Check Your Firesteel - Is The Fire Steel Striker Any Good ?

We often read in Bushcraft Forums, "What Is The Best....." and fire steels are no exception. So what is the best fire steel ?



Any bushcrafter worth his salt carries some form of firestarter, usually in the form of a ferrocerium rod (Or ferro rod) and striker, but which is the best one to use.

I recently uploaded a video to my Youtube channel - JesterBushcraft, looking at the different firesteels that I personally own and how they differ in quality, compared to price.

Whilst shooting this video I made a little discovery, regarding one of my firesteels in particular. It was a Magfire firesteel that I picked up on the well known auction site, for very little money. But having used it, found the spark to be... well, rubbish to be quite honest !

But during the making of the video, I decided to try a different striker with the Magfire and produced some dramatic differences in its performance. Now call me naive, but it had never even crossed my mind that it would be the striker that was at fault. I just assumed it was the quality of the ferro rod.

Consequently the Magfire was thrown in the bottom of a box, only to be used as a last resort should my other firesteels (Light My Fire & Firestarter) ever get lost or break.

But in a dramatic turn around the Magfire has now taken pride of place in a new firestarting kit I have put together, which includes a cheap multitool. The multitool has a saw blade with a great square edge on it and works brilliantly as a striker for my Magfire firesteel, producing a much MUCH larger spark.

The photo (left) demonstrates the type of spark you should be getting from your ferro rod.


So, I have learnt a number of valuable lessons here :

1. Don't assume that your kit is faulty or works badly... It may just be a small aspect of the kit that is inadequate. Change the weak link and you may well end up with a great piece of kit.

2. Always test your kit before taking it out into the field. If it isnt satisfactory, change it, modify it, so it works how you would expect it to work.

So when asked the question "What is the best firesteel" ? I would always say, that the firesteel is only as good as the striker used to create the spark.



Bushcraft is all about getting out there and trying new skills, learning from your mistakes and discovering new (more efficient) ways of surviving the great outdoors.

Thank you for your continued support and please do comment or add any advice you may have.

New Section Added To My Blog - Personal Gear & Recommended Kit

I have just added a new section to my blog, which basically highlights the kit I like to use and my reasons for chosing them.



I am always being asked, "What kind of stove do you use ?" or "What is your favourite knife to carry when out on the trail ?", so I decided to add this new page, so people can see exactly what I carry and why.

As I say it is a relatively new page, so it is still being populated... So bare with me.

I have included photos, descriptions and associated videos, demonstrating the kit out in the field.

If you are looking to purchase any of this kit, I have also listed my kit recommendations and where you can purchase them from.

You can view this new page My Personal Gear & Kit Recommendations - HERE or simply use the navigation bar on the right hand side.

How To Make A Bushcraft Bucksaw

Knowing You Can Make A Bushcraft Bucksaw (If Required) When Out In The Woods Is A Great Skill To Learn, So I Thought I Would Give It A Try...


I have recently noticed an increase in the amount of videos regular Youtube Bushcrafters are uploading, regarding the making of bucksaws.

Some people are using materials they have found in there garage, like planed wood. And other people are using materials sourced from their local woodland. Either way, being able to make your own bucksaw is a great skill to learn and once mastered will stay with you for ever more, ready for when you need to rely on it.

I decided that I would like to have a go, but had already set myself a set of targets before I'd even started.

I was keen to use natural materials, sourced from the woodland. My reasons for this are simple. I want to be able to create a bucksaw when ever I am out in the woods and not have to carry a pre-constructed version in my rucksac (which takes up additional weight and space).

I already have a good sized folding saw, which I could carry in my pack and I also have the Victorinox Trailmaster (Trekker), which I carry with me at all times when out in the field.

Which brings me onto my second target for this task.

I also want to be able to construct this bucksaw (using natural materials) using only the tools I would normally carry on my person or in my pack. And for me, it is my trusty Victorinox.

