#255642 - 01/19/13 06:34 PM
Show Us Your Fire Kit
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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I've been playing around with my new fire kit today and thought I'd post a pic and invite others to do the same. This one is housed in the tea tin, with a mesh bag inside to hold the contents when I use the tin to make char cloth. The other contents are: Small folding knife Mini BIC Mini tylenol bottle with strike anywhere matches Ferro rod with magnesium block attached Tube of spf lip balm Tea light Jute twine Cotton lantern wick Piece of hoof fungus Esbit tab Med vial with: cotton balls, pine pitch, birch bark, pine and cedar shavings Rubber bands Future Upgrades: -switching rubber bands to ranger bands -impregnating the jute twine with wax -adding char cloth
Edited by bacpacjac (01/19/13 06:37 PM)
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#255672 - 01/20/13 11:44 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: bacpacjac]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 03/13/05
Posts: 2322
Loc: Colorado
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??? Is this really fungus off of horse hooves? We have horses, but I must say I've never thought to try using their "byproducts" as fire starters!
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#255675 - 01/21/13 12:57 AM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: haertig]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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??? Is this really fungus off of horse hooves? We have horses, but I must say I've never thought to try using their "byproducts" as fire starters! Nah. It's called that because it looks like a horse hoof. It's also called false tinder fungus. It grows on trees and makes awesome tinder. I dry it and use it as tinder but have seen You Tube video where it worked when wet. (Dave Canterbury, I think.) EDIT: Here's DC's video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdXOQ_bg0...e=results_video
Edited by bacpacjac (01/21/13 02:58 AM)
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#255676 - 01/21/13 01:05 AM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: Outdoor_Quest]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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It could definitely be lighter, but I like the variety of this one. I've got another in an Altoids tin, that works just fine along with my EDC if I'm packing light. EDIT: If it truly came down to it, my edc LM Wave sheath carries a ferro rod and a couple of cotton balls. You know what they say though, variety is the spice of life!
Edited by bacpacjac (01/21/13 02:03 PM)
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#255680 - 01/21/13 03:08 AM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: bacpacjac]
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Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
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In your neck of the woods, carrying a little extra weight to insure the ability to make fire is a really good idea. Here in SoCal it was in the low 80s today - a perfect day, but even here we have storms that can make carrying extra fire makers worthwhile....
_________________________
Geezer in Chief
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#255683 - 01/21/13 03:38 AM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: hikermor]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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In your neck of the woods, carrying a little extra weight to insure the ability to make fire is a really good idea. Here in SoCal it was in the low 80s today - a perfect day, but even here we have storms that can make carrying extra fire makers worthwhile.... Very true!
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#255693 - 01/21/13 05:52 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: bacpacjac]
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Old Hand
Registered: 03/24/06
Posts: 900
Loc: NW NJ
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Playing devil's advocate here, but how do you decide which tinder to use at any given time?
I keep it simple and usually just have a bic lighter and a firesteel, along with some cotton PJ cotton balls. I start looking out for natural tinder as soon as I think I might need it. The cotton balls are backup in case natural materials are not readily available and/or if the lighter fails and need something to catch a spark from the firesteel easily.
_________________________
- Tom S.
"Never trust and engineer who doesn't carry a pocketknife."
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#255696 - 01/21/13 06:20 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: bacpacjac]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 11/25/08
Posts: 1918
Loc: Washington, DC
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Thanks for this thread, BPJ. I gather this fire kit is for a backpack?
As Hikermor notes, in your [northern] neck of the woods, I'd also err on the side of heavy with fire gear.
I need to research char cloth more. Didn't know a tin would be necessary for that.
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#255697 - 01/21/13 06:31 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: bacpacjac]
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Veteran
Registered: 12/05/05
Posts: 1562
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Sorry no pics here but a remark about lint
Everyone talks about dryer lint as an excellent firestarter. The other day, I was helping the wife emptying the vaccuum cleaner and there was lots of dust in it, but also lots of lint ( from vacuuming the carpets).
