint/steel.

http://jas-townsend.com/product_info...roducts_id=358

Here's a pretty detailed explanation on using flint & steel to start a fire.

http://www.northwestjournal.ca/IX3945.htm

Sustinemus · February 21st, 2012, 06:19 PM

If your steel is breaking big chips off your rock, then I suspect your rock has been heated with fire (I forget the term). This heating makes the rock easier to knap into arrow heads and such, but I seem to have read somewhere that it ruins it for fire making.

Sweets, don't you even have quartz laying around your neck of the woods? A sharp edge of quartz should work for you. (Flint is cryptocrystaline quartz.)

30Caliber · February 21st, 2012, 06:43 PM

Steel might be soft.

Sustinemus · February 21st, 2012, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Steel might be soft.

That too. Non-hardened or low carbon won't spark.

huntinghawk · February 21st, 2012, 09:01 PM

http://blip.tv/bushcraft/f-for-flint...aft-com-286847

Sweets · February 22nd, 2012, 06:11 AM

I really didn't think of turning to the internet video world for advice, and that's because I only have access from work- in case our security guys are reading this, strictly during break times. When I started spending my work days gazing at this-here screen for 11 hours, the idea of doing so for another several hours at home did not appeal. Now however I'm more used to it and- if I can hold off on buying a new firearm- my next big purchase will be a home PC to replace my Pentium 1, which, poor thing, hasn't been turned on for years. Then I'll be more able to join in the fun! Thanks to all so far.

Sweets · February 22nd, 2012, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sustinemus

If your steel is breaking big chips off your rock, then I suspect your rock has been heated with fire (I forget the term). This heating makes the rock easier to knap into arrow heads and such, but I seem to have read somewhere that it ruins it for fire making.

Sweets, don't you even have quartz laying around your neck of the woods? A sharp edge of quartz should work for you. (Flint is cryptocrystaline quartz.)

Yes there is quartz all over the place here. I'll give it a whack (pun intended) once the snow melts.

Sweets · February 22nd, 2012, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntinghawk

You hold the flint in one hand & strike with the steel. You want to use the sharpest edge of the flint. You are basically trying to shave off a piece of the steel. Using char cloth held in the hand with the flint, it doesn't take much of a spark.

HH

The sharp edge advice produces better results, which is not to say great ones so far- but practice is needed. It goes against the grain for me to ruin a 'sharp' edge, so I wasn't doing that.

rstickle · February 22nd, 2012, 09:17 AM

Sweets,

Here are a couple of good sites for basic flint & steel fire starting. One from youtube and one in text.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNn0RRi1Ni8

http://www.northwestjournal.ca/I1.htm

Sweets · February 22nd, 2012, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstickle

Sweets,

Here are a couple of good sites for basic flint & steel fire starting. One from youtube and one in text.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNn0RRi1Ni8

http://www.northwestjournal.ca/I1.htm

I was able to view the text link at northwest etc. Very useful info, thanks again, esp the link from there to making fast fires etc, which explains that what is wanted is sparks from the steel produced by the flint, not vice-versa! That bit of knowledge had eluded me all these years....

Also, I now know how to produce large amounts of charred linen instead of just small ones. I may never buy another Bic....

GeneCo · February 22nd, 2012, 07:29 PM

Yeah, a good flint and steel device and they added gas to it, called a Bic lighter.

Just kidding, I practice primitive firestarting, I have compression pistons, ferro rods, mag blocks, etc.

Spending time out in the wilderness, I decided to practice those skills by the side of a nice warm fire, after dinner, all started with a Bic. IOW, after kayaking for miles and it pouring the rain and being tired and hungry, I don't wanna add to my misery by fighting for a spark for a fire.

Sweets · February 23rd, 2012, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneCo

Yeah, a good flint and steel device and they added gas to it, called a Bic lighter.

Just kidding, I practice primitive firestarting, I have compression pistons, ferro rods, mag blocks, etc.

Spending time out in the wilderness, I decided to practice those skills by the side of a nice warm fire, after dinner, all started with a Bic. IOW, after kayaking for miles and it pouring the rain and being tired and hungry, I don't wanna add to my misery by fighting for a spark for a fire.

Definately agree. I just want to have the practice in, in case my plane crashes- or the world does- you know that sort of thing. Besides, it's fun.