How To Save Your Ferro Rod: The Power of Punkwood

[@DannyP...]

Love that little knife!

[@MikeDAntonio-t2x]

I use punkwood, char cloth, Birch Bark and fatwood as a matter of habit (NOT counting "Homemade tinder options!). I carry WAY TOO MANY other fire creation tools (EDIT: to worry about using up my fire starting resources before my "Maker takes me Home"! Three 1/2" x 5" ferro rods, a complete 1095 HCS "C" style F&S Set, 2 BICS, 1 ZIPPO, Magnifying Lens, small ferro rod inlayed into my BK2 and BK9 sheath knives. Adjunct initial fire tinder is simply a logical means to a necessary end (fire). Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all...

[@tracyedwards5400]

Good video!

[@TheShurikenZone]

If you really want to get the most out of your ferro rod, using Ray Mears' striking method is probably the best I've seen. It uses a minimal amount of material from the rod, it concentrates the sparks, and it places the sparks extremely accurately. Well worth considering.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

100% agree and my preferred method. Showed that in several videos too, works fantastic! Thanks for watching!

[@TheShurikenZone]

@TheBeardedBurton Ah, very nice! Yeah, I don't know why more people don't use that technique. The one reason I always come back to, is that it doesn't work equally well on all fire steels; some formulations don't seem to be conducive to the Mears thumb push at all.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

@@TheShurikenZonefor sure! Not all ferro rods are created equal

[@randybeeson3424]

Ashed tinder, with grey white ashes rubbed in as a coal extender works very well too. As seen on the David West KZbins.

[@mikeherpel6308]

It seems to me you are using to much air, i.e. blowing to hard, at first to start your tinder. Be more tender until the spark takes then add more volume to make it spread.

[@cliffordmaynard6559]

Interesting video

[@LTWrightKnives]

Thanks for watching!

[@thomas-i5o7h]

Do you find the hole you drilled in the lid of the tin to be an advantage when charring ?

[@TheBeardedBurton]

No, it’s mainly just an indicator to know when the material is charred. The smoke will escape without it because the tin is not air tight

[@cmciver69501]

Really loved the Ferro rod sparking sounds effects. Did you have to edit that in or was it all straight beatboxing?

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Straight up fire bro, no edit tricks here

[@eileenprior6999]

wow that’s so effective. it seems pointless to char it first. i wonder if a spark from flint and steel would take on the raw punkwood…

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Thanks! It won’t work like this with flint and steel because the spark temperature is too cool compared to that of a ferro rod.

[@eileenprior6999]

@ i had the same thought. charred punk wood would be a must for a spark from flint and steel. i definitely like this method, though, and i’ll use it with the ferro rod. thank you and happy holidays!

[@greedygringoprospecting6941]

100% cotton. works better. just need a water tight container. ,fat wood. doesnt need anything just sparks.