If I can make a bucksaw using just these 2 items, then I can rest assured that I will always have the skills to knock one up whenever I need the use of a larger sawing tool. Whether it be for making a large shelter or firewood.

Yes, I would always need to have the bucksaw blade with me in my pack, but it takes up little space and can be easily slid down the side of a rucksack or concealed in the backrest padding etc. And of course I would also need to carry 2 bolts/wingnuts too, but again takes up no room at all and weighs next to nothing.

So with my criteria set, I went off into the woods to source my bucksaw materials...



As you can see from the video, I was able to create the bucksaw using just my Victorinox. Ok, some aspects took a little bit of time and effort (Like boring the holes for the bolts), but if push came to shove and I was in a situation where I needed a large saw... I could achieve it !

I think it is good practice to always try and use the tools you would normally carry with you, to achieve these results. As you never know when you may be faced with these situations. And if you know that your skill set will allow you to overcome these obstacles, you will be prepared for anything.

I hope this post has been usefull and that you enjoyed reading (And watching) it... Thanks Again !

Going To The Toilet In The Woods

We all do it at home and when we're out on the trail we find ourselves needing to do it, when we would rather not. But going to the toilet in the woods is something, at some point you are going to need to do.

It's not really a subject you hear talked about on bushcraft forums, but I feel it's something we should be aware of. And hopefully if you haven't yet needed to learn about what is involved or required, this post will be of use to you.

"I know have an image of somebody, in a woodland, cross legged, hastily reading this post on their iphone..."

Anyway, lets get down to business (Sorry !... I'm sure there will be more comments like that to follow)

Toilet Kit - What To Carry

It's not a piece of kit you are going to need very often, but when you do, you'll be glad you prepared yourself in adavance.

Put yourself together a simple toilet kit, with all the items required for general toilet maintenance :

1. Pack of tissues (or toilet paper in a plastic ziplock bag)
2. Lighter
3. Small folding trowel or spade
4. Hand cleanser
5. Small torch (I know, sound silly... But could be very beneficial)
6. Bag to carry everything in (The kit contents, not the... well, you know !)

Pack of Tissues

I don't think I need to expalin what these are for, just make sure what ever you decided to use in your kit it kept in a waterproof bag for obvious reasons.

Lighter

This is used to burn the tissues once the required maintenance has been carried out. Just keeps everything more hygenic.

Small Folding Trowel

This is used to dig yourself a suitable hole in the chosen ground to receive the necessary.

Hand Cleanser

Used to clean your hands afterwards, again to ensure everything is kept hygenic. You can buy small bottles of this stuff with handy dispenser pumps. Wipes can also be used.

Small Torch

Chances are you will need to go the toilet in the night and you will need to find your way to the chosen site without having to hack your way threw brambles or get lost. Most people have their own torch, but if you have one in your kit, you know its always there.

Bag To Carry Everything In

Just keeps everything together in a handy kit, which can be stored in a rucksack pocket

If you are spending a night or two in the woods, I would advise chosing a suitable spot for your toilet setup prior to anything else you do. This way, you know everything is there ready should you be caught short. You don't want to be digging a hole with your pants round your ankles.

Chose a secluded spot, well away from camp and away from any running water, ponds or lakes.

Ensure the ground you chose is easy to dig into. You don't want to be spending hours excavating rocks and stone. If there are several people in your camp or you like a bit of comfort, you may want to build yourself a small framework out of branches and paracord. Giving you something to lean or sit on (This post isnt very dignified I know, but needs must). You could also use a... Dare I say it, log to sit on. If you are just out for the day and the time arises, just find yourself a suitable spot (As above), dig yourself a hole no deeper than 6" and away you go. The reason you shouldn't dig any deeper than 6" is that all the bacteria, that will assist in the breakdown of your waste, is present in those first 6" of the ground.

