This Firesteel Technique can Save your Life 

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I am 70 years old and did 16 and a half years in the Army. We were taught to turn our knife over as Lily did, but, we used the knife to pinch and hold the tinder in place. We then pulled the steel up as if starting a lawn mower. This way all the sparks go in one direction and the result is the tinder catches fire quicker because of the concentration of the sparks. Good Job Lily!

Glad to see you are still at it, Lilly. Some of your "fire steel" videos are teaching young teenagers in Idaho, United States how to enjoy camping in this beautiful region with simple and proven techniques. Thank you for great content!

Very interesting! I first learned the "Pinching Down" method in the Boy Scouts at age 12 ! And I've used it for nearly 60 years! Keep up the good work!

This is a great survival hack. It always looks easy on YT, but believe Lilly: it is not. Moreover, with the 'flying' technique not only do the sparks have to travel further, they also are aimed much less accurately.

I use that technique too most of the time. I like to make my feather sticks flat on each side so the rod will easily hold it in place. You did a great job with the shavings. I tend to scatter them to the wind.

Thank you , Lilly! This is a lot better method to save equipment and start a fire quicker!

You can also shave some of the magnesium into your tinder when damp. I use this method along with the “pinch down” when tinder isn’t dry completely.

Cotton balls or dryer lint slathered in Vaseline makes a great fire starter. I keep mine in an old 35mm film canister. I've had it for nearly 40 years.

Tried this method and, of course, it works, so obvious once you see it being done. I just assumed that I’d bought crappy firesteels, thanks Lily.

I saw this once before. It made sense, and I've never used the "flying" method since. Plus, if you do pack cotton, rub it around in some Vaseline before packing it. Amazing results.

I'm huge on pre made tinders just because of the wet wood problem. If I only have natural tinder available, I try to use a magnesium capsule to get it going. That powder will just about burn through a 2x4!

Love your channel Lilly. Learning so much from you! 😊~a Canadian friend

Great point with your pinch technique. It's not uncommon for people to put petroleum jelly in the cotton (or Vix Vap-o-rub if you want to have multi-purpose fire starters). You don't use much and you work it through the cotton when you add it. It helps make the cotton more weather resistant, it makes it burn longer, and , in a pinch, you have something to put on chapped lips. I usually carry as many as I can fit into a small pill or altoids container. When you pack them in, it's quite a lot of material, at a light weight, and you do not have to use a full cotton ball to start a fire. Use a combination of a small piece of saturated cotton and dry grasses/birch bark and you have an easy quick start and you can conserve your resources.

I used the "flying" method for a long time and i always HATED using a firesteel. Then I watched Survival Lilly and started using her "pinch down" method and I don't hate firesteel so much. LoL! It's just a good way to do it. Thank you, Lilly!

Because I did not do much camping back in the day, I have used both methods for making bbq fire. I bought a firesteel to use for camping trips, but so far it has seen only bbq fire. The above method only when liquid has been used on the coals. These days I use the other method, because I found out that the organic tinder is so much better to start a fire. Meat taste is more natural. I have seen people who scrape the firesteel stick, gathering shavings, and only then they do a final firesteel strike.

I had to learnt his thorough rough experience and practice, pinching down method is generally a more sure thing to light most kinds of tinder.

Your tinder has a lot to do with you fire getting started the more surface area and how much you process it down gives you a fire with less strikes which ever method you use and it depends on the size of the ferro rod you are using in my experience. great video like always

Miss Lilly, thank you for explaining the flying firesteel. I have seen it like that and the pull toward you method and never understood why the don't strike the steel into the tinder bundle instead of onto it. Thanks again. Your technique is exactly what I do.

You have it right that the "Pinching Down" method is the better way to use a Fire Steel. Thank you for another Great Video Lilly.

You are a real pro Lilly!

A technique that I rarely see mentioned is very simple and Lightweight is an old manual 2 Hole pencil sharpener. This is very small and useful and is also is great for making pointed sticks for a wide variety of purposes. The shavings make great tinder quickly and the inside of the sticks are quite dry even in a wet environment.

Love these demos & teaching skills videos-you sold me on the pinching down method

My fire starters are a piece of cast iron as a striker and an ordinary piece of knapped flint. Primitive but has served me well for 65 years.

Incredibly clever, thanks for posting!!

Thanks for the lesson! You convinced me!

Lilly, what a great demo. Nice job!

Bang on Lilly. Always concentrate the energy.

You're going to save many lives in the near future with this video. God bless you. Well done! 🙏👀👆

I think Lily is not only a GREAT SURVIVAL candidate for ANY television show...but also a great partner to push survival as a partner. In Colorado, here, at altitude, you need a partner. Share survival chores and sleep, and sometimes be aware. maybe better fishing here? LOVE YOU LILY!!!