I haven't tried it yet but looks like ready to use if you put up a little with removing the fine dust, or even washing it. _________________________________________________
As far as my fire kit is concerned, mine is a bit heaver and bulkier and it is meant for the car trunk, not for a pack. It has the following :
One homemade esbit-type stove made from a can ( 3 inch diameter ) One homemade esbit-type stove made from a square electrical outlet box (4x4 inches) two different boxes of esbit-type tabs (unknown manufacturer and brand) One box ( 1 kilogram ) of coal briquettes assorted sparkers ( 1 firesteel + 1 flint sparker + 1 empty lighter ) 2-3 boxes of matches
Keep in mind that this fire kit is meant for extremely hot regions. It has no full butane lighter ( I have such lighters around in other kis but not left in the car trunk )
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#255698 - 01/21/13 06:38 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: bacpacjac]
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Old Hand
Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 831
Loc: Anne Arundel County, Maryland
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Wow! Backup on top of backup. Ok then, how about one more---a small vial or can of lighter fluid aka Coleman fuel?
_________________________
"Better is the enemy of good enough."
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#255699 - 01/21/13 06:59 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: bws48]
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Geezer
Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
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How about a Bic lighter and the tinder from one of DR's PSK's. Seriously, that's it. Everything else will be gathered on site ... or not.
_________________________
Better is the Enemy of Good Enough. Okay, what’s your point??
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#255713 - 01/21/13 09:06 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: Russ]
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Member
Registered: 04/09/12
Posts: 177
Loc: Canada
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[img:center]http:// [/img] BPJack, I don't carry a kit per se, but this is my fire stuff which gets dispersed throughout pack and pockets. In no particular order: Brunton storm lighter, fully fuelled (pocket) Mariner matches x 12 w/ 2 striker strips. There's a couple of tinder quick mashed in there as well to keep the matches from moving about, and for... Well ...tinder if I need it I guess. The lid has glow tape glued to it. (This goes in my pack) Home made deer horn fire steel thingy and striker(pocket) Coghlans wax tinder in zip bag (pocket) And lastly (Yes, I know you are all laughing), but that is a road flare across the bottom there. You Americans (except maybe the ones in Alaska) don't know what cold really is. Up here, when you need a fire in an emergency you need it yesterday, no messing around with little bow drills and char cloth and types of fungus ....that's fine for keeping the skills sharp, but when It's -50 deg cel I ain't messing around with that BS. If I can't get a fire going with this, then I don't belong in the woods at all. It's sealed in plastic and rides in my pack. Makes an obviously descent signal too (as designed) And that's it. Nothing fancy or elaborate. I usually won't ever need anything more than the lighter as it burns hotter than hell. It must ride in a warm pocket to work however, as compressed gas doesn't like the minus temps much.
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#255723 - 01/22/13 12:37 AM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: Stephen]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Well said Stephan. Some people carry multiple knives, weaponry, or whatever but, IMO, cold, wet, windy Canadian with winters make multiple fire starting/extending redundancies worth the extra weight and space. (The kit isn't really that big or heavy, even if I added what I carry in my pockets.) Besides sharpening my fire skills, or those of my son or Scouts, shelter and fire are absolute musts in the winter. Finding dry tinder, kindling or fuel isn't always a simple matter. Sometimes it takes a while to get a fire going and, as you say, when you really need it, you need it yesterday.
I haven't tested it yet, but I'm hoping that when I do, the contents of this kit will be enough to boil water, regardless of what other natural tinder/kindling I can find.
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#255725 - 01/22/13 01:00 AM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: bacpacjac]
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Member
Registered: 04/09/12
Posts: 177
Loc: Canada
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I haven't tested it yet, but I'm hoping that when I do, the contents of this kit will be enough to boil water, regardless of what other natural tinder/kindling I can find.
