Fire Starters, Flint Sticks Lifetime Uses

The lifetime of a fire starter or flint stick spans at least hundreds of uses even for the smallest versions. The number of strikes possible depends on the amount of material in the stick. Each strike removes part of the flint--smaller sticks provide fewer strikes. Measured in a more practical way, the lifetime of these handy emergency tools may be much shorter than expected. Unskilled hands could wear one out in a day without starting a fire at all.

Flint Bars

Sparking fire starters consist at least of a flint bar and cover. Most include a built-in steel striker, but some require an additional steel tool such as the back edge of a knife blade. What wears out most quickly is the edge of the steel--a rounded edge produces few sparks. Removable strikers can be restored easily with a sharpening stone. If the striker is not replaceable, the flint can still be used in combination with a knife blade.

Magnesium

Combination flint and magnesium fire starters mount a rod of flint to one edge of a small magnesium bar. With a sharp knife the magnesium can be shaved off to form a pile of high-intensity kindling. Easily ignited with a few sparks from the flint and steel, the magnesium burns fast and white hot, leaving a short-lived red-hot coal. With practice this combination can start a fire even with damp materials. Dry tinder will still be essential. This survival fire starter can be used hundreds of times, but not every use results in a successful fire. Both flint and bar gradually wear away.

Combination Bars

Better quality sparking fire starters combine magnesium and flint in one rod. Each pass of the knife scrapes off a thin layer of metal tinder and ignites it with a hot spark. A longer lasting spark results, and shaving a tiny pile of magnesium curls is unnecessary. Throw the hot sparks directly onto dry tinder and, with a puff of breath, a first flame should result. Combination fire starters may be rated for thousands of uses rather than hundreds.

Tinder

Proper tinder can significantly extend the useful lifetime of any fire starter. In wet weather good tinder may be hard to gather in camp. Though possible to make from dry wood with a sharp knife, the best tinder comes from special materials. Shavings of resinous wood, charred cotton cloth and exotic materials like dried fungus all ignite easily when combined with a spark or small coal. Carrying a small waterproof box of dry tinder eliminates many failed fire-building attempts.

Fire Pistons

Much less vulnerable to wear and tear, a small fire piston made of brass can outlast any spark generator. This ancient indigenous invention from Indonesia and the island cultures of the South Pacific uses the heat of compressed air to ignite a bit of dry tinder. First place the tinder in the notched tip of the hand-driven piston. Insert the piston in the tube. A quick strike of the plunger raises the temperature in the chamber to more than 800 degrees F. Use the tiny coal that results to start a fire. Fire pistons can be made of properly fitted wood, but brass models last much longer.

References

• Swedish FireSteel
• Aurora Firestarter
• Fire Starters for Purchase

Resources

• History of the Fire Piston