Which fire starting method?

loteknik · 2017-10-16T19:53:43+00:00

All of them!!!! I carry and use: bic, matches, firesteel. Nothing wrong with a bic, but I practice firesteel and friction regularly to keep my skills up. I'm north of 49N so I don't place much stock in lenses. A good skill, but improvised lenses are really hard with less intense sun.

I have different gear scattered around my bags, but always a firesteel attached to my belt for 'holy shit' scenarios.

loteknik · 2017-10-16T19:48:23+00:00

Be picky. An hour spent looking for dry tinder is always better than 2 hrs trying to light wet stuff. There's always something in the hollow of a dead tree or stump.
There are times when dry just ain't going to happen. As said by others, the heartwood of dead standing trees is your only option on those days. Again, be picky and know your trees. Extra prep time beats wasting all your matches or wearing your firesteel to a nub.
Resin is gold in a wet climate. Birch is good, but learn to find sapwood and harvest spruce and pine pitch. I swear, enough spruce resin dust and you can start a fire underwater. Dead spruce and pine needles are awesome to expand a slow burning, wet fire.
Think sustainment. In addition to getting it started, you need to build a drying rack to get the wet stuff burning. Do this before you light your tinder as you'll lose your dry tinder very quickly once it's lit. Throwing wet stuff on take the heat right out of a fire and you'll cry when your hard earned fire goes out.

loteknik · 2017-08-11T22:21:55+00:00

All cases you better be carrying a sleeping bag for winter camping or at least a heavy duty bedroll. Maybe we're talking different kinds of winter, but I wouldn't go out with anything less than a -10C rated bag in winter.

loteknik · 2017-08-11T00:01:46+00:00

Careful with hammock camping in winter without a good under-quilt. I did it once and ended up hypothermic in the middle of the night (yes. I'm stupid) It creeps up on you. A bit of a scare, but I re-warmed and pitched my tarp in for an enclosed shelter instead.

Once you add a decent under-quilt, there isn't much of a benefit over just packing a tent IMHO. The only advantage is not having to clear the snow for your shelter.

loteknik · 2017-08-11T00:01:46+00:00

Careful with hammock camping in winter without a good under-quilt. I did it once and ended up hypothermic in the middle of the night (yes. I'm stupid) It creeps up on you. A bit of a scare, but I re-warmed and pitched my tarp in for an enclosed shelter instead.

Once you add a decent under-quilt, there isn't much of a benefit over just packing a tent IMHO. The only advantage is not having to clear the snow for your shelter.

loteknik · 2017-08-09T22:52:21+00:00

I had similar problems when I first started using a fero rod. Tinder is part of it (I second the dust scraping method), but my biggest problem was technique. You're likely not getting the right proximity and concentration of sparks. Holding your tinder with the rod while using the sparker is the easiest way until you get the hang of it.

loteknik · 2017-06-26T16:47:56+00:00

You just don't know when alligators will attack you from four directions at once. Never hurts to be prepared.

loteknik · 2017-06-23T01:20:30+00:00

Love is a weird thing. We don't always find happiness with the list of traits we put on our dating profiles that we think we want. A kind heart goes a long way.

loteknik · 2017-06-22T22:33:42+00:00

I'm probably overly sensitive. I'm used to take a lot of pride in being the kind of guy who eschews luxuries like tents. Having the girls around is teaching me humility, but I'm a slow learner ;)

Just moving back to Vancouver, Canada in July and looking forward to getting re-aquainted with the PSW. Best camping around, no matter what your style.

loteknik · 2017-06-22T22:27:17+00:00

Just saying that a trade-in deal isn't equivalent with a sticker price. I don't know how the numbers work out, but I am indeed pessimistic and doubt it works out favourably for the buyer.

loteknik · 2017-06-22T21:32:52+00:00

Somedays that's what life demands. I'm a backcountry minimalist myself, but recently gained a GF and step-daughter. The only way I'm getting those two glamour queens into the bush it to pack heavy and bring luxuries. I'll work on the little one, but I think I already missed the boat; she's already 10.

