Flint and steel is by far my favorite way of ignition. Over the years I have become very proficient in it and have learned some good tips. These tips might help you.
I used to use char cloth but now I just use charcoal it catches a spark like nothing else, just get yourself a tin container with a tight fitting lid and place some dry charcoal inside the tin and using your flint and steel just shoot some sparks in the tin the char olé will catch a spark and start glowing take it out and place it in your tinder bundle close the tin so the other charcoal goes out the start your fire as you normally would! Charcoal can be gathered from most any dry fire pit or fire place. Just try it you won't be disappointed. Thank you.
I haven't signed in to comments for a million years but signed in to comment on this one. I've recently taken an interest in using flint and steel because I like the rawness of it, and because I feel that humankind in general has lost respect for fire because we don't really harness fire anymore. We rely on technology to do it for us, and that makes us dependant. This was the most informative video I've seen on the subject because there's so many of the fine details that other videos really don't explain at all. Switching hands with flint and steel when striking down on to a tinder was a winner for me and got instant results in what was previously a game of chance and patience. Thanks a lot for the tips mate. You have an excellent way of explaining things whilst allowing people to keep their own methods.
Not only hands-down the best overall tutorial on flint and steel I've ever seen, but great humor, too. Thanks for the superb instruction -- I learned a lot that will refine my technique.
You've inspired me to switch to punkwood. I actually hadn't used it before, and am making up a tin like the one you used in the video. As you spoke of, I like that it's a natural material that exists in abundance in the woods. You've changed my whole flint-and-steel experience! =) Kenton
Flint and steel is also my favourite method. I like it mainly because everything about it except the striker is possible to recreate of the landscape. One trick that i haven't heard many people talk about is that you can use roll of birch bark or such and put shredded inner bark inside that. When you blow it to flames you can ignite your fire and extinguish the roll so that you can use it again. Basically using it as a lighter. Great video!
This is something I want to work towards as I was a huge admirer of frontiersmen/mountain men/trackers as a kid. OK, they often lit a fire with the flint lock on their muskets but they used flint and steel too. No, I can't see the point in cutting up perfectly good bandanna's either (except in an emergency) when you can use cheap cotton dish cloths. Thanks for the vid!!
Flint and Steal 101. Finally! A video that puts it all together. I wish I had seen it before learning the hard way that my knuckles are no match for chert. Thanks Justin!
9 years after the video and I find myself watching, I found a piece of quartz the other day and I couldn't ignite a spark from it. Thank you so much for the help
Hi Justin. Just found this video about flint and steel.(02-02-23). Found your videos about your leather work about a year ago. Great work and a lot of ideas for my own leather projects. Thanks for being an awesome teacher and inspiration. Keep up with the videos. I've learned a lot. Thank you.
This is the most informative flint and steel video I have encountered. If I choose to buy and carry something, it will be a Bic lighter. But survival is really a do it yourself project, as there would be nothing to buy in dire circumstances. Likewise, in the woods I visit, there are no lint filled clothes dryers, steel wool vendors, or piles of excess 100% cotton rags. I do find flint and punk wood, and occasionally scrap steel. The essence of survival practice is using renewable resources available in your environment. I would like to hear how hard a temper you put on strikers. But for those who can only buy stuff, Couglin's makes an igniter for lanterns that throws sparks. There are also trench lighters that combine a flint and wheel (like a lighter) with a charred cotton rope in positioning holder. These are available in Europe, and on Ebay. But survival is more than a pile of stuff. It is skills, knowledge, and a "can do" attitude. If you have to buy stuff, you might not make it in a protracted emergency.
I use punk two ways. One way is cut or broken into small chunks and then charred in the tinder box and the other is to cut a slab of punk to fit my tinder box and char the outside of that and stick it into the box and close the lid to snuff it out. I also carry some small slabs of punk wrapped in a piece of leather so I don't have to go looking for it when the punk in the box is getting low. I just unwrap the bundle, grab a piece of punk, char it and I'm ready to go when it's time to replenish the punk in the box. Of course you have to start a fire with the punk you have left in the box before you can char another slab. I also like charred mullein leaves and cottonwood fluff. I dampen the fluff and dry it pressed between two boards and pre char the edges of it so it takes a spark. I agree that flint and steel is the way to go. Beats hell out of making a bow drill in the middle of a swamp. If you have a thin striker, or any "C" shaped striker, you can insert a piece of leather between your knuckles and the striker so you don't lay your knuckles open with the flint. Learned that one the hard way. I carry a steel in my pocket and test likely looking rocks as I find them. Some of the strangest looking rocks I find work well and some that look like good candidates don't. Naturally I keep the winners. Another great vid!!!
