Survival Tips - Fire starting with flint and steel - Part 1

[cubeaman]

very very descriptive! NOT

[msfootball97]

r u high

[notafarmer2]

that is not flint and steel. it is fire steel. I was looking for smeone using a piece of flint what you used is not and steel which is not what you have. yours is factory made with 7 defferant metals in them. ps you are a very strange person. it would be hard for anyone seriously looking for real life survival tips after japan, to take you seriously

[rosewood513]

I did use the Vaseline and cotton balls, it works great, I predpared several of them and put them in a baggie to keep them handy.

[rosewood513]

I did buy the flint and used it to make fire it is very simple and a handy item to have around since I don't smoke and do not alwasy have matches around.

[MegaMel10]

Hi, Thanks for the update. I feel the same way. I keep on in my daypack which I always take on hikes, bike rides, Etc. Do use the cotton balls with vaseline rubbed in them to get the fire started. That's what seems to work the best for me. Rub the vaseline into the cotton ball and then when you're ready to use it, spread the fibers apart so a spark can get in. Have a super day, Mel

[captainkirk5100]

go to flintandsteel.webs.com

[MegaMel10]

Hi, Thanks for the tip on the flintandsteel site. Have a super day, Mel

[TAMA6344]

A couple of ?'s , 1. who makes that flint fire starter and 2. what did you use to start the fire, it started pretty quick.

good vid. tho. thanks :)

[MegaMel10]

Hi, Thanks for your note. I bought my fire starter from REI. Made by Doan Mach. & Equip. Co. Inc, PO Box 21334, So. Euclid, O., 44121.

It's a magnesium block that you scrape shavings off of and then shoot sparks into from the flint strip imbedded in one side of the block. It's pretty hard to make the shavings, so I used cotton balls impregnated with vaseline. When you're ready to use them, pull the cotton ball apart slightly to open the fibers and allow sparks to get in there. Try it!

[MegaMel10]

Hi, Did you see my video on building a wilderness survival shelter. I started a fire in that one as well.

[TAMA6344]

@MegaMel10 yess i did thanks



[rosewood513]

I got my set in the mail and used it, it works great. thanks

[rosewood513]

You are too cute, loved the video love your enegy

[MegaMel10]

Hi, Thanks so much for your feedback. I really appreciate it. I have a bunch of Vids coming up covering my book on Exercise. I hope you enjoy them. Have a super day, MegaMel

[MegaMel10]

Hi, Thanks for your note. Yes, I tend to get a little excited. MegaMel

[hendotintco]

hahaha  excitable fella aren't ya :) good vid bloke.

[kikonin0]

Hi

do u know a place in Vancouver BC where you can legally start a fire in the mountains but not in a camp ground or something like that?

[MegaMel10]

Hi, I did a two week motorcycle trip in BC in Sept. but I didn't try starting a fire and didn't check the rules on it. It seems like you could do it on public land like the National Forest we have here. Mel

[kikonin0]

OK thanks

[justinbrittany08]

i got a flint at wall mart with magnesium to shave off and use as starter

[MegaMel10]

Hi,

Thanks for the comment. The magnesium seems like a good idea. I have one of those now but it seems a little hard to scrape the magnesium off the block.

Mel

[Monkeysmut02]

I love your enthusiasm man.

[MegaMel10]

Hi,

Thanks for your note.

Mel

[guitarkid2442]

hey what did you use to start that, the white thing in your pile of kindling I mean.

[MegaMel10]

Hi,

I should have mentioned that. Use plain cotton balls and rub each one with vaseline. When you're ready to use them, pull them apart a little but to allow the spark to get down inside. The cotton ignites quite easily and the vaseline burns kinda like a candle. Have a super day,

MegaMel

[ArvinX5]

i am asking. where can i buy that thing? thnx.

[MegaMel10]

Hi,

Did you see my two notes talking about buying the fire starter kits at REI. Maybe they didn't get thru??? I bought the kits at REI and used cotton balls with vaseline for my starter material.

Mel

[ArvinX5]

thnx. but where can i buy or see that kind of material?

[MegaMel10]

Hi, REI has two types of flint/ steel firestart kits. One with plastic handle/ striker (steel) with plastic handle. The other has a magnesium block with flint embedded on the side. Use a knife/ piece of steel to scrape the flint to make sparks. I used that one in my Survival - Shelter video. Use a cotton ball with vaseline rubbed into it. Then pull the cotton apart to make it less dense. When the sparks hit it, it flames quite easily and the vaseline let's it burn for quite awhile.

Mel

[ArvinX5]

are you using screw driver? and got any tips of a good flint and what is his appearance and texture. thnx

[MegaMel10]

Hi,

Thanks for your comment. I didn't mention that I was using a flint/steel kit from REI. It has the flint and a striker. Works well. Since then, I bought one that has the flint embedded in the side of a magnesium block (also from REI). You scrape magnesium from the block and then use a knife to strike the flint to make the sparks. I'd like to find some real flint in the wild and try that one of these days.

Have a super day, MegaMel

[tdsurf007]

CLASSSIIIIICCC.......

[sierratrekkin]

Hey Mega Mel,

You gotta do a video on the buzz saw!!!

[MegaMel10]

Hi sierratrekkin,

Thanks for the comment on the doing a video on the Buzz saw. Good idea! We'll try to get it running and do one.

MegaMel

[backscan3030]

1 spark fire isn't that hard to make with a cotton ball only thing that works better is add some petroleum jelly and it will burn for a few minutes but I give you 3/5

[MegaMel10]

Hi backscan3030,

I agree with you. I used three cotton balls with petroleum jelly. Too easy! It was the first time I tried it. Now I've bought a mangnesium block with "flint" at REI but haven't tried it yet. Thanks for the reply.

MegaMel

[backscan3030]

I have one of those the only problems I've had with it is it dulls your knife and the magnesium flakes blow away in high wind. To keep from dulling your knife you should tie part of a metal saw blade on it and use the cutting side for the magnesium and the dull side to spark the flint or the teeth will use up the flint to fast.

[MegaMel10]

Hi backscan3030,

Thanks for the update on using the sawblade instead of a knife. I don't want to dull my blade. I'll try it. I plan to make the shavings at home and carry them in a 35mm film canister so I don't have to make them out in the wind.

MegaMel

[nonstoperosion]

that was a pretty good flame! keep doing your thing gramps

[xexorz]

MegaMel rocks your socks.  Show some respect ya whipper snapper ;-)