In the movies, starting a fire with flint and steel looks so easy. The hero knocks the flint and steel together twice and viola, a fire roars to life in seconds. In reality, however, it can be a little more complicated.
Unless you have a commercial flint and steel set, you need to select a piece of flint that bears a sharp edge so it can knick the steel. Or, you may be able to obtain a sharp edge by rapping the flint with a hammer. High-carbon tool steel works best.
In addition to the flint and steel, it's helpful to use char cloth when fire building. Char cloth is a partially burned cotton or linen cloth that's more easily combustible than most other materials. It won't take up much space in your pack and will help you get a fire burning more quickly when you need heat fast.
If you want to make your own char cloth ahead of time, place a cotton cloth in a tin with a loose lid. Hold it over a flame. When the smoke ceases, remove the tin from the flame and allow it to cool.
Don't use dryer lint as char unless the clothing was 100-percent cotton. Synthetics can release toxic fumes when charred.
When you're ready to build a fire, select a location free of overhanging trees and shrubs. Clear the ground of combustible materials such as grass so your fire doesn't get out of control. Pile up about four inches of bare dirt.
Gather tufts of dry grass, dry leaves, dry twigs and dry wood. Notice a theme here? It's dry. Wet won't burn. Form a little ball of char cloth close to where you will strike the flint and steel. Keep the dry grass and twigs handy, too.
Strike downward with the flint. The flint is actually peeling away a thin piece of steel, which, when exposed to oxygen causes it to combust. Once a spark lands on the tinder, gently blow on it. No glow? Keep striking.
Once you get a bit of flame, gradually add larger and larger pieces of dry twig and wood. Of course, practice your fire building skills before you need them.
PHOTO Courtesy Wilderness Solutions (www.wildersol.com)
