The ever lasting search for Sure=Fire

Post up your tips and tricks or whatever.

I know it is something that has been said but it is very important. Get all your prep done before getting started on the actual fire making.

Bow drill tips: Try to use the same material for the hearth and the spindle.

Dont forget that fat wood or some call it pitch wood is a good bearing block. The same reason resinous woods make it difficult to use as hearth and spindle make it a good bearing block.

I'm really new to this.
In the past I've always had a throw away lighter close at hand and Jute twine in a pack when out trail riding .

I just tonight made up a fire starting kit that will probley become my new norm . I did alittle test with wax and without . I am very suprised at the diference the addition of wax made it not only gave a longer burn but also seemed to give a better flame with more constant heat . Even after it flamed out it left nice embers that I'm sure would be workable if need be .

I love the cotton balls and petroleum jelly. Birch bark is a personal favorite as well.

Friartuck wrote:I love the cotton balls and petroleum jelly. Birch bark is a personal favorite as well.

Yea I'm going to try out the cotton ball deal ! I was going to today but it seems cotton balls aren't used in my house any more. Some new fangle cotton things instead (?).

Birtch bark will light off with a spark ?

ole scout wrote:

Friartuck wrote:I love the cotton balls and petroleum jelly. Birch bark is a personal favorite as well.

Yea I'm going to try out the cotton ball deal ! I was going to today but it seems cotton balls aren't used in my house any more. Some new fangle cotton things instead (?).

Birtch bark will light off with a spark ?

You can't just spark birch bark without a little prep but once you get it going it rocks.

If you use your knife to fluff the bark it will catch a spark and flame up.

Jeff "LFB" Kindy wrote:If you use your knife to fluff the bark it will catch a spark and flame up.

That's the prep I meant. I generally scrape a little pile of the bark like a powder. I'll also leave some little curls of the outer bark part for the first level of tinder.

Gotcha! I knew that you knew that I knew what you knew.
Just sayin' so others may know. We have a few newer folks on here now and the future, I was just clarifying for their sakes.

Well I did try the cotton ball and jelly today. I've gotta say I'm impressed for some reason I didn't think it would be that easy and a good burn duration too. Ofcourse the word patroleum should be a clue

I may put some more thought into my fire kit.