Nearly just set myself on fire...

**Laird_M** · 27th April 13, 05:36 AM

Some time ago Chris, aka Mither Tap, showed a broach he made and I commented on how nice it was and that I wished I could find a fire steel like it.
Chris then offered to make one for me, and today it arrived.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79648010@N07/8556114133/ (this is from the PM that Chris sent me).

I found a nice piece of flint, tried the steel, and its way better than the one I had stolen! This thing throws sparks and how! (Hence the title of the thread - my fleece top caught several sparks...)

I'll dig some tinder out of my bushcraft instructing box later and try to get some pictures of the steel in action.

Chris, a big
THANK YOU!

**Father Bill** · 27th April 13, 05:57 AM

The one you had stolen?????

**Laird_M** · 27th April 13, 06:00 AM

Yeah - been doing G24, the 24hr event at Gilwell Park (Scout HQ) held in July, for the last few years and last year my fire steel and all my flints 'disappeared'...nothing else, just my steel and flint.

The traditional steels are not too easy to buy and are pretty expensive.

**Grizzly** · 27th April 13, 06:36 AM

Lol just to clear up the confusion . Martin didn't steal it. He had it stolen from him.

**Tartan Tess** · 27th April 13, 07:15 AM

When I looked at the picture my first thought was it was made from a file.

**Laird_M** · 27th April 13, 08:09 AM

It is actually made from a file - tool steel is high carbon which is what is needed to get the nice hot sparks.

**ronin6290** · 27th April 13, 08:16 AM

I too thought we had just heard a confession here. LoL! 'Way nicer than the one I had stolen'

Nice unique brooch, so you strike flint against to start a camp fire or such, correct? Probably best to remove from a synthetic kilt lest one set one self on fire? (wink)

Originally Posted by Grizzly

Lol just to clear up the confusion . Martin didn't steal it. He had it stolen from him.

**Old Hippie** · 30th April 13, 12:46 PM

This may wander a bit off-topic, my apologies...

Originally Posted by Laird_M

I found a nice piece of flint, tried the steel, and its way better than the one I had stolen! This thing throws sparks and how! (Hence the title of the thread - my fleece top caught several sparks...)

I live in a place that's very poor in flint or chert. There are some chance encounters but mostly we have what my father used to call "Leaverrite" -- "Leave 'er right there." Consequently I've never really mastered the technique of flint and steel, due to the relative scarcity of the material.

I do make and use fire pistons, make my own charcloth, and am fairly competent with fire bows and other methods.

But lately, as I'm revamping the fire kits in my vehicles I've been thinking about learning this technique. I went to the Re-Store and bought a couple of nice big allen wrenches for 25 cents apiece. I heated them up and forged each into a D shape. I've got some feelers out for chert or at least usable rock (we own a quarry so it's not unusual to find the odd rock that might work).

What I need is a teacher. When you get pix up, I might be nagging you for a tutorial. I've seen some online but I need someone I can ask questions to -- just bashing away with a rock is a recipe for sore knuckles. I'll trade you knowledge for knowledge -- I have a good electronic copy of the 1905 Balfour article for the Smithsonian about fire pistons, sent to me with permission by the Smithsonian. I also have another more recent historical article and a small booklet I produced showing how to make and use fire pistons.

What say ye?

**Holcombe Thomas** · 30th April 13, 01:08 PM

I used flint and steel in the Boy Scouts rather a long time ago, but it seems it was more a knack than a specific technique.

When I did it, I held a small piece of flint or whatever flint-like rock I had in the left hand and a broken piece of a steel file in the right and, moving both hands, but more the right, struck the corner of the steel against the flint to shower sparks on the tinder (hard to light), on a piece of charred cloth, e.g., flannel (easier) or onto steel wool (dead easy). The flint ought to be three or four times the size of a rifle flint, if that helps, or a bit larger, and really should have a broken, flattish side. You really don't need to hit the flint and steel together hard. It's a glancing strike.

I'd wager that Laird_M can offer better directions than I can. Although I'm active as a Scouter, I haven't seen anyone using flint and steel here in the US in years. Too bad, it was fun when I was a Scout.

Holcombe

**Elf** · 30th April 13, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by Old Hippie

This may wander a bit off-topic, my apologies.......
What I need is a teacher. When you get pix up, I might be nagging you for a tutorial. I've seen some online but I need someone I can ask questions to -- just bashing away with a rock is a recipe for sore knuckles. I'll trade you knowledge for knowledge -- I have a good electronic copy of the 1905 Balfour article for the Smithsonian about fire pistons, sent to me with permission by the Smithsonian. I also have another more recent historical article and a small booklet I produced showing how to make and use fire pistons.

What say ye?

With more appologies for continuing the tangent this is one practice move I've seen. With both hands in a loose fist, place the right pinkie on the left index finger and swipe the knuckles past each other. "Glancing blow" is correct, remember that the object is to peal off flakes of metal. The foregoing practice reduces the tendancy to bash the flint and steel together, which only breaks the flint.

Another hint. I've seen people move the flint and others move the steel. If the steel comes down on top of the flint, put the charcloth on top of the flint. If the flint comes down on top of the steel, the sparks will shower down and place your char under them.

Good luck. I trust practice will yeild good results.