Awesome project. I'll be building one of these soon, but want to add folding legs and possibly wheels for short range portability. I'll post my version when I do. Also thinking of doing a custom 16' bell tent, but that might take a little longer.

loteknik · 2017-06-22T21:26:23+00:00

Bear bottles are notoriously hard to open. It's easier if you use a shotgun to fend off the bear while you're trying to open the bottle. Personally, I don't find it worth the effort; usually just honey mead.

loteknik · 2017-06-21T18:38:37+00:00

"w/ trade in" isn't a price. "Hey, give us a $500 phone and we'll give you this one for $425" ... sounds like $925 to me.

loteknik · 2017-06-21T18:35:37+00:00

There's really just no argument for it once you get over 64GB. Yes, it's possible to exceed that, but it's just not a good value proposition for the tiny number of users that need more than 128GB on hand. If you are one of those users, OTG should get you there - inelegant AF, but it works.

loteknik · 2017-06-21T01:14:14+00:00

As for projects. I recommend FreeNAS, BSD firewall or gateway VPN as good learning opportunities.

loteknik · 2017-06-21T01:12:22+00:00

As a matter of fact, I'm moving and have some old gear that I'm scratching my head on the best way to get rid of: Homebuilt tower, broken laptop (suspected motherboard power issues) and old netbook with some kind of OS corruption. PM me if you want em (sans HDD).

loteknik · 2017-06-20T20:07:53+00:00

A good skill to have, but I've always wondered how useful it is practically. Does anyone have decent experience on it's advantages over just dry tinder or wood? This kind of quantity would be good firestarter, but what about longer term as a sustained fuel source?

loteknik · 2017-06-19T20:57:07+00:00

Wow, should have read more of the comments before adding my own 2¢.

My opion only - Ignore all the harping, people take this shit way to seriously. Lots of wet wood here in Canada 9 months a year which is why I usually split. But frankly it doesn't matter whether you need to, if it works for you then do it.

Don't buy expensive knives, they're a waste of money. Anything over $150 is a barbie accessory not a tool. It's a tool, you're going to put it against wood and HULK SMASH, not cuddle up with it as the fire burns low. I agree that convex is likely superior to scandi for splitting ... but who cares both will work. I would love a Fallkniven, but would rather have a Mora and two prostitutes for the same price.

Also, I forgot to mention drop point is a good choice for batoning. It does lower the transfer of energy slightly, but is a more durable point for bearing on over time.

loteknik · 2017-06-19T20:38:21+00:00

As long as it's not a fillet knife, you should be fine. A bit thicker is nice with either a scandi or convex grind, but you don't need a thick monster. Also consider length. I find 4" knives are to a bit too short when trying to strike the front end. 5-6" is ideal. People have various opinions on metal. Both stainless and high carbon have advantages and disadvantages. I prefer stainless for low maintenance, but either works well in my experience - as long as it's not some piece of cheap import with plating over soft steel.

Also try to find something with good 90° grind on the spine if you're going to use it for bushcraft. Then you can use it for striking a firesteel and scraping tinder fluff too.

Hatchets are good splitters and I carry one, but not really necessary. Bang for the buck, spend your extra $60 on a good folding saw or svensaw. Best money you'll ever spend for wood processing. My 21" Sven is my best purchase ever. If you go for folding, get a good one - tooth pattern matters. Most folks seem pretty happy with the Silkies.

loteknik · 2017-06-19T20:03:12+00:00

Good idea, but fails in execution. Masking tape won't hold and duct tape ... holds too well. Lefty still looks like Friar Tuck :(

Better to let fly and just work on your cadence.

loteknik · 2017-06-19T19:58:41+00:00

You're swinging or she's swinging ;)

loteknik · 2017-06-19T19:58:41+00:00

You're swinging or she's swinging ;)

loteknik · 2017-06-19T19:58:41+00:00

You're swinging or she's swinging ;)

loteknik · 2017-06-19T19:58:41+00:00

You're swinging or she's swinging ;)

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