When making char in a tin I roll my cloth into a cigar shape then cut the length to fit my tin. When I strike one of these 3/4 inch. char cigars butts they make an enormous coal that will last 5 mins. or more. Great video,Thank you.
Nice job..! Been doing this for 40 yrs. As an avid 18th century trekker..it's a skill that 100% necessary. Punk char I make and replenish after my supper is cooked. I always have plenty. And yes..terrycloth like you show is the BEST for charclothe. It's fiberous and nebulous..has frays all over to catch that spark..!! I just prefer punkchar as I think it makes the most historical, frontier sense. You were well spoken and explained it well to the novice and experienced alike. Good job...!
Old pair of blue jeans makes a badass bunch of char cloth. I made mine in a metal coffee can with a aluminum foil lid (needs no hole that way btw). Also, if folks want to get a flint without hunting for one, just order some musket flints from a black powder supply house. They come sharp and ready to go. Old files make great steels, just snap off a big chunk and grind one edge smooth. Very interesting video!
Thanks for the objective approach for fire making. On my fire kit, I have everything, from storm matches to bic lighters, to a glass lens, chemicals, ferrocerium rods, etc. However, as a matter of keeping things primal, I always start with the flint and steel. Well done.
You inspired me! I ran to the bathroom and got two old washcloths that I've been wanting to get rid of anyway. PERFECT!! I"m sitting here cutting them up as I watch the rest of your video. Thank you! :-)
I just ordered a flint and steel kit and this video is funny as can be for 2 reasons first the fact I am sitting here with a cut knuckle I guess I should have watched this 2 days ago and the murder rant at the end bravo brother had me rolling!!!!!!!!! A trick with Charcloth I found is to strike get your coal then wrap the Charcloth around itself in a funnel shape and blow into the funnel it works great!!!!!!!
Justin, what can I say? This is by far the best, comprehensive instructional video I've seen on flint and steel. Thank you. Armed with information from this video, I'm sure that I will be successful. Thumbs up.
I'm really glad you found it useful my friend. With all the interest on the subject lately I wanted to try my best to supply everyone with all that I know on the subject.
Nice job Justin. It's obvious that you really know your stuff. One of the best video's on flint and steel fire starting I've seen. Thanks for showing us how it's done and thanks for the sense of humor while doing it. You Rock - no pun intended.
I have been doing bushcraft for about thirty years, and love lighting fire this way. Out of the primitive fire lighting methods, I reckon flint and steel has got to be one of the best and easy methods to pick up. Fantastic video, and a joy to watch.
This is still one of the BEST flint and steel videos out there! Thanks, hope all is well. It's been years, man! Quarter million views on this one, just sayin...... you could make more vids, we wouldn't mind!
It's because of this video I order flint and steel from you Justin . I can't express my self enough on how much I've.learned from your video's . God bless you all .
I can only echo KennethKramm's comments; this must be the most concise and enlightening resource on flint & steel I have ever seen. The creation of a punkwood tinderbox for my firelighting needs is a must have. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge ad experience Justin. Sincere regards.
A lot of great info here! Ive been blacksmithing for two years, and i am starting to forge flint strikers, and your tip about the monkey tails is very helpful; I won’t forge any fancy ones that’ll split my knuckles open! Thanks, and love your channel.
gonna make this short: another thanks to JW and encouragement to those who watch this video. knowing nothing at the start, i did everything JW teaches in this video... charred punk wood tin and all. believe me, it works just like JW teaches in this video and i do mean quickly and very dependably, too. i should have learned this decades ago. IMO, this is something every person should learn. you wanna learn this, then this is it, right here. even i can very very quickly & easily make fire by primitive means. it's important learning, IMO. i ordered a bow drill set from wolfecustoms to learn that, too and later i plan to upgrade my striker by buying a high quality striker from wolfecustoms. main point is.. you wanna learn this you're in the right place, right here. THX again JW !
