Does anyone use any fire starters like the one Mr Mears was using in extreme survival last week. Think he was using magnesium, but does anyone have any recomendations/experiences with them. Got a bivying trip in easter so i gotta think fast.
Cheers.

I use a Swedish Fire Steel - the small Scout version. This will light canister and petrol stoves but not meths ones. I've left in a pool of water overnight and it's worked instantly the next morning.

http://www.lightmyfire.uk.com/swedish_firesteel.html

I use a keyring sized one quite a lot. Works whether its wet or windy where matches and lighters would fail. Pretty cheap considering how long they last and can be bought in almost any outdoor shop. Just be carefull with your eyes and any fancy materials (jackets etc) that maybe close by as the sparks will leave little pin-hole burns where they land.

the blast match is quite cool, the sparks are a lot hotter than other strikers and it feel dangerous which is always good

whatever you choose (i have the magnesium one) practice at home (obviously not IN it) before you go.

i know this sounds odd, but i didn't check before i went away.

i got to the camp site and wondered why it didnt work, i had to borrow a lighter of someone.....i didnt realise it is packed with a coating of some sort on it.

DOH !

Would you advise buying the maya dust as well, or just find usual lighting materials?

yeah i'd second the maya dust and fire steel!

Just being doing a bit of a search for one of the above, and came across the Tool Logic SL3. its basically a lock knife with one of these in-built. Would i be better off buying a knife and a seperate firesteel, or go for the gadget?

Cheers, Kieran

I always pack a lighter (zippo) and a packet of water proof matches.

Besides have you ever tried lighting a fart with a fire steel after 6 pints of ale, much easier with a zippo ( as its wind proof )

Drew

Kieran, it depends if you need a knife! The knife is quite light and has a good blade but no other tools apart from a whistle. If you already have a knife or want one with more tools than a blade then I'd get the stand-alone Fire Steel.

Well im after just a blade, and have the choice between the SL3 at about £32 or a 2nd hand gerber gator £15 and a firesteel at about £10.

Lighting wet wood? Trioxane and lifeboat matches (like mini sparklers).
Trioxane burns very hot, very fast, and managed to get a fire going during a tropical storm in the jungle. Fab stuff.

I like the light-my-fire things, though haven't tried it with a petrol MSR stove yet.

I've also made my own fire lighter (made an interesting night at scouts). Used a piece of 3mm steel sheet approx 30 x 70mm, stuck a load of Swan lighter flints to it using araldite, then strung half a hacksaw blade to the metal to strike with. It works quite well with a bit of practise, though I think the flints will wear out pretty quickly. It's a laugh though if you want to entertain some kids (or not-so-kids).

Yup fire steel is the way to go either with maya sticks or dust.
I can testify to spending last years bonus on one of Mr Mear's knives with one of these sticks off his website (www.raymears.com)which are now no longer made (the Wilkinson sword version of his knife, the handmade one has a 2 year waiting list)and it has assisted in al sorts of ways ( i must have the most tempremental zippo lighter ever made!)

Get the fire stick and experiment with which knives will strike a spark off it, obviously my Ray Mears knife works a treat but my victorinox multitool won't strike it however my really cheap opinal will.

And it works fine with my MSR petrol stove FYI Ben Bloggs!

Decided to go for the tool logic knife/firesteel combi: http://www.scottcountry.co.uk/products_detail.asp?productID=1017

managed to get it for £20 brand new on the bay

I use the Strike Force firet steel made by Ultimate Survival for a several reasons...

1. It comes with Wet Fire Tinder in the handle which is an awesome product in its own right.

2. I find that the Swedish Fire steels that Ray Mears uses etc etc is fire to small to handle especially when your hands are cold and wet - the time you most want to light a fire, quickly!

3. They last for ever and they say that if you ever wear them out then they will replace it free of charge.

4. Found the Maya dust to be next to usless and you really can't beat the Wet Fire Tinder, lights in any weather condition and even floats on water :)

Got mine from Field and Trek

Ta

Pete

For pyromaniacs only:

Wrap a little potassium permanganate (2g) in a bit of rag (10cm square) soaked in neat anti-freeze (25ml) and stand well back. Works a treat in the wet. Exercise a lot of commonsense and caution with this method.

I have found it's easy to carry enough kit for a dozen firestarts in a couple of 35mm film containers, soaked rags in one, pp in the other, keep 'em apart in the pack just in case!

may seem like a silly question, but where can you get PP?

Bushy

try your local friendly chemist.
don't tell them that you are going to make incendiary devices with it though. try, it's for my athlete's foot instead.

hmmmm
I feel a demonstration for the Scouts coming on, lol!

"DONT TRY THIS AT HOME"
"OR ANYWHERE" to be precise!