I put a tissue paper ( Kleenex or generic type) on a hard flat surface. Put the flint striker on the tissue paper and squeeze as hard as you can.
Two or three attempts produced sparks but no ignition. Then one more and sparks ignited the paper + some secondary sparks all around the paper ( in 1.5 inch radius ) . As it seems the previous attempts have scattered tiny pieces of the striker all ove the tissue paper and they have acted like magnesium shavings
Toilet paper, tissue paper, it is always around. And, at last, I won't be tossing these flint strikers away !!
This thread may lead us to discuss uses of eye screws.
In les's idea, an eye screw can be used in place of both screw and ring terminal
Eye screws have been used also by Dave canterbury at the end of his small vice grip ( instead of the normal screw that tightens the grip ) and he uses the ring to attach the grip to the pack or other attachments
By the way, makeup circular pads, which you have tried in the first place, may be made of a synthetic fiber not a real cotton. Also they might be soaked in something helping to remove makeup, but interfering with ignition. I'm igniting cotton balls with a spent bic easily, even without the jelly.
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