I just got a flint and steel set Monday, so hearing some of these things from someone who has far far more experience than me with this method was good information especially since I do have one of more traditional ones that you mentioned holding wrong could flay your fingers. You just saved my grandma a whole lot of worry over that, so for that alone I thank you and thanks for the tips in this vid.
Great video,, just started into flint,,and you are correct-very addictive but rewarding,thanks for all the great info on strikers and flint. have a good one.
Practiced making fire with steel and a ferro rod this weekend with the kids. Had to come and watch this video after they told me I was doing it wrong. They were right. Very informative. At least we know how to get started on our kits now. Thanks.
First off, grierwolfe, Respect! Sir. Straight shooter with No cheesy intro music! A couple of helpful hints on materials. Cloth shops. Remnant bin. Cotton wash rag material, Terry Cloth in the remnant bin. If not buy by square yard. Char container. Paint cans. Empty small cans at big box home improvement stores. Vent, burn out coating inside and good to go. Char Coal. Bag of all natural hard wood in grocery store BBQ isle. Crunch up. Get some desiccant pouches, moisture absorbers for your tin. Empty gallon cans from paint store to store Crushed up Char Coal with desiccant for future use. Same for all the Char Cloth you will make. Tutorials on RU-vid on making spark steel from used files.
Justin, I have to say it man, you taught me the art of traditional flint and steel. Out here this rather cold and damp Pennsylvanian day, I achieved my first fire using my striker and flint. It may have taken like 10 minutes to finally ignite my charred cloth, but I got fire as soon as I had the ember. I just want to say thanks man. You taught me a lot even in the brief time I have been subscribed for about a month. Again thanks a lot and as always, have a good one ;).
Best flint and steel video ever, even if you didn't show my favourite tinder. 100 percent cotton rope from the hardware. I tie up stuff in my pack with it. Keep a sections for guy rope and general purpose. One roll will last me for years and when you chuck a spark on it, you will find that the most difficult thing is to put it out.
Another way to use cotton rope is to make it into a "tinder tube". I got some curtain cord(100% cotton) from JoAnn's, and a piece of brass tubing it would fit into. Feed the cord into the tube until one end sticks out. Light that end, let it burn for a few seconds, then pull it back into the tube and cover the top with your thumb. When you want to start a fire, push the end of the cord out an inch or so, fluff it out a little, and start striking. The nice thing about this method is that the end won't get blown out by the wind; the harder it blows. the more the end burns. The pack of cord, about four feet or so, and an 18 inch tube, will give you about seven or eight pieces(depending on how long you make them). It's relatively cheap, easy to make(the only tools you need are a hacksaw and some sandpaper) and they work quite well
I love your dedication, but I don't have access to flint here in Australia like you do in America, some chert and quartz, and some very rare flint in South Australia maybe, sometimes. Bics and ferro rods are reliable for us Aussies, hand drill, bow drill next, but overall my favorite is the fresnel lens (or small magnifying lens, I have several types, both fresnel and glass magnifying lenses in all of my kits) here and char material (punk wood is great, or cloth) always reliable in about about a 1/2 second of effort. I use a fresnel lens, and char material, get an ember in a second and put in a birds nest and blow into flame (palm fronds are great, and widely available from what I have seen around my area) Lots of sunshine here where I live ( I live in Queensland, called the sunshine state for a reason...LoL)
@@randomnamesoicanfindmyself3123 oh really, not from my experience. Maybe the aborigines used to do it by hand drill, but I find it really quite difficult. In all honesty the easiest method I find is fresnel lens/magnifying glass and char cloth, takes about a 1/2 a second in most cases where I live (in Queensland, the Sunshine state, not called that for silly reasons).
@@waveman0 I agree with the fresnel lens (if it's sunny), but regarding flint, here in South Australia it's pretty common (read the South Australian Department of Mines Flint Report, by Flint, Flint and Flintoft) (really!!) www.energymining.sa.gov.au/minerals/mineral_commodities/flint
@@ashleysmith3106 I have heard that but never had it confirmed. Can you find flint just laying on the ground like Americans and the English seem to do though? I have also heard even if it is reasonably common the quality of the flint is nowhere near as good as it is in America or England. Plus as I live in Qld I never find flint and have to resort to buying it.
