I'm not a fire bug. Just had to say that first because it seems that's all I type about on here. I just wanted to ask patrons of ETS if you guys and gals know of a firestarter that a) never runs out of fuel or means to ignite and b) can start a fire in any condition (ie. damp, windy).

I know about spark thingies and magnesium thingies but I've always asked myself what happens when the magnesium runs out. Yes, yes, I know I shouldn't go through a whole magnesium starter in a survival situation lol BUT WHAT IF...

I'm a worst-case scenario crazy guy. What if society as we know it broke down tomorrow. What if this? What if that? I know what I would do. Head out into the woods and I want a fire source that is eternal.

I know about the fire starting methods such as a fire plow and the bow and drill. But those methods are tedious. And somebody always posts in reply to that: practice makes perfect.

There was one device that impressed me. It met the never runs out of fuel requirement kinda and also came close to the any condition requirement. The fire piston. It uses stuff you find in nature (leaves, moss, etc) BUT the fire piston doesnt always work in wet conditions if the tinder is cold and/or damp. It also can lose its seal which is needed for it to work. So it's fragile as well.

I think fire starting is half technique and half setup with some patience thrown in there somewhere. I've used the Blast Match and that works great in damp conditions especially with the WetFire tinder but WetFire tinder isn't found naturally in nature. I've also used magnifying glasses which are awesome things but then again in cloudy/dark conditions, they wont work.

So all in all, I'm asking if anybody has a method that doesn't cause blisters or know of something that is infinitely fueled which can ignite a fire, please post. Thanks!

If you come up with one you'd better patent it quick, I don't think it exists yet. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The ancestors didn't like to use the bow drill too often either, that's why they came up with methods to carry fire with them.

> I want a fire source that is eternal.

Try a large magnifying glass, or a focussing mirror.

Otherwise anything you use is going to wear out eventually. For the long run you need to learn how to make a new one yourself. In practice that probably does mean a fire-bow. Flint rocks are common in some areas and can be used to make a spark.

Personally I go with a flint-ignition cigarette lighter. When it has fuel it's easy to use one-handed and doesn't need special tinder. When the fuel runs out, the spark will still ignite tinder that is well-prepared. The flint will wear down eventually, but spare flints are small and cheap and easy to stock-pile.

> The fire piston. ...It also can lose its seal which is needed for it to work.

Yep. Mine seems to need a continuous supply of vasaline to keep it going.

If such a perfect item existed, everybody would be carrying it around, and you would not need to ask this question, as you would aready own one.

I once read in a book that you can take come embers and put them in a billy-can covered in moss. Then, you can carry your fire from place to place. This shure would put less of a stress on your flint an butane supplies, at the expense of portability. Would this actually work?

I think I will try to invent something lol. If I come up with a product or method, I'll let you guys know about it first.

fire ribbon is used to prime optimus stoves. It's a jelly gas like sterno but comes in a tube like tooth paste. it works very well for fire starting.

Wasn't one of the origional parameters that it had to be reusable?

A sharp knife and a large ferro rod are as close as you are going to get.

What about a piezoelectric sparker? i.e., the little red push-button igniter on gas barbecues? I'm pretty sure you can buy just the sparker unit separate from the barbecue. Okay, it's clumsy and will require good tinder, but it should last approximately foreever (mechanical failure notwithstanding).

Alex

piezo are unable to even tinder. It can only light gasses, the electrical charge is just to weak.