Very similar to my method, only difference is that I pinch the tinder bundle with the blade of my knife and drag the firesteel across the back of the knife. As you show, the sparks will be right down in the tender, even closer than the method you are using to pinch the tinder. The bonus with this method is you use your entire firesteel, the firesteel tip will actually wear down to a point, which means no wasted fire steel. I also seem to get less "washboard" or all those little bumps that show up on the firesteel. Thanks for the great content!

Hey Lilly, thanks for making this important point. I just taught this method to my 7 year old son and it made it much easier for him to start a fire in birch bark.

You can turn coarse grass into fluff by pulverizing dry grass blades between the stones.

Pinching down makes perfect sense. Thank you for your insight.

I agree, pinching down method is better. Also, I find that the key BEFORE throwing the sparks via the pinching down method is to scrape some of the ferro rod material in a small clump in close proximity to the wood shavings. Nice job, Lilly. You cover some very important points that are typically overlooked in similar videos.

I live 200km's north of the arctic circle. She's right. Don't trust butane tho, that reaches it's edge at -40C/F.

Besten Dank für Deine Ausführungen. Dein Video kam genau zur richtigen Zeit für mich. Mein Feuerstahl ist am Freitag angekommen und das Video wurde mir Heute am Sonntag vorgeschlagen :-). Dir einen schönen Sonntag, Beste Grüße aus Niederbayern.

Very good advice, good job!

Excellent technique Lilly, thank you for another great tip.

Really good, Lilly. I appreciate this demonstration. Thank you.

Thank You Survival Lilly. Good Job

PDT, Push Down Technique is another contribution by Lilly, in my opinion. I think it's the first time on RU-vid. That's the subject of the video my friends. A 'new way' to do it. "Hear it here first folks," is accurate for RU-vid bushcraft - survivalist fans on the same Google algorithms. A fan of innovation, a fan of Ms. Lilly's 'Get It Done-ness' when it comes to my support of her work. Innovation, analyzing, adapting, confidence, all great tools to carry in life, IMO ☺️🔥🔪🥩🥓🍳🌄🏞️🏕️🌅🌍🌎🌏

Good advice, THANK YOU 😃👍

Hey, Lilly! My name is Jolie. I hurt my body while harvesting some natural resources in Albuquerque. Now I’m studying your vids, thanks.

More great info again. Love what you do.

Really good techniques always good to recall, good work Lilly.

Great tip Lilly!!

Lilly, I always enjoy your videos, regardless of the subject. Your personality draws people in.

Great advice lily.

I've never seen anyone like you before. You have such great knowledge and expertise in so many things survival related Lily. You're quite an amazing person. Keep up the good work and kisses to Amy!

I learn more from you and Venessa than anyone else. Thank you for being there.

Definitely the pinching method, the sparks focus on your tinder and like you said the flying techniques the sparks cool down as the travel through the air. Brilliant!

Valuable info! Thanks not only for sharing, but also for demonstrating.

People in Europe(eastern Europe) used until 1850 years maybe more , stone (Feuerstein), Bracket fungus and а piece of metal to get fire.. The Bracket fungus is placed close to the stone and then hit with a piece of metal until a spark hits the soft material of the Bracket fungus.. Of course, cotton or anything like that can be used as a base instead of this type of sponge... This method completely replaces the magnesium stick and can be found in nature.

Excellent advice

Lilly you are 100% correct.The pinching down method is always the best way to start a fire. Awesome video as always along with a great education for all that is watching your video. Please keep these wonderful videos coming. Take care of yourself and be safe. From John

Thank You Lilly

Cool video, thanks Lilly

My first time ever using a fire steal my birds nest took off with the wind like a tumbleweed. After chasing down my tinder, pining it down was second nature. Been doing it that way ever since.

Well stated. Great demo.

Thank you for the lesson!

Bought a lot of fire steels in the past. Not one set of instructions that were included with any of the fire steels demonstrated the pinch down method. Only a raised method. Lilly just proved that direct contact with the tender is far better than an indirect method.

Great Video. Thank you Lilly. 🙏 🙏🙏🙏

Your channel is a great break from all the stuff going on. Thanks a lot for the mental breaks.

Thank you for the great information!

While my pack always has a knife and ferro rod, it also always has a lighter or two. .And a piece of cordage for a bow drill if worst turns to worse.

Lily, what you say makes a lot of sense. I learned something that will prove useful. Thank you.

Lilly should wear a cape. She's a Survivalist Superhero.

... a lil' trick for you ... for a "striker" I use a old dull hacksaw blade ... I break into 2-3 lengths ... file the top edge to remove the paint ... and there you have it ... a cheap striker that re-used something old and didn't cost you anything ( and you will not mind losing it when you do ...) And as it it larger/longer it is easier to use too.