I'm just learning how to use flint an steel. I've noticed is if I don't strike the flint properly theirs the risk of micro sized pieces of flint flying at your arms,hands,face ect. The dishtowel is a great tip and very helpfull. Being the one buys and uses the wash cloths I don't have to worry about the eminent threat of death.
This is the first video on your channel I've seen and I subscribed immediately. I really enjoy your no nonsense style. No intro. No plugs for adds. Just good sound reasonable information. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to more practical and informative videos.
Great video. I made fire with flint and steel for my scout troop at the Scout-O-Rama in 1968 (I was nine years old). It has been my main fire starter for almost 50 years now. I made flint and steel kits for Christmas for six people this year and wanted to give a video link to the one's I couldn't instruct personally. There are plenty of generic vids of "how to" on the subject, but I'm giving the link to this video to all of them. Very informative and substantial information. Thanks for making this video. I also just subscribed to your channel. 👍
I have started over 200 fires with flint and steel and I still learned stuff from this video. I have been sharing this in groups whenever a flint and steel discussion comes up. I have a new appreciation for charred punk. Just tried it out with a damp grass tinder bundle. Much faster than feathering a stick.
Thanks a lot for sharing some really valuable information. I think, using flint and steel is the most natural and the oldest way to make fire. But it´s also quite the most difficult one. At least for me. Now I will use your video and try and try. Continue with your serious and informative videos. Good luck and have fun in the woods.
Don't throw out worn out cotton or linen garments or towels. And if you sew your own clothes from natural plant fibre fabrics, you have plenty of small scraps to make into char cloth. But I agree, if you have an unlimited supply of suitable natural material outdoors, use that. Great video, thanks. Learnt a lot.
Very comprehensive video Justin. The best I have seen on the subject. This should help a lot of folks. Also gave me a good laugh. Gotta beware those wives! ; )
Sage advice, my friend! I too know all about both the addictive nature of flint & steel as well as laying a knuckle open. You know the moment it happened, I thought to myself "$#!+, good thing I wasn't filming that..."
Cracking video I have a Hudson Bay tinder kit coming in the post right now. Thanks for the info,,,,,, I am a complete novice and your tips have helped me understand the hows and whys. Great stuff.......
We have an indoor fireplace and I was watching Stonehenge and how people used flint to start fires. I got interested and got flint from KONVOY SG and struck both flints together and wondered why that didn't work. I needed a Steel Striker! Good thing I saw your video! I ordered the type you recommend from Self Reliance Outfitters. I put in the search engine TDK Forge and that site came up first that has the upside down U. I think I will do the spark throwdown into the fireplace. I put down newspaper then the wood and then Kleenex cuz the dog likes to eat that and thats not good! So we burn that. I am a beginner in this but learned so much tonight. Thank you for this video!
Great vid . know a fair bit about flint and steel but from this I have learned a lot more e.g. striking the flint onto the char or striking down into the tin . THANKS .....Paul.
I made charcloth from a cotton washrag as you suggested, and it is extremely good stuff! Better than holy blue jeans. Thank for the tip. With the charred end of a lamp wick, it needs to be protected by a large paper clip on the end. The sensitive reactive char is very fragile and will wear off quickly in EDC.
Great ideas and technique. I haven't put together and practiced with a char kit yet, but I think today may be the day. Definitely the best video I've seen on it. Thanks.
Great video. I don't know how I missed it when you originally posted. Right about the same time I posted a video asking about flint and steel techniques. My 88 year old grandfather has been a buckskinner for 60+ years. He taught me flint and steel at a young age. He taught me to throw the sparks downward. It wasn't until I started watching youtube that I became aware of the other technique. I am a fan of punk wood char too. When I make charred cloth, I tend to use old cotton duck carhart work pants. They work well for me, and I've plenty of old ones with holes in the knees. I'd never use something that is still viable. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. I'm sure you've helped a lot of beginners with your insight and instruction.
I find that some of the best fire steels I have used, have been made out of old files! You can normally pick them up for next to nothing at junk sales or car boot sales.
I loved your video. When I am in the field camping, or hunting I always use flint and steel I use my old worn out jeans for my char cloth. The next time I go out I am going to try the punk wood, looks like it does a great job.
