Firesteels - What Tinder?

[Tigger004]

Nice idea, will give them a try, thanks

[AL...]

Anyone else carry some cycle innertube in there firekit? Its great and will help get a fire goin in all weathers.

Cheers
AL

[FishyFolk]

Anyone else carry some cycle innertube in there firekit? Its great and will help get a fire goin in all weathers.

Cheers
AL

That goes into my "Everything, including me is soaking wet, and I do not give a flying *expletive* how I light my fire anymore, I jsut wanna get warm* firekit.

I actually carry 3 fire kits

One is the all traditional quartz, steel and charcloth with some grass for tinder and birch bark kindling, kept in a leather pouch, wich sits in a leather belt pouch, both fairly waterproof, but will probably be wet if I fall in a river or something...

Then I have the modern LMF type firesteel, on with each knife I carry. Usually use this one with birch bark directly. Consider those a firekit in it's own right.

And then last a "high-tech" kit with storm matches, lighter, strips of bicycle innertube, vaselined hemp twine, vaselined cotton pads and LMF army firesteel. The last kit is kept in a zip lock bag with each item inside also in zip lock bags for water proofness.

[Tigger004]

Hi Al,
Here is a good tip,
I use a couple of Bands of inner tube around the sheath of my Mora Forest knife to hold my firesteel to it (always know where the steel is that way and can't forget to take it),
This banding is far more than is actually required to hold the steel. (or add a spare for fire starting.
The reason for two bands is the steel is gripped both sides by rubber and it protects the sheath from scapes,
Please note I also inserted a short piece of plastic tube (from an old felt pen tube) This stops you having to fiddle about when replacing the steel between the bands, (dont insert a long piece or you'll lose the grip effect)
Not meaning to teach egg sucking, just trying to be detailed for everyone, hopefull pictures added too

PS. the back holds the striker and a tiny little can opener (can be seen poking out the bottom)

[AL...]

Hi Tigger
Great Idea mate I have a holder on my sheath for the fire rod mate Which was made for me by Tony along with my knife Both of which are beautiful.
So I keep all my fire lighting kit in a pouch in with my stove .
Thanks for sharin mate

Cheers
AL

[Jason]

I tend to carry a selection of various tinders but i like char cloth & maya dust........

[OakAshandThorn]

I prefer natural tinders, especially thistledown and milkweed fuzz. Cattails seem to go out instantaneously - I wonder if I'm not fluffing it up enough to give it more oxygen.

[David_JAFO]

hello,
Yes I do. I used the inner tube as a waterproof outer for one of my survival tins.
I usually 'recycle' (pardon the pun) old inner tubes from cycles or the wheel chair
repair/supply shop in town usually bin the old inner tubes, shop girl usually keeps
them for me before they get binned.
One of my favourite all time tinders Impregnated Metal Polish Wadding lights
first time very little effort
Regards
David

Anyone else carry some cycle innertube in there firekit? Its great and will help get a fire goin in all weathers.
Cheers
AL

[Silverback]

Anyone else carry some cycle innertube in there firekit? Its great and will help get a fire goin in all weathers.

Cheers
AL

Yup, its wound round an empty 12g cartridge in which there are some lifeboat matches - Like Rune its part of my "I NEED HEAT NOW" SHTF kit

[SimonB]

After making my first lot of charcloth, and getting hold of a steel for my flint, I had a play today, and lit my first ever tinder bundle using flint,steel, and charcloth.. One happy bunny.................

And for the record... Jute twine makes awesome tinder nests !!!!!!!!