Lets talk firestarting

[Gamechaser]

Fat wood is another good fire starter

 

[DuncNZ]

If you can find a lightening hit tree , the wood will make great fire starting kindling . When the tree gets hit by lightening it gets super heated and all the water turns to steam , which blows the wood apart , leaving splintered wood and dried resin , just perfect as a fire starter .

 

[BlazingIron]

Other than flint, what types of high silica containing stones are good at giving a spark? Jas anyone tried using petrified wood?

 

[Gamechaser]

Other than flint, what types of high silica containing stones are good at giving a spark? Jas anyone tried using petrified wood?

Chert

 

[J. Paul]

Other than flint, what types of high silica containing stones are good at giving a spark? Jas anyone tried using petrified wood?

Some of my best are petrified wood found around my place. The rock shaves a piece of metal to create the spark

 

[The Appalachian]

I used to take my two sons and occasionally my daughter on "bug out" trips when they were young. It usually involved the canoe, some fishing poles, and a squirrel rifle. We would catch or kill our meals. Minimalist "camping" making most of what we needed.

I remember one particular trip up to Laurel Bed Lake up on top of Clinch Mountain where my oldest said "I got the fire this time", as we were jumping out of the truck. I said go for it.

He went off in the brush and came back after a bit with an arm load of stuff he'd gathered up. He set down and took a boot string out of his boot and made a bow, he carved out a hearth board and made his spindle. It took him about 5 minutes to make an ember and light his tinder bundle up. I had no idea he had figured out how to do that.

He was 11 years old........