I enjoyed it. I was surprised you brought up the wife thing with the washcloths. I use my old hole-ridden socks the few times I tried to make char cloth. Thanks for the tip about the flint and using the striker. I had always wondered how so many never hit their hands when doing that technique. I greatly appreciate the info you gave and how you used your tinderbox. Thanks.
Justin Ive watched heaps of flint and steel vids ,your one is first class and I learnt a lot of new stuff ,good on you mate,very interesting and informative.
bought 2 flint and steel from TCD forge. 7.99 your video got me started with flint and steel. i don't live near flint but lots of chert. i got to a mall where the use river stone for decoration. find flint, chert and quartz. many rock will give good spark. only need sharp edge and hardness of 8-10 TCD steel makes the best spark of all the steel i have tried.
I about to leave on a trip ware I plan on practicing more primitive methods and I was just looking for tips and yours was the best well rounded video I found yet thank you for helping me to succeed in my goal to only start fires with flint steel, solar and bowdrill. Yes I will still have a Bic storm proof matches and my ferol rod with me I am just going to try not to use them. Thank you.
Nice tatorial and information. I had a flint an steel set over 20 years ago when I was younger and I believe I lost it. I just recently ordered me a new flint and steel kit because I've been watching alot of these Bushcrafting RU-vid channels. I've seen each method you've shown on all those channels. I do say the tenderbox method with punk wood is one of the best methods I've seen. Beside the tenderbox of punk wood the Terry cloth char cloth is better than regular char cloth. I've also seen people make char cloth from old denim jeans. So there is another option. I would only make the char cloth out of those materials if they was no longer of use anymore like a badly ripped up pair of jeans or t-shirt, and when that dish rag has seen it's last dish.
I like your whole channel I think your whole channel is awesome I think you are definitely a prepper of preppers and you really make the other Peppers look silly and foolish with all their Bear Grylls knives and Walmart junk I really can see you as a definite survivor of survivors I'm going to continue watching your channel and get more tips
He’s not kidding about the flint slicing you open. Years ago I worked at a historical fort from the War of 1812, and at any given time at least one of us had a cut on our hands from catching ourselves on the flint from our muskets.
Great video bro:) Lots of good info. As you know i also use flint & steel but mostly with Chaga as i have a lot of it here. With flint & steel i feel comfortable because as you say, it lasts a long time and i know it will provide fire. I tried a tinder box last year and it worked fine until i slammed my hand down on the box and all was gone:) Well done video!
Tried flint and steel for the first time today, with char cloth. Took a few strikes but it worked better than I expected, considering my lack of experience. Appreciate the tip on holding the striker and protecting my knuckles, I wouldn't have thought of it (but I would've figured it out after a few scars).
I purchased a 100% cotton Tee shirt ( Old Navy ) at a thrift store for $1 and made 6 Altoids tins full of char-cloth and still have a lot of material left to make more. Tested the char-cloth out and it works great.
excellent points all of which took me a long time of messing about to learn, I notice you touched Briefly on non flint rocks. Here in Alaska I have to go searching to come up with useable chert so I have resorted to using coarse quartz stones. (seems like the entire area is made out of quartz) they don't knap or fracture like chert/flint and they don't last long. the trick is finding a fresh edge and practice. I have a rather poor quality video showing me using char cloth and a quartz bearing rock if anyone cares to see that it can work. it is important to just TRY a few rocks and as you said it soon becomes second nature to tell what works and what doesn't. one draw back to the non knapable rocks is it is VERY hard to strike sparks down into your tin, it is too hard to find a real edge and get the angle right while striking rick to steel. Great video and advice ... love your stuff here is a link to the vid I mentioned ( if you don't mind... if you do please delete the comment and let me know ) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1byn-vDOWhc.html
Good advice...I have a beard also and was forever cinging it , I found that by using a "straw" of river cane or elderberry with a hole through it about the diameter of coathanger wire and use that to blow through , that the air is more efficient , and my beard is saved , but also you can breathe w/o smoke....fastest time to get flame and light a candle is 21 seconds using the small "blow pipe"
Well considering I broke a ferro rod today and I can definitely see your point about it being the better option for long term. I guess its time for me to get serious about learning this method. Thanks for the information, Justin Jason
