How to Make a Fire with Flint & Steel | Survival Skills

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So, this is a flint and steel. The nice thing about this is it has a steel attached. If it didn't we could use a pocket knife to strike it. This one has a key chain sort of a little chain on it. Let me turn my light off so we have a better idea of what it looks like.

So when you strike your flint you're going to get a spark like that. What I like to do is put my tip of my flint on the tinder and throw a spark into it. Some people will also hold the steel on top of the flint and draw it away like that. That way you're not disturbing your tinder.

We have some ignition. So what I'm trying to do is get the fire going up and what's happening is, there we go, what's happening is the fire's on top it has nothing to burn up to. So if I turn it I get a little more fuel on top and I give it a little air, too. We're giving it some leaves and some grass. While it's going we'll keep it going.

So you want to have your fire structure set up so that once it's lit you really don't have to work to make it keep going. The reason I built it in a teepee style is because, just like before when I was tilting the fire up, fire likes to burn up. If you have all your wood up like this it gives it a great opportunity to catch because of the burning up. We want to get a little more of this stuff on.

So, without using any artificial stuff except for the flint and steel, we used cedar and we used grass. That's how you can get a fire started.

[carypeaden]

What you are using with the steal striker is a ferrocerium (ferro) rod with magnesium underneath. That is not really flint and steel fire making, it is ferro rod and steel fire making. There is a significant difference. In flint (or sparking rock) and steel fire making tiny bits of the high carbon steel are scraped off and the iron in the bits of steel and they are what ignites and produces sparks that are about 800 degrees F. In Ferro rod fire making it is bits of the ferro rod that break off, ignite, and produce sparks that are 2000 to 3000 degrees F. Starting fire with a Fero rod is much easier than flint, but I don't believe you won't find a ferro rod in nature. It is quite easy to find sparking rocks like flint, chert, and quartz in nature.

[duxdawg]

When discussing Flint and Steel, it should be noted that we are never referring to the "flint" found in lighters, such as a Bic or Zippo. Lighter "flints" are actually made of ferrocerium. Which is a mixture of rare earth metals. Typically cerium, lanthanum, neodymium and praesidium. These are mixed with iron and magnesium to form not only lighter flints, but also ferrocerium rods.

[TheBeeman]

That's a ferrocerium rod attached to a magnesium block, not flint and steel.
But it will start a fire much easier then flint and steel...
I keep both in my bag along with a magnifying glass and a bic lighter 😉

[dracoborne]

I like to imagine right now there's some dude stranded on a desert island watching this life-changing video emphasized with the little strumming in the background.

[Ronnoconnor]

I leaned away from my computer so I wouldn't breathe in the smoke

[replicaclone]

If I ever play survivor and get to the final four I'll have you to thank

[MetalBach]

Nice job Howcast. This is not flint and steel. This is magnesium with a ferrocerium rod.

[gibbykirwan]

Ok was about to say that's no flint & steel but I see EVERYONE except the guy making the video has spotted it already 😂

[themissingbracket]

instructions are unclear, now I'm in the nether

[richardpeterson]

that's a ferro rod. not a Flint and steel. and while most will assume there is little difference, there is a huge difference. ferro throws a lot more sparks, and at much higher tempitures. and it's also a consumable product. a Flint steel can last a life time. but the most relative difference is in technique. each may seem similar, but are indeed different. due to a real Flint steels low temp sparks, it's often more difficult to start a fire with it. ferro rod can ignite a lot of tinder and fire starters a Flint steel can't initially. so let's try to make this video again, the right way, with the right product this time. or rename the video to ferro rod instead of Flint and steel

[danielolson]

I love this guide short he explains it very well and educational!!

[MA-vwpl]

Very dangerous situation posed in this video. U gotta clear out excess flammable tinder from this fire otherwise you will literally start a forrestfire. Dig a little firepit and clear out a. 10 feet radius of bareground from center of firepit. And watch for wind that could carry lit airborne embers away from fire.

[bradleyjohnson]

Thank you! I’m going to try this out now

[AllWeatherFirestarters]

I just subscribed and liked! Great video and channel. Any chance of maybe doing a product review on our Firestarters?

[Cindgo]

This was very helpful when I was trying to make a fire! 😀😀

[skyguy]

the sound of fire crackling is so satisfying

[itzdapper]

Where are you that allows you to make fires? Is it your property

[kiwdafish]

Please learn what Flint & Steel fire starting is. This video is Ferrocerium & Steel fire starting; a completely separate topic.

[danieljeffery]

its looks so easy but where do you get the flint? and what does it look like in the wild? and what if you dont have a pocket knife or easy source of steal??

[alissawanderoo]

Anyone please suggest me what kind of steel and flint is easier to use. Thanks!