Flint and Steel

Advanced Scout Skill

Flint and Steel techniques were the method of choice for starting fires in the age of Lewis and Clark.  It requires a hard carbon steel, a harder piece of rock and ember tinder such as char cloth.  Learning this skill helps you truly understand how fire works and how to respect and grow and ember into a flame.

How does Flint and Steel Work?

Metal and a rock is hit in just he right matter than a tiny sliver or iron is shaved off.  Heat from friction and exposure to oxygen causes iron to ignite.  This blob of molten iron is hot enough to create an ember in certain tinders such as char cloth.  The ember grown in the tinder by blowing on it until it bursts into flames. 

Steel Striker

The type of steel you use for your stiker really matters.  You can get a spark from Stainless Steel, but it is insanely difficult with just a piece of flint.  You want a hard, high carbon steel.  A purpose made striker generally works best.

Steel Stiker Options

Tools 

Flint

Flint is generally what you think of when using Flint and Steel fire techniques.  But other rocks will work, with different results.  What you need is a hard and sharp rock.  A hardness of 6 or more is important.  And for beginners, your stone should be ideally razor sharp.

Ideal rocks (Hardness 6.5)

Acceptable rocks

Don't know what each of these rocks looks like?  No worries.  Just go to river and select random rocks.  Smash them with larger rocks to create sharp edges.  Try stone on your steel.  If it creates sparks, it's a keeper.

Ember Tinders

The sparks created with Flint and Steel Techniques aren't very hot.  You need prefect ember tinder to catch a spark and turn it into an ember. 

Ember Tinder

Tinder Bundle

After you establish an ember in your tinder, use it to ignite a tinder bundle.  Tinder bundles can be made from all sorts of available materials.

Technique

Flint and Steel requires a lot of practice.  Some people pick it up quickly, but most will need a lot of practice.  The key is hitting your steel against your rock in a way that the steel moves as fast as possible and just barely hits the rock.

Force equals 1/2 mass times velocity time velocity.  This means that speed is exponentially more important then how hard you hit your stone.  Don't try to hit your rock Hard.  Hit is Fast!

Classic Steel striker on Flint Technique

Char Tinder placed on top of fling

From start to end, this motion for striker creates a gentle arch

High Carbone Steel Knife on Flint Technique

Back of knife needs to be High Carbon Steel

Most knives are made from Stainless steel, which won't work (unless you have super skills and luck)

Stone on Knife Technique

This technique showers tinder with sparks

Anchored Knife Technique

Anchor knife in wood to steady knife.  This is safer that trying to hold and exposed knife blade in your hand.

Saw Slide Technique

If a saw (or knife) blade is long enough, you can slide your stone across it to create sparks

Ember Fires

Carefully place your ember in your tinder bundle and blow some life into that fire!