[Regia-NA] Making Fire

[J. Kim Siddorn]

It's not that easy Lori. Roland can do it and makes it look as easy as -
well, an easy thing;o))

But try though I might, I must put my hand up to never having yet set fire
to anything with flint and steel - although once I have a smouldering ember,
I can keep it alight and make a good fire in almost any circumstances.

I know that the flint ought to have a freshly chipped surface (flintlockers
"hammer" their flints before shooting) and that the higher the carbon steel,
the greater the chance of getting a spark. Most modern steels are made from
bits of old files as that is the easiest source of HC steel. If you take a
sanding disc in an angle grinder to a file and take the teeth off two sides
without getting it too hot, you ought to then be able to get a spark. Strike
at a sharp angle, speed being important. Vary the angle until you get a
spark.

Do you have and "fire fungus" to catch it on? This is the best material,
although charred linen is very good too. You can make charred linen by
taking some small squares and put them in a boot polish tin or other tin
with a tight fitting lid. Put this in the fire or on the hob. The linen will
burn until it uses up the available oxygen and then (literally) turn into
charcoal. Keep it dry and dropping a single spark on it will cause it to
smoulder. Cherish the burn with tinder & away you go.

Regards,

Kim Siddorn

"Spring in the air?"
"Spring in the air yerself !"


----- Original Message -----
From: "Lori Rael Northon" <lesseley@attbi.com>
To: <list-regia-na@lig.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 12:01 AM
Subject: [Regia-NA] Making Fire


> Can anyone tell me if there is some special trick to striking a spark with
> flint?  I need a spark to light the petrol I've poured all over everything
> on this list!  8^)
>
> No! NO! NO! Seriously now, I would like to know about flint and striking a
> spark.  I attended a Black Powder Fair with a girlfriend (yes, I do
actually
> have a couple of friends - I haven't driven them all away!) this past
> Saturday afternoon.  Both of us purchased smallish chunks of what were
> labeled as flint for about $.75.  My chunk is a dark blackish gray, and
hers
> is a sandy brown color.  We tried scraping and striking these chunks
against
> metal files, rusty steel, other rocks, each chunk, and anything else we
> could get our hands on except the "strikers" that were being sold for way
> too much money at the fair.  And, of course, neither of us thought to ask
> for a demonstration of our flints while we were still at the fair grounds.
> If anyone has any suggestions or information they would care to pass on
> regarding sparking techniques and required materials to create sparks that
> does not include smashing the chunks to fine powder with a 5# sledge
hammer
> or skipping the chunks out across the water or hucking the chunks at
passing
> police cars, both my friend Maerhild and I would be grateful.
>
> No flames, please. 8^)
> Lori
>
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