Knowing how to start a fire with flint and steel is a useful skill to have for people who are interested in advanced wilderness survival techniques. This page is designed to teach you how to start a fire using only a piece of flint, some steel and some flammable tinder. Always make sure that the tinder you are using is completely dry, otherwise the sparks won't catch and you'll be out of luck.

Before you attempt to start any type of fire, however, it's important to know the rules and regulations regarding the use of fires in whatever area you are camping in. While some wilderness areas and campsites may allow fires all the time, others may have restrictions as to when and where you can make them.

1. Flint: Flint is a type of hard, sharply edged rock that, when struck by steel, helps produce sparks. While outdoor supply stores will sell pre-made pieces of flint to campers and backpackers that are specially made for fire starting, you can use almost any type of hard edged rock as your "Flint". Other minerals that will work include quartz, chalcedony, jade, agate, carnelian and chert.

2. Steel: Any type of hard steel will work for your purposes, although high-carbon steel will work best. Most people will use a pre-made steel tool (such as a knife, file, hatchet, or "C" shaped piece of steel). What you want is a piece of steel that has a large enough handle or space for you to grip it tightly. This way it won't slip out of your hand when you're striking it against the flint.

3. Tinder: Tinder is basically any dry, brittle or fibrous material that will burn easily and help to ignite the kindling for your fire (i.e Dry Leaves, Wood Shavings, Dead Grass, Shredded Bark, Dry Pine Needles, Paper or Cotton). In this method, tinder is used to catch the sparks from the flint and steel (or directly from the char cloth - if used). While many survival experts recommend the use of a "Bird's Nest" or "Tinder Bundle", any type of burnable tinder should do.

4. Char Cloth (Optional): A char cloth is basically a piece of cloth or linen that has been heated to a high enough temperature (without oxygen) to the point where it has turned into charcoal. Char cloth is used in order to catch the sparks that are produced by the friction of flint and steel. A spark with make the char cloth burn like a hot ember that can then be transferred to the tinder and used to make fire. While using char cloth is not absolutely necessary, it can greatly speed up the ignition process.

• Once you have all of your tools and materials gathered, you are ready to start practicing your fire starting skills. Before you do this, though, make sure that you are practicing somewhere in which your fire will not endanger anyone or anything. An outdoor fire pit is a good place to start. Here is how we can use flint and steel to start a fire:
  1. Start by gathering your tinder together in a small clump, ball or "Bird's Nest" shape.
  2. Place a piece of your char cloth in the center of your ball of tinder.
  3. Grab your flint and hold it with your left hand (right if you're a lefty) a couple of centimeters above the char and tinder.
  4. Take your steel and strike downward across the edge of your flint piece until sparks start to fly.
  5. Adjust the angle of your strike so that the sparks are aimed towards the piece of char in the tinder.
  6. When one of the sparks hits the char cloth, it will start to glow red like an ember. At this point, put down your flint and steel.
  7. Pick up your ball of tinder and fold the edges around the glowing char until it is completely wrapped.
  8. Blow steadily on your ball of tinder until the char cloth ignites the tinder and starts to produce flames.
  9. Place the burning tinder into your fire pit and pile your Kindling on top.
  10. As the kindling catches fire, slowly add larger and larger pieces of wood until your fire burns freely on its own.
  11. Enjoy your fire!

• If you're having trouble getting sparks to land on the char cloth, try taking the cloth out of the tinder and holding it onto to the flint as you strike it. This will make it more likely that sparks will catch on the char. When the char starts to glow, quickly transfer it to the tinder.

• Always make sure that the tinder you are using is completely dry, otherwise the char won't be able to ignite the tinder and you'll be out of luck.

• It's important to know the rules and regulations regarding the use of fires in whatever area you are camping in. While some wilderness areas and campsites may allow fires all the time, others may have restrictions as to when and where you can make them.

• If you are using a knife (or any other type of sharp blade) as your steel, make sure to always strike away from your body.

• Wikipedia: Flint and Steel

• SurvivalSchool.com: Fire Making with Flint and Steel

• WikiHow: How to Make a Fire with Flint and Steel

• Rag Weed Forge: Fire Making with Flint and Steel

• Northwest Journal: Tips for Fast Fires with Flint & Steel

• Wildwood Survival: Tinder Bundles

•