Fire Starting Tools
About: Although it may seem complicated to set up, the bow drill is the easiest friction fire method to master.
Learning this skill is very important. Imagine being in the wilderness, losing your kit and having to survival on only the resources around you.
Take the time to practise with local woods and see which combinations work best. Then in the worst case scenario, you can have a warm, comforting and life saving fire started in no time.
Note: I will have a tutorial on how to create and use a bow drill in the How To... section very soon.
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About: Ferrocerium is a man made alloy that when scrapped against a rough surface (such as ridged steel) it gives off numerous, high temperature sparks. Approximately 3,000 °F (1,650 °C).
There are many different brands of ferro rods on the market and it's always good to read the reviews before making you purchase.
Once you have made your purchase, spend as much time as you can practising with your ferro rod until you get a hang of the technique and feel confident enough to be able to use it in any situation you may need it.
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About: Flint and steel is one of the earliest methods of starting a fire dating back thousands of years. With alot of practice this ancient technique is a very reliable way of starting a fire.
It works by striking the flint with a steel. Flakes of iron break off and react with oxygen causing it to spontaneously ignite.
Carbon steel is far better for this job as it hardens the steel meaning that it will chip off when struck instead of denting.
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About: Probably the primary choice in starting a fire. Cheap, light, compact, easy to use and reasonable reliable.
As with every thing in your kit, it is best to do your research, invest in a decent one and test it to be sure it won't let you down when you need it most.
Zippos are great reliable lighters but you also need to carry fuel for them. Storm or survival lighters are also great but their high intensity flame means they burn through fuel quickly.
I keep a couple of disposible Clipper lighters in my kit. One of them can last a month or more and they are easy to light with cold wet hands.
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About: Most of us have tried this as children. All that is needed is a bright sunny day and something to focus the sun's rays onto tinder.
My compass has a built in magnifying glass, which many do. Glasses can work just as well. I've also seen the bottom of a polished coke can used to magnify and focus the sun's light to start a fire.
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About: There's alot of varieties of matches on the market. There's also alot of opinions on which are the best type to use. Strike Anywhere matches are by far the most popular choice but all must be kept dry, even the ones that say waterproof.
I keep two types of matches in my kit; Life Systems Windproof Matches which come in a water tight Lexan container with intergrated striker and paper matches which I keep in a small watertight ziploc because they take up no room and are a good little back-up.
Which ever matches you choose to use, make sure you thoroughly test them to learn their flaws before you need to rely on them in a survival situation.
Tip: Dip the end of an adverage matches into candle wax. It helps make them waterproof.
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By Lillium Grey