Traditional Fire Lighting Techniques

[@RobertMcKenzie]

Nice work. One thing when using any kind of magnifying lens you need ot make sure the lens is flat on to the sun and your tinder, I've always found it's easier to start with the lens further away then slowly bring it in to get the light beam as small and focused as you can, like with the horseshoe fungus, you'll see it start to smoke pretty fast. With the fresnel lens you you were using, you have to be careful not to bend the lens at all, keep it as flat as possible. Any bends and it'll reduce the efficiency of the lens. I've had horrible luck with flint and steel :( need to really practice that one myself. For your solar reflector, you want to make that surface as polished as possible. One good way is just some toothpaste and a really soft cloth, give it a good rub for a few mins, rinse it and have a look. If it still looks a bit scratched then have another go, but it should polish up really nice and mirror like, then watch it work. All those scratches will only help reflect the light in different angles on you, not ideal. I bought a fire piston and I think only got the char cloth to go a couple of times, it's tricky to say the least. The technique I've used must is similar to your first method, however, in all cases the key seemed to be to get that piston pulled back out and into the air as quick as possible as there's no air inside for the ember to burn. It seems the key is speed in and speed out. But I kinda gave up on it haha it's neat, but gimmicky. But nice video, thanks for sharing. ATB

[@cAPTINbUTbEARD]

+Robert McKenzie HI Rob thanks for taking the time to watch the vid and comment. Appreciate the tips, that's the way we all learn from each other with little gold nuggets of info lol. Its all a big learning curve and unless you practice it day in day out your never going to master something. But its fun trying something different, and like you said some methods are rubbish and i would never rely on them. Stay safe buddy ATB Paul

[@tomnwoo]

It's a Fresnel lens Mr Buttbeard