I love firestarters. Not as much as the American Bushman does, but I do love them. So when I got the chance to get my hands on a small lot of the Adventure Medical Kit Spark-Lite Firestarter and Tinder Quik, I knew I had to jump on it. So I did, and now I have them in stock and they are on TheGearHouse store
Scream 3 video This is a great little firestarter that weighs less than an ounce and produces a nice set of sparks, while using only one hand. I’ve put together a video for the full review and to so show how it works but thought I’d mention it real quick too. Within the package, you get the firestarter as well as a little baggie of Tinder-Quik. These are sort of like a braided rope but I’m not sure what the actual material is. Anyway, you get a baggie of 4 of them. They are reusable and they will even light when wet which is extremely important when you are in a survival situation and need to get a fire going. Each little piece, which are about an inch long, will burn for 2-3 minutes.
Over the weekend I tested out the Coghlan’s Emergency Tinder. While reviewing a fire starting material is pretty easy to do in writing, it is one of those things that is better off done on video. So, here is a review and run through of how to use the Coghlan’s Emergency Tinder that would make a great addition to any firestarting kit.
I have also started carrying many other Coghlan’s products if you’re looking for something, so feel free to leave a comment. And also look out for more video reviews coming soon.
The secret to making a good fire is to build it up gradually, beginning with small pieces of wood, then progressing to larger branches and logs as the fire gets going. Your wood should be graded into tinder, dry kindling, and lots of small sticks, large sticks, and logs. Get each size of wood burning well before adding larger pieces.
You will need a ball of tinder at least the size of a grapefruit, buffed to its finest consistency. Tinder is the most important part of a fire, since you cannot start a fire by just lighting thick sticks…unless of course you use a manufactured firestarter that takes the place of tinder.
Once the tinder has begun to burn, you can add dry kindling in the form of small sticks and leaves. Make sure that the kindling is bone dry. The sticks should be about the thickness of a pencil.
Small Fuel
Scrooge When the kindling is burning well, you can add sticks about the thickness of a finger. The sticks take the flames from initial stages to a fully burning fire.
Large sticks act as the main fuel. They should be thicker than your finger, but easy to break into manageable pieces. You will use mainly this size fuel for your fire.
Thick logs are for keeping an established fire going all night, or in a semi-permanent camp. Make sure that they are completely burned when you put out the fire or you use enough water to completely put them out.
