How To Light Birch Bark With A Spark

paulkirtley.co.uk/ How do you light a smooth sheet of birch bark with a Swedish FireSteel (also known as a "ferro rod" or 'fireflash')?
Lighting sheets of birch bark with matches or a lighter is relatively simple. Birch bark takes a small flame quite easily and it then burns well. Birch bark burns hot and for a surprisingly long time. This is due to the oils in the bark. You can see the oils burning off in the black smoke that is given off when the bark is burning well.
But how do we ignite a sheet with a single spark? Many of us these days who are interested in Bushcraft and Survival Skills carry a Swedish FireSteel. We carry these because they are extremely reliable, you can get many, many sparks from them, many more fires from them than a box of matches or a lighter but where people have some difficulty - the thing that they find a little bit tricky - is lighting sheets of birch bark with a spark.
So, we need a good technique - or combination of techniques in order to light birch bark in a reliable way (as well as maximise the life of our FireSteels).
There's one straightforward technique that makes a massive difference to how easily the birch bark lights. In this video I share that technique and show you how to combine it with good FireSteel technique to light your birch bark reliably every time.
This video forms part of a series of 20 FREE videos I've made to help people with wilderness bushcraft, survival skills and general outdoor life.
To get the other free videos right now, please visit
paulkirtley.co....
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[@hexequi]

I don't understand why Paul doesn't have a million subscribers. Great content and well explained.

[@bushfalke]

The Birch is one of my favorite trees.I think there is a band between us and our ancestors and the birch is an example for that.To light a fire with Birchbark is like Magic.Thanks for sharing Paul and ATB Falko

[@PaulKirtley]

Hi Falko, birch is a favourite of mine too. It's a real friend in the forest. Warm regards, Paul

[@jediknightofthewoods]

Fantastic! This is a lovely way to make fire. Showed my wife how to do this a year or so on a walk through the woods and she was amazed when she accomplished a flame this way. Thanks and all the best!

[@PaulKirtley]

Hi there mate, yes it's always a great feeling, however many times you've done it. That's part of the magic for me. All the best, Paul.

[@aravec]

Love this! Super slick, completely concise and profoundly professional. Instantly subscribed 👍

[@kookie888]

I think it's important to note that it helps to first make the birchbark flat because when taken off the tree it will be curved, and you'll have a hard time keeping the shavings in the middle; it just goes everywhere. Good video.

[@WildManFrizzell]

This is great! I don’t a fire lighting video like this but also with fatwood, it’s great getting a fire going with natural material, best feeling!

[@stevennoble7254]

Thanks for this as I tried the other day and I had no luck with my spark rod after learnt this i will remember and apply this.

[@05Rudey]

That's a beautiful knife Paul. As per usual, another good vid. Thanks for sharing.

[@enderbean7862]

This video was very helpful. Before watching your video I was not able to light birch bark with a ferro rod. Now I've done it 3 times in a row without a problem. I feel confident I can do it everytime now. Thanks. P.S. Do you have a video on how to light feather sticks with a ferro rod? Thanks again

[@philschaefer4651]

Finally tried this tonight. Even though I tried scraping the wrong side of the birch bark I still got a fire going. Wow does the bark burn for a long time once it's going. Thanks again.

[@wojtekimbier]

I re-watched this old vid when I'd been having problems lighting anything after days of heavy rain. it helped like no other thing.

[@PaulKirtley]

I'm so happy this was useful to you at a critical time. Thanks for letting me know. All the best, Paul

[@rcchronicles25]

Fantastic video, really good! I've subscribed

[@alphapatriot8405]

Thnxs for uploading

[@max_fjellstorm]

Could You please do a detail review of the PK1? Very spare Info ob the Web...

[@kylehillier1352]

wow you make that look easy. your the real deal buds

[@LionelHutz619]

i have the same survival watch youre wearing

[@MoandGillOutdoors]

great and useful video paul

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks Mo! :)

[@MoandGillOutdoors]

any time paul

[@peekboo7537]

Thanks for sharing.

[@PaulKirtley]

That's a good question. I like simplicity. So why carry two things when you can carry one? The rod lasts years anyway.

[@BeardyMcfearson]

Love the knife! What is it?

