Starting a fire

Considering, or completed a DIY prepper project? Made something using traditional methods? Post it here!
Arzosah
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Re: Starting a fire

Post by Arzosah »

Brilliant! So there's two other routes for home made fire starter - fraying thin materials, and making charcloth.

Ferricks, good luck on the trials of this stuff - I'm not doing anything this weekend, my physical energy has gone down to zero with this cold (which is why my head has been buzzing, its frustrating being ill - makes you wonder what it would be like after TSHTF if you had a bad cold, or a flu or a virus. Yikes.

But when I am well, and back from holibob at beginning of August, then I'll really get stuck in to this, skills practice seems urgent to me.
jansman
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Re: Starting a fire

Post by jansman »

That lint stuff in the tumble dryer filter is a good fire tinder too!
In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life: It goes on.

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Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.

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pseudonym
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Location: East Midlands

Re: Starting a fire

Post by pseudonym »

I have tried all of the above and now stick to magic biscuits:

http://www.kuenzi.com/tips_e.htm
Two is one and one is none, but three is even better.
pseudonym
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Location: East Midlands

Re: Starting a fire

Post by pseudonym »

Having just got back from a week in the woods, this was the demo table for firelighting:

Image
Two is one and one is none, but three is even better.
preppingsu

Re: Starting a fire

Post by preppingsu »

pseudonym wrote:Having just got back from a week in the woods, this was the demo table for firelighting:
would love to know what you do for a living pseudonym, I guessing some sort of bushcraft training??? ;)
pseudonym
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Re: Starting a fire

Post by pseudonym »

preppingsu wrote:
pseudonym wrote:Having just got back from a week in the woods, this was the demo table for firelighting:
would love to know what you do for a living pseudonym, I guessing some sort of bushcraft training??? ;)
Actually, I am retired. That just means I get out a lot to bushcraft Meets :lol:

Mainly on this site:

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/login. ... 0a3f364647

There is a lot of cross-over between bushcrafting and the prepping lifestyles. ;)
Two is one and one is none, but three is even better.
everyday-carry

Re: Starting a fire

Post by everyday-carry »

Gimme a 9v battery and some wire wool anyday :D :lol:

pseudonym, I wonder if we've ever met at Bardsters?
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The Ace of Spades
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Re: Starting a fire

Post by The Ace of Spades »

Knowing which kinds of wood burns best is useful knowledge.

Here is a list of commonly found wood in the UK with a brief description of it's burning characteristics.

As a rule, hardwoods burn slower/longer than softwoods. Softwoods are ideal for kindling.

Alder- A poor wood. It burns quickly and gives off little heat.
Apple - A good wood. It burns slowly and gives off good heat. It also smell nice and doesn't tend to spark/spit too much. Really needs to be dry (seasoned).
Ash - One of the best woods to burn. Gives good heat and flame, burns slowly. Will also burn when green.
Beech - Like Ash, burns well but not so good when green. Has a tendancy to spark.
Birch - Is a very good burning wood although burns fairly fast. Mix with slower burning woods.
Blackthorn - Another good wood. Burns slowly with lots of heat and little smoke.
Cedar - Good wood for cooking. Gives lots of heat but little flame. Also smell nice.
Cherry - Burns slow and with lots of heat. Needs to be seasoned. Little or no spitting.
Douglas Fir - Not very good. Produces little flame or heat.
Elder - Burns quickly with little heat. Very smokey.
Elm - Needs to be well seasoned to burn. Slow burner and good heat output.
Hawthorn - Burns slowly with lots of heat and little smoke.
Hazel - Excellent wood when seasoned. Burns fast but without spitting.
Holly -A good wood. Can be burnt green.
Hornbeam - Another good wood. Burns well.
Horse Chesnut - Produces heat and flame, but spits a lot.
Larch - Needs to be seasoned well. Spits excessively while it burns.
Laurel - Produces a good flame.
Lime -A poor wood.
Maple - A good wood. Burns slow with good heat.
Oak - One of the best firewoods. When seasoned well, it gives off a good, lasting heat. Burns reasonably slowly.
Pear - Needs to be seasoned well. Burns well with a pleasant smell and without spitting.
Pine - Burns well but tends to spit. The resinous wood makes good kindling.
Poplar - Burns slowly to produce a black choking smoke even when seasoned.
Spruce - Burns very quickly and sparks badly.
Sycamore - Burns well but produces only moderate heat.
Walnut - Low quality firewood.
Willow - A poor wood. Do not even try unless it is well seasoned.
Yew - Burns slowly and with a fierce heat.

Ace. :)
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Arzosah
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Re: Starting a fire

Post by Arzosah »

Ace, brilliant post there! Sounds like you've been doing this stuff for a lot of years!
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The Ace of Spades
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Re: Starting a fire

Post by The Ace of Spades »

Arzosah wrote:Ace, brilliant post there! Sounds like you've been doing this stuff for a lot of years!
Thanks!! Yeah, been into what I do for a looooooooong time. Making fire using different methods, and using different woods is one of my fave things to do when I'm out camping. :D

Ace. :)
The future belongs to those who prepare.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index2.php

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