FIRE and the 3 P’s

Strange tease. If from anyone else, I'd assume malarkey. No idea what you're talking about, but I'll take 2 ;)

I have a hard time with Bic lighters, hope it's easier to operate.
Duane

Sorry for the tease. Just got back from a vacation out west and am slow to “catch-up”

Starting a fire with a firesteel is an excellent, low-impact, sustainable method which can easily replace a lighter and matches with practice. The key word in that statement however is practice. Much like many techniques applied in the backcountry fire starting is a skill that should be honed to ones desired comfort level before being relied on solely. Many experienced backcountry campers carry a firesteel for primary use but keep a lighter or matches sealed in a waterproof bag as a backup should they find they aren't having luck with the firesteel. Other hikers do it the other way around. They use a lighter or matches primarily but carry a firesteel should an emergency arise and the firesteel is their only option.

The important lesson to learn is how to properly use a firesteel in combination with cotton tinder, followed by effective fire building skills at home or in a controlled camping environment before you embark on a backcountry journey in which a lack of these skills could inhibit your safety.
Practice sparking the firesteel onto tinder at home
Practice adding kindling to the tinder
Practice building small fires from the kindling
Practice keeping a fire going

There is a theme that seems to be occurring here – practice, practice, practice.

I've concluded that the Bic lighter, notwithstanding it's ubiquitous presence, is poorly designed. It's impossible to use in any intricate situation without burning your thumbtip or fingertip. Cursed device.

Trying to use things outside of their design parameters often yield poor results.

I've concluded that the Bic lighter, notwithstanding it's ubiquitous presence, is poorly designed. It's impossible to use in any intricate situation without burning your thumbtip or fingertip. Cursed device."

Build your kindling on the second floor! Trenches suck.

My exact thoughts Ken.
Duane

Bluddy Bic…..that's why Bob G. carries 2 of them. I would venture to say that the majority of backpackinglight folks use a mini Bic. I use one. The sparks from a bic can save your life in an emergency.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_OlYjeCcJE#t=302

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ms8hY4z4aY

Four Seasons Survival Tinder-Quik Fire Tab

Les Stroud uses bic to start fire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzSnIPCHSNo

Lighten up guys. So to speak. The Bic is designed to use when held vertically, with the object to be lit above it. Angle the Bic to light e.g. an Esbit tab on a tray, with little space to navigate in from pot above and/or wind shield, and it becomes highly compromised. Which makes me much prefer my Soto with extendible nozzle, plus it can be refueled. Maybe it's beyond time Bic redesigned its lighter to function more effectively. Progress does have its place. Or are you suggesting the Bic is sacred?

Sacred. lol. Esbit users are an entertaining lot. :) How long have you had the Soto? Happy with it? I have looked at it before, but bics are so inexpensive and so readily available. Matches are usually free.

Also curious about the Soto PT-XT, but my experience with butane "torch" lighters is that they are expensive, heavy and short-lived.
Any Soto users out there willing to share experiences?

Keep in mind the 3 P's Gotta have 1 in your pocket, 1 in your pack, and one to play with while you learn how to build a fire. So you're looking at $60.00 bucks if you go the Soto route.

If you use the Brian Green type esbit tray you can hold the esbit in the tray by squeezing on the sides of the tray, hold it at an angle to use a bic to light it. Bob G uses a bic to light his Esbit TriWing stove.

I use a Mini Bic to light the corner of an Esbit, rolling the striker with index finger rather than thumb… less "meat" in the way when it ignites. 8^)

I would credit Clelland with that one (it's in his UL book) but I figured that one out all by myself using a full-sized Bic "back in the day".

But speaking of (Practice x 3) and Esbit/firesteel, I'm definitely going to experiment with scraping the tab and hitting it with the firesteel to get a feel for how much it takes. Never done that.

NM– thought I was in the Gear thread.

This is what I’m selling.

Emergency Fire Starter Tinder Tins

3 sliding lid containers with 5 Tinder-Quick embedded in beeswax.

As you have seen in my videos, the Tinder-Quick light easily with a spark.

Keep one in your pack.

Keep one in your pocket in case you get separated from your pack.

And one to PRACTICE making fire using your source of ignition.
Use a flint and steel or a Mini Bic lighter that can only give off sparks. You know, the one that ran out of fuel ;) That’s why Bob carries 2. Keep one lighter in your pocket and one in your pack. The mini Bic’s cost less than 2 dollars in a pack of 3.

In an emergency, light all 5 Tinder-Quicks to make sure you get a fire going to ward off hypothernmia. Prepare all of your fire fuel prior to lighting the Fire Tin

Here is what the tins look like. Mini-Bic shown for size.

I’ll try to do a video by tomorrow of me using a mini Bic to light the fire starting tinder tins.

>"I use a Mini Bic to light the corner of an Esbit, rolling the striker with index finger rather than thumb"

I do this as well. And, like any use of a Bic lighter, it is far easier if you grind / pry off the child-safety guard.

"it is far easier if you grind / pry off the child-safety guard."

+1

(Eye protection advised. It's springy stuff and likes to fly.)

I recommend you do not remove the safety guard. It helps keep the striker wheel free of oils from your fingers. You don’t want that wheel to slip over the ferroceriam flint.

I’m going to sweeten the deal….I’ll include an empty Altoids tin at no extra charge.

You get the 3 Tinder Tins and 1 Altoids tin for $12.00 + $3.00 shipping.

This deal is for Members and Viewers of BPL only.

I’ll post a link to my site later.

What's your daily consumption of Altoids?!?

Hi David, a friend of mine in Florida sent me a good supply of the empty tins for use in stove building. The cool min flavor must be of a help in the hot summers down there.

Here is a link to the store page if anyone is interested in this sale.

http://www.woodgaz-stove.com/emergency-fire-starter.php

Is this the same tin you use for the esbitimizer? I like it, but did I miss the weight? This is BPL.

Yes, same tin as the mini esbitmizer.

One loaded tin weighs between 17 and 18 grams. Depends how steady a hand I have when pouring the molten wax.

The tins are very durable. Put one in your back pocket and sit on it and it won't be phased.

Beeswax burns clean, church candles are made from it.

The sliding top of the tin allows for burning single Tinder-Quicks