Well, here's what you need to do. Wait till the next freezing cold day(like today @ around -25 ish) Soak your gloves in water a few minutes. Put them on and go into your back yard for 20 minutes or so. Once your hands are nice and cold, take your fire tin and try to light a small fire using the components you have. If you cannot get a fire going you may want to reconsider some of the things you are packing. I bet you would be surprised at how hard even a BIC lighter can be when your hands are so cold. I'm not trying to sound snarky either, but to truly test you kit would be under the worst conditions. I am willing to bet you may reconsider a few of your tins components after such a test.....
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#255726 - 01/22/13 01:15 AM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: Stephen]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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I haven't tested it yet, but I'm hoping that when I do, the contents of this kit will be enough to boil water, regardless of what other natural tinder/kindling I can find.
Well, here's what you need to do. Wait till the next freezing cold day(like today @ around -25 ish) Soak your gloves in water a few minutes. Put them on and go into your back yard for 20 minutes or so. Once your hands are nice and cold, take your fire tin and try to light a small fire using the components you have. If you cannot get a fire going you may want to reconsider some of the things you are packing. I bet you would be surprised at how hard even a BIC lighter can be when your hands are so cold. I'm not trying to sound snarky either, but to truly test you kit would be under the worst conditions. I am willing to bet you may reconsider a few of your tins components after such a test..... I'm totally with you Stephen. I had a hard time lighting my mini BIC and an esbit cube a couple of weeks ago on a cold windy day. That experience was actually the inspiration for this new kit, hence the multiple redunancies. (Bic, matches and Ferro rod.) Oh! I also swaped the BIC I used to edc for a push button butane lighter!
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#255729 - 01/22/13 02:04 AM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: hikermor]
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Old Hand
Registered: 09/12/01
Posts: 960
Loc: Saskatchewan, Canada
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In your neck of the woods, carrying a little extra weight to insure the ability to make fire is a really good idea. Here in SoCal it was in the low 80s today - a perfect day, but even here we have storms that can make carrying extra fire makers worthwhile.... low 80's eh? grrrr... green jealousy rears it head. It's -45*C with the wind chill today. But then again, we don't have any earthquakes.
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#255731 - 01/22/13 02:10 AM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: thseng]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Playing devil's advocate here, but how do you decide which tinder to use at any given time? I usually use whatever I can gather in the area, and save my kit for emergencies, except if I'm teaching or play... I mean, practicing.
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#255732 - 01/22/13 02:15 AM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: Dagny]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Thanks for this thread, BPJ. I gather this fire kit is for a backpack?
I need to research char cloth more. Didn't know a tin would be necessary for that.
Yes, I intend to carry it in a backpack - day tripping or overnighting. I also have something similar in my GHB and the family BOB. I don't think you need a tin to do charred materials. I've only done it a few times in the past couple of years. (Learned about it through ETS, actually. thanks gang!). I've used an Altoids tin, but think you just need an almost airtight (need a way for the gasses to escape, like a hole in the tin top) fire-proof container. les Stoud used a piece of airplane metal in an episode of Survivorman.
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#255751 - 01/22/13 04:13 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: bacpacjac]
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Addict
Registered: 01/09/09
Posts: 631
Loc: Calgary, AB
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As things stand, when I head into the woods my primary fire kit (though not actually a kit) is carried on my person and consists of a firesteel, my F1 knife, and a little Ziploc of PJ cotton balls in my pocket ... for backup (and other uses) I'll usually have a small lighter in a pocket too. In a pack I'll have some backup items ... mainly a Spark-lite with some Tinder Quick tabs and an extra lighter. This now seems downright minimal in comparison to my Canuck brethren .
