[desert_tom]

One of my friends nephews asked me this the other day. He's in cub scouts now and has learned to make his first camp stove from a can, paraffin, and cardboard. he was very excited about it and that he learned to make a fire with matches, paper, and kindling ( even used by name )

I was raised around a primitive way of life ( most of the time ) we had gardens, sheep, and belonged to primitive black powder clubs as long as i can remember. my answer to the fire question revolves around that.

Flint, Steel, char-cloth and a jute birds nest, some tinder, kindling, and fuel wood.

its easy, works most of the time ( rain permitting ) and is alot of fun when done in a competition setting. this method really gets people excited about fire building, and i can remember going to these competitions when i was 4-5, and having a great time. i never got to light the big fire, but it was still alot of fun.

anyways, whats your favorite method or most unique method of building a fire and why?

 

[Magus]

A hunk of cinderblock in a tuna can with a shot of kerosene on it,it burns 10 15 minutes.its easy to do and fast.I use it in my wood stove all the time.a dishwashing squirt bottle full lasts all winter.

 

[Smithy]

You said "favorite", right? Not most primitive, not most survival-oriented, not most reliable, not portable, not campground-safe, right?

 

[Homer_Simpson]

Flint, Steel, char-cloth and a jute birds nest, some tinder, kindling, and fuel wood.

This is my favorite way, another thing you can use instead of jute birds nest is road made into a nest, attached is a kit I received from a person who forged his own striker and threw in the flint. One is my son's and the other is mine. I also carry a Swedish Fire Steel.
I am my kids Cub Scout leader, soon to be moving with him to Boy Scouts, next month we are going to be having the boys work with kits like this to make their fires. I worked with a few boys with it and all had fires going within a few strikes of the fire steel.

One thing to keep in mind with making fire, or teaching youth about making fire, spend time getting enough material to get the fire started, build it up and keep it going. I'm pretty quiet with the kids on this subject when training, what I find is that they get the fire going and then realize that they don't have enough material to keep the fire burning, usually the next time they don't make the same mistake.

 

[desert_tom]

i love the propane torch! ill take one over a match anytime. and i agree about letting the kids realize for themselves that they dont have enough firewood. i knwo when i was young, i learned very quick to get about 5 times as much as i thought, and then go back for more later. now im to the point where i always have more than enough.

anyways, keep the ideas coming! pictures are great!

-thomas

 

[desert_tom]

Also, i see you have there some pre made charcloth. ive never used it but i can bet its not cheap. we take a rectangular altoids tin, and poke a small hole in the top. we fill the tin chock full of cotton patches ( about an inch square ) and close the tin lid. put that in the fire. when you start to see fire shooting out of the top hole, thats good, leave it be. when the flame goes down and the smoke clears, take it out of the fire with some prongs and leave it be for a few hours. then carefully re package the char cloth. we usually use small tins that will fit nicely in our larger tins, but anything will do. just be careful with it! it'll disintegrate quick!

-note- it may not shoot fire, it may only smolder and smoke, which is fine to, just wait for the smoke stop coming out.

-thomas

 

[Jezcruzen]

Hey, smithy is "da man"!

My favorite method is to have someone else do it. But, lacking that, my favorite is simply the easiest way available to me at the time...matches, bic lighter, road flare, etc. Smart guys don't waste time/energy going primitive if they don't have to.

 

[Washkeeton]

birch bark with a bit of wood chips added in, get that going then on to the spruce kindling then birch wood... burns well...

I carry with me on outings dry birch bark and wood chips enough to start how ever many fires I think I will need then a couple extra. Only cause up here in the winter you need to be able to start a fire quickly some times.

When Im off this next week I will be playing with other stuff and maybe modify some of what I carry (related to weight)...

 

[JeepHammer]

My 'Favorite' way is a FLAME THROWER!

Since it's been several years since I was in the Military with access to a flame thrower...

I use a propane torch quite often, they work great!
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When I'm out actually 'Roughing' it camping,
I use a butane lighter or match and a cotton ball with petroleum jelly on it. Makes great 'WATER PROOF' tender.

If it's an emergency situation, (like I'm wet or freezing to death) I use a signaling flair.
Works instantly, and works EVERY TIME, even with frozen hands.

I used a flint & steel when I was young, and during the military, and I practiced starting fires with plow, bow drill, ect,
But now I take the easy route...

When hiking, I ALWAYS have three ways to start a fire,
Lighter, Matches, Magnesium bar & Striker, and I've always got tender, cotton & petroleum jelly.

If I'm in potentially life threatening cold weather, I usually have flairs also...
They make for the fastest heat/fire with the least amount of effort or dexterity/coordination.