Great stuff! Also, +1 on the following (+3 actually!):

Quote:
One should also keep in mind that with firesteel you trade easy-of-use for reliability.

I would say once you know and have/carry the right tinder itīs really the most reliable way to start a fire.

One tip (maybe you know this already): try to rip/mill the birch bark into the smallest pieces possible. This applies to almost any tinder. Generally the fibrous stuff works best. Birch bark is great because it burns even wet.


IMHO, if you rely on your firesteel as the primary method of starting a fire you need to carry proper tinder in a waterproof container at all times as well. The tinder can be prepared at home (charred cloth, cotton ball, maya dust...) or gathered in the bush and kept aside.

There are plenty of options for natural tinder in the bush but it has to be absolutely dry. Chances are, you won't be able to find good, dry tinder when you really need it so make a habit to gather it beforehand (Les Stroud also makes that point often). Birch bark works well but it's best to use the inner, not the outer layer. It has to be scraped very carefully with a sharp knife so you produce a lot of almost microscopic shavings. Anything bigger than that is kindling, not tinder. Once you produce an open flame though plain birch bark will ignite very easily, burning longer and hotter than paper even if wet.

Aside from cotton lint another useful emergency tinder that catches a spark easily is hemp rope. it has to be absolutely dry, though. Separate the fibers, pound them with a rock and arrange into a fluffy mass. BTW, while paper is generally difficult to ignite with a ferro rod, small, torn bits of dry newspaper might actually work. Whatever you try, stay away from the wind and damp.