LOVE HOW YOU GET TO THE POINT. GREAT JOB. KEEP IT GOING. KEN

Thanks for the tip lilly

I have yet to see anyone teach this, thank you Lilly!

Lilly, thanks for the info. I never really knew which was best.

Almost a 1,000,000 subscribers. Wow. You deserve it.

Firesteel was definately the main thing I need to practise more with. Granted it was the worst (best) weather for a preparedness test with snow, rain and cold windy weather.

My striker is made from a small fine file , with this I can file off some very small particles from the ferro rod directly into the tinder pile , place ferro rod onto tinder and one strike will ignite the tinder where there is a small concentration of ferrocerium particles . This technique will even start a piece of flat copy paper into a fire starting tinder, Never more than one strike with the striker and there is fire , thanks Lilly

I take old toilet paper tubes and cut them into 4 short tubes. I take shredded paper from my shredder and cut it into 1 inch long pieces. I take leftover wax that didn't burn from candles and melt it. Then I mix the shredded paper into the melted wake and pack it into the short TP tubes. Last I put a cotton ball on one end of the wax/paper/tube and let them cool and harden. When I need a fire I peel the tp tube off the wax/paper "block" and fluff the cotton. It ignites usually on one strike from the firesteel. My blocks like this provide a 1 foot tall flame for just over 10 minutes. I use the peeled cardboard as fuel material too. Works great if your wood is damp or wet because of the 10 minute burn time. Other than the cotton ball everything was going to the recycling or waste bin anyway. I usual keep 8 in with my bug out supplies

Thanks for the usefull info !

Excellent points, agree with you. Thank you for sharing once again.

My favorite? The "Pinching Down Technique" by far, for most tinders. For my alcohol burners, propane/butane stoves, or Coleman-style "white gas" or dual-fuel camp stoves or lanterns, the "Flying Firesteel Technique" for the reason you stated - don't want to get burned. Of course, if I had dry/waterproof matches or a butane lighter handy, I surely would use them! Awesome tutorial. Stay safe out there.

being orphaned and raised in a little leafy farming town called smallville i always find the best tecnique for starting fires is to stare directly at the object i wish to ignite and hey presto,bbq time! seriosly lily just found your channel as i been making a bow from yew,your a real supergirl bless!

Thankyou for your knowledge.

Great video. Good to see a technique comparison. Very informative. Cheers

Another useful video. Thanks.

This method will save a lot of frustration for inexperienced people, your vids help so many ,keep up the great work, like they say work smarter not harder

Nice take on these methods 💜

Pinching Down method is Awesome! Thank you Lilly

Thank you, Ms Lily - excellent instruction. This explains my troubles fifty years ago when back packing on the John Muir trail above Tuolome Meadows with my first magnesium fire starter. Sucker cost me five bucks and was to be a key part of my two week adventure. Failing to understand the minimal instructions I did not understand why I was so poor at using it. Seems I was supposed to first put some magnesium powder down and then scrape some sparks, but I was leaving out the _have some more tinder down and ready to take up the resultant mini fire that would be going on_. Long story story short, if yt had existed back then, I would have had a better clue. 🤣

Excellent method! I appreciate you sharing that with us! Thank you.

I have used both methods, but I prefer the pinch method the most. The flying method is more dependent on what/how I need to light a fire (like you state, igniting an alcohol stove). I also carry a magnesium block and have some duct tape in my fire kit. A small piece of tape wadded up, use that to catch the magnesium shavings, and I have an effective starter for wet/cold weather. My Grandfather taught me the method of saturating natural fiber twine in wax for a good tinder. Rough that up, pinch it down with a fire steel, and you have another good method of starting a fire. Love your videos Lilly!! Keep up the good work and stay strong! Gott segne meinen Freund. George B. from the USA.

Nice tips, thanks for sharing 👍

I prefer a third method where i pin the tinder down with my sticker the pull the ferro rod back. similar to your method the spark are larger and closer to the tinder and all land in one area unlike the flying method. but by pining with the striker you don't have the risk of stamping out your fire if you push too hard on the follow through. really enjoy your videos, thanx for sharing.

You heard it here first folks, Lilly's PDT, Pinch Down Technique. It's gonna light some fires. Innovation woman, right on.

Thanks for the video Lily, it makes sense and looks right.

Very practical and useful one. Thanks:)

Pinching the tinder down also creates something like a "crater" or "bowl" where the firesteel dives in and there the sparks will be collected. Thx for demonstrating this "striking" difference! :-D

Thank You!

Thank you for this video - very helpful

Thanks Lilly, good job, bon travail merci 😊

Awesome tutorial Lilly. I like your technique. Thanks for sharing.