Once the operation is complete, carry out the required maintenance, drop the tissue into the hole and burn it using your lighter. Then cover everything up with the soil you have just excavated.



I hope this post has been of some help to some of you and maybe answered some questions you were to embarressed to ask about.

I would normally say, please let me know how you get on, but in this instance... Maybe Not !

The Importance Of Testing New Kit, Ideas And Theories

I think we could all hold our hands up at some point during our bushcrafting learning curve to rushing out with a new piece of kit, an idea or theory. Only to find that we weren't 100% sure how to use it, it wasn't suitable for the job or the idea was just never going to work.

Which is why it is so important to test new kit, before you take it out into the field. There is nothing worse than travelling several miles or hiking onto the moors or into deep woodland, only to find that you don't really know how you should set up your tarp or hammock.

You may be sheltering from driving rain and decide to warm yourself up with a brew, but have left the instructions for your new gas stove at home and don't know how to work it.

These are all things you may encounter, if you haven't tested your kit first. You may think, "I don't need to try this new stove out, I've had one before"... But it may be faulty, even if it's brand new. It has been known for new kit to be faulty and need returning, so test your kit.

And the same goes for new ideas or theories. I think it's great when people post new ideas or videos on Youtube. The amount of new techniques I have picked up for common bushcraft skills is huge and people are always coming up with innovative ideas and theories.

But you can rest assured that these people didn't just think "Oh, Ive got an idea on how to use a bow drill in a slightly different way". They will have tried it out in their back garden first, numerous times. And once they had mastered it, then they would shoot the video, tell the world and use the new skill when next out in the field, knowing it would work.

I, for example had come up with an idea to create a budget water filtration system. It came to me in a flash of inspiration whilst cleaning out my fish tank and I thought Iwas onto a winner.

I collected all the components I needed and excitedly starting putting them together to create my new water filter.

Once complete, I could of thought "Brilliant, my water filtration problems are solved", popped it into my rucksack, ready for my next outing into the hills.

However, I did of course test it first, by going over the road to my local woodland and finding some dirty water to trial it out. I was quietly confident that it would clean the water to some degree, but wasn't sure to what extent.

You can see the results in my video below :



Since submitting this video to my Youtube Channel, I have received several comments on how I could improve the filter. I'll be honest, I was a little surprised at the level of interest in this video and I now feel I must go back to the drawing board and improve on my design.

For something as important as water filtration, I doubt anyone would trust a homemade device and not test it before going out into the field, but the concept should always be adhered to for any new kit, ideas or theories.

Make a point of familiarising yourself with any new kit you purchase. Enjoy trying it out in the comfort of your garden. Not only will you be getting familiar with how best to setup or use the new kit, it will also increase the efficiency on how quick you can setup your stove or tarp etc. in harsh conditions.

When its chucking it down with rain and blowing a gail, the last thing you want to be doing is reading through soggy instruction manuals.

So, Enjoy your new kit, make sure you familiarise yourself with it and trial any new ideas or theories, before using them out in the field.

Learn How To Make A Tent Peg - Video Tutorial

Discover How Easy You Can Learn A New Bushcraft Skill That Will Assist You When Setting Up A Tarp Or Basha.




For me, Bushcraft is all about acquiring new skills, that once mastered will stay with you for evermore and hopefully you will be able to pass on to your kids, students or other people showing an interest in this rewarding activity, we call Bushcraft.

One of the easiest and most rewarding skills to learn is a simple whittling project, that involves making your own tent peg.

For this, any decent pocket knife, such as a Victorinox Trailmaster (Trekker) or a more substantial knife like a Mora Clipper, is all you need to create your peg (Along with a suitable stick of course). So to begin with, we need to find a suitable stick and I tend to go for one about the tickness of my thumb. This is of course personal preference, but I find this is a decent size to whittle, whilst being strong enough to serve its purpose as a peg (Holding your tarp up).

