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Post by armando on Apr 9, 2020 14:45:31 GMT -7
So I have done different fire starting I Techniques over the years in modern camping (ferro rod, bow, lens, etc) but realized the reason I’ve never explored more flint and steel is having good Flint stone.
I was able to get some Michigan flint from a guy and have a piece of chert somewhere in the garage from my exploration of Flint napping, but I’m not having much success.
I’m getting an occasional spark but mostly I’m knocking off pieces of my flint and making rubble. Lol 😂
I’ve been using my char cloth that I made but my sparks are too sparse to get a light yet.
Recommendation on stone selection and/or technique?
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Post by Black Hand on Apr 9, 2020 15:34:40 GMT -7
Is your steel hard? If your sparks are sparse, it may be too soft. A good piece of carbon steel will throw a shower like a sparkler - complex, multi branching sparks. A file should skate over the surface of the steel.
To see this, look up spark testing of steel.
Even with a less than sharp edge on a flint, I can still get a good spark with my steel (made from an old file). If you have a worn gunflint, there are still plenty of edges to test your steel or light fires.
As to technique, pretend you are using the sharp edge of the flint to slice a piece from the steel like you would use a hatchet to sharpen a tent stake. And don't be tentative - you want a nice firm and decisive strike of the sharp flint edge just about parallel with face of the steel. Vary the angle of the flint slightly until you get a good shower of sparks.
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Keith
Hunter
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 1,002 
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Post by Keith on Apr 9, 2020 15:56:33 GMT -7
So I have done different fire starting I Techniques over the years in modern camping (ferro rod, bow, lens, etc) but realized the reason I’ve never explored more flint and steel is having good Flint stone. I was able to get some Michigan flint from a guy and have a piece of chert somewhere in the garage from my exploration of Flint napping, but I’m not having much success. I’m getting an occasional spark but mostly I’m knocking off pieces of my flint and making rubble. Lol 😂 I’ve been using my char cloth that I made but my sparks are too sparse to get a light yet. Recommendation on stone selection and/or technique? This sounds more like a steel problem than a stone problem armando. I suggest you get another steel. Keith. woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2009/09/flint-steel-fire-lighting-for.htmlwww.youtube.com/channel/UCHEOMSZJETfj3GnoyONuvCQ?view_as=subscriber |
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Post by hawkeyes on Apr 10, 2020 6:11:21 GMT -7
If you have the means, heat your steel red hot, then immediately quench in water. No need to temper, should solve your problem, that is if your steel is high carbon.
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Post by Black Hand on Apr 10, 2020 6:18:05 GMT -7
If you have the means, heat your steel red hot, then immediately quench in water. No need to temper, should solve your problem, that is if your steel is high carbon. But don't drop it on a hard surface, as steel this hard is brittle and can shatter. |
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Post by hawkeyes on Apr 10, 2020 6:44:47 GMT -7
If you have the means, heat your steel red hot, then immediately quench in water. No need to temper, should solve your problem, that is if your steel is high carbon. But don't drop it on a hard surface, as steel this hard is brittle and can shatter. Now who would do such a thing!? Okay, okay... Possibly temper it at 300 degrees for about 40 minutes, no longer. |
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Post by Black Hand on Apr 10, 2020 12:17:59 GMT -7
We brought mine to a bright red, removed it from the flame, waited until it had darkened slightly then quenched (IIRC, oil). We may have softened the tail afterwards.
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