[@PaulKirtley]

Hi BeardyMcfearson It's a Raven PK1 Wilderness Knife - my design and produced by Raven Armoury. You can read about the development (and details) of the knife here: paulkirtley.co.uk/2011/the-raven-pk1-knife/ All the best, Paul

[@PsycJoe02]

Why is it you scrape the outside of the bark first I wonder?

[@PaulKirtley]

+Joe Sweeney To create smaller pieces of material. This changes the surface area-to-volume ratio and makes ignition more likely. Hope this helps, ATB, Paul

[@PsycJoe02]

+Paul Kirtley is there an advantage to the outside of the bark vs scraping the inside of the bark?

[@PaulKirtley]

+Joe Sweeney Ah, OK, I may have misunderstood the emphasis of your initial question. The outermost bark is the most papery of the laminated structure and produces fine papery slithers and dust when scraped. It's also typically quite low in moisture, whereas the inner side of this bark tends to be somewhat more damp - either because it is still green (when from a live or recently fallen tree) or because the wood underneath is already rotting and spongy. Because of the oil content, birch bark stays in good condition for much longer than the wood underneath once the tree is dead. And, having tried it both ways many times, scraping the outer bark works much better. Warm regards, Paul

[@PsycJoe02]

+Paul Kirtley thanks Paul, that really clears things up for me!

[@walkswithdog9808]

Great question and answer. I was wondering this myself. Just lit the fire at home on Christmas day using this method but had scraped the inner bark (dry as old bones in the desert anyway)

[@veraina94]

I'm in the U.S. Can I buy it here and how much??

[@PaulKirtley]

+Greg Halupa Hi Greg, apologies for the delay in responding, I've been away on a trip. This knife is not currently available as the maker has a 2-year backlog of other work to complete before he can commit to making any more PK1 knives. Sorry to disappoint. All the best, Paul

[@jerrywilliams9074]

If you can't ignite birch bark. You don't belong in the woods. It doesn't require a tenth of that preperation. Lighting bitch bark with fire steel is easier than a lighter or match.

[@BushcraftRat]

Hi Paul, Thanks for sharing. Good for even seasoned hillbillies to be reminded of the basics. ATB John

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks John. The basics are the foundations. Always worth making sure they are sound... :)

[@lordmonty9421]

Hey, it's Gay Mears!

[@adamskead8859]

Sucks I only have a old broken lighter without fluid but a spark

[@josh2045]

You give off a similar vibe to Ray Mears

[@philipkenyoncarbon1291]

HOW DO mate,,,,,if its wet ,,,just put it next to the fire to dry out,,,,,,,,lol,,,,,,,,,,,,,happy days,,,,,,,

[@IntoTheWildernessBushcraft]

Great stuff, Paul! Thank you! 🏔🥾

[@thomasnugent3836]

Very good. Thank you very much

[@uuguul]

Awesome! :D Thanks a lot again

[@cmargheimable]

I was able to easily light some birch bark with a ferro rod by simply striking straight onto processed pieces. I did this in the wind without the need for making small shavings.

[@onedogbowen]

You do such in fine job in explaining the concept of Fire starting. Thanks so much.

[@higgsfieldinthefield9916]

hI Paul, great post, What makes a good quality piece of birch bark in your opinion?

[@TheNinjaEveryDay]

Great video!

[@jdc31947]

What KNIFE are you using?

[@MaxSafeheaD]

Fascinating stuff all of this - brilliant =D

[@Genetk44]

Lovely knife.

[@johnboycrawford7]

Nice video!

[@kookie888]

I think it's important to note that it helps to first make the birchbark flat because when taken off the tree it will be curved, and you'll have a hard time keeping the shavings in the middle; it just goes everywhere. Good video.

[@PaulKirtley]

kookie888 Yes, it's not good if it is springy or bendy in the middle - for the reason you point out. Thanks for highlighting this for other folks. All the best, Paul

[@JamesParus]

Great and informative video.

[@PaulKirtley]

Thank you James

[@MartinFuerst_Coyote]

Thank you for that excellent video!

[@PaulKirtley]

You're most welcome! :)

[@veraina94]

What kind of knife is that??

[@PaulKirtley]

Greg Halupa Hi Greg, it's one that I designed for a knife maker - more details here: paulkirtley.co.uk/2011/the-raven-pk1-knife/ ATB, Paul

[@Trailtraveller]

Very well explained.

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks Rody! :)