_________________________
Victory awaits him who has everything in order — luck, people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take the necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck. Roald Amundsen
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#255756 - 01/22/13 06:09 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: bacpacjac]
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Member
Registered: 04/09/12
Posts: 177
Loc: Canada
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This now seems downright minimal in comparison to my Canuck brethren . Well, yes and no Denis. We all do different things and have different requirements. For some folks, an "adventure" consists of a day hike around a well groomed national park with the wife and kids and the fire kit will be pulled out to light a small fire to toast a few smores, boil a bit of tea and wow the kids. There are people here and there, and your car may be a few hundred meters away in the parking lot. For those people, great. Its not such a big deal because you are not in any real danger. YMMV For me, I will hop on a snowmobile and scoot off for and hour to find that secret little lake no one else goes to in order to do a bit of ice fishing. There is no one around for miles. My truck is an hours drive away, and if I break down or go through the ice with my machine I am in serious trouble. Even though I check the weather before I leaves, and even though I tell my wife exactly where I am going and when I will return there is no way help would (or could) get to me that fast if there was an accident. Thats why I carry a road flare. If I end up in the drink I can rip down branches and other dead wood, light the flare and toss it in the pile. So long as there is enough of a platform and the flare dosn't sink I WILL have fire. No need to find tinder, or make fuzz sticks, or fuss around with char cloth and jute twine and all that mess. I can even light the thing with my teeth if I had to. it's a nice bit of confidence for me to have such a simple and effective item in my bag. Now when I am simply boiling tea, or lighting a stove, or trying to impress a couch potatoe friend I will use the other methods. BPJack - you can get the 15 minute flares at Canadian tire for 5-6 bucks. Some apparently burn underwater once lit.(never tried it myself) No thrill like overkill when it comes to getting a fire going in a rush. Just be certain the flare is not on deep snow or you will quickly find out how far it is to the ground. The flare will still be burning, but under 10 feet of snow which is counter productive. Also, you can only light them with the striker. If that gets wet you are pooched so make sure you keep it dry. I may vaccum seal a molotov cocktail to supplement my road flares..... I hate being wet and cold.
Edited by Stephen (01/22/13 06:10 PM)
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#255759 - 01/22/13 06:37 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: Chisel]
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Addict
Registered: 03/15/01
Posts: 518
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If that carpet lint isn't treated with a flame retardant, I'd be surprised. Try it before you trust it.
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#255867 - 01/26/13 02:57 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: NAro]
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Old Hand
Registered: 01/28/10
Posts: 1174
Loc: MN, Land O' Lakes & Rivers ...
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If that carpet lint isn't treated with a flame retardant, I'd be surprised. Try it before you trust it. I agree. many carpets are made with a fiber called olefin. It is a plastic material and if you were able to light it with a spark, it would emit toxic fumes.. Dryer lint can also be primarily plastic fiber, depending on what was dried.
_________________________
The man got the powr but the byrd got the wyng
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#255885 - 01/27/13 01:15 AM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: Byrd_Huntr]
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Old Hand
Registered: 02/05/10
Posts: 776
Loc: Northern IL
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_________________________
Warning - I am not an expert on anything having to do with this forum, but that won't stop me from saying what I think. Bob
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#257318 - 03/08/13 04:54 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: Outdoor_Quest]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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We're stuck inside today with a serious case of cabin fever and a brand new Altoids tin so here's another, more simpler one for you, Blake: Small leather pouch with: -ferro rod on jute twine leash -tiny knife on jute twine leash -char cloth -tampon
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#257325 - 03/08/13 06:42 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: Stephen]
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Snake_Doctor
Unregistered
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Oh please, Steve. Ever hear of a little bump in the road here in the colonies called Fargo, North Dakota? Seven layers and I was frozen by the time we made the hanger. I absolutely refuse to go back there. Very unpleasant for a desert boy.
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#257326 - 03/08/13 07:17 PM
Re: Show Us Your Fire Kit
[Re: ILBob]
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Snake_Doctor
Unregistered
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Doesn't some company cut down road flares and calls them hotshots?
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