At the end of this post I will submit a video tutorial, which demonstrates me creating a tent peg. But I just wanted to give a brief written explanation first.

1. Ideally your finished peg needs to be approx 20cm in length (Approx 1 Hand Span, if you don't have a tape measure in your rucksack), so chose a suitable stick with this in mind. A peg that is too short will not hold any reasonable load. 2. Starting approx 1.5" down from the top end of the peg, we make a "X" cut, reasonably deep. Make a kind of rolling action with your blade around the stick as you press down. Don't worry if the "X" cut seems too shallow, we can come back to this as we progress.

3. We then use a push cut, which involves holding the knife with your right hand, but pushing the blade with your left thumb, into each axis of the "X", forming the notch. Try to create a curved cut in to the notch (See diagram below) 4. After each couple of push cuts, perform another downward cross cut, cleaning out the notch.

5. Continue with these 2 cuts (Downward Cross Cut & Push Cut) until you are happy with the depth and look of the notch. 6. Complete the peg by adding a good point, then rounding off the other end to remove any sharp bits that may be uncomfortable, when pushing the peg into the ground with your hand. You can of course use the back of an axe or hatchet to knock the peg into the ground.

Once you have practiced this a few times, you should be able to knock a peg up in under a minute (But Hey...whats the rush...enjoy your whittling)

Homemade Bushcraft Hobo Stove & Pop Can Stove

Learn How Easy You Can Put Together A Cheap Homemade Cookset With A Bean Tin And A Pop (Soda) Can.

A Popular Piece Of Kit With Bushcrafters Is The Hobo Stove, Which Is Cheap To Make And Coupled With A Homemade Pop Can Stove, Provides A Great Cookset When Out On  The Trail.

Having all the best gear is great if you can afford it, but not everybody has a disposable income to throw at bushcraft kit (Me included), so why not use what you already have around the house and create your own homemade cookset. When you are out on the trail, you always need to be able to heat up some water for a brew or cook some noodles etc. And for this you are going to need some form of stove. Having a few fuel options for your stove is also an advantage and being able to use either meths/alcohol or simply sticks and twigs means you can always get the kettle on.

There are many stoves out there that do a great job, but we are not going to discuss these today. We are going to learn how you can create a versatile, cheap and compact cookset using old bean tins and pop (soda) cans.

I don'y know about you, but there is something satisfying about making something yourself, then going out into the woodland and testing it out for the first time. And its even better when the thing you have created, works great and does everything you wanted it to.

The Hobo Stove

We will start with something we call a Hobo Stove. And as the name suggests, these were (And probably still are) made by hobo's (tramps), out of old tin cans etc. so they could create a contained fire to keep warm, cook food or heat water.

It is, just a tin can, with some holes cut into it. You then load your tin can stove with fuel, such as tinder, kindling, sticks, twigs etc. Ignite the tinder with your firesteel or matches etc. and away you go. You have yourself a small contained heat source, which you can keep going by adding more sticks or twigs. This is great when you want to make a brew or heat up some food. You just have a quick search round for your fuel, chuck it all in your bushcraft hobo stove and in a few minutes you have heat, which is both a means of heating your water/food etc. and a huge moral booster.

As a wood burner, the hobo stove is excellent and you know you are always going to have a source of fuel around you (most of the time).

Pop Can Stove

Now as a backup or alternative to the wood burner, you can make yourself a "Trangia" style alcohol (meths) burner out of an old pop (soda) can. These are very easy to make (There are endless videos on youtube on how to do this) and work really well.

Homemade alcohol stoves weigh next to nothing and if you damage it, just make another one. The only downside to the pop can stove is that it will not keep excess fuel (meths/alcohol) in it, once you have finished heating your water and extinguished the flame. You have to work out (By experience) how much fuel you are likely to need for the job in hand. Then once you are done, just let the excess burn away until dry.

The pop can stove can be used in conjunction with the hob stove, by simply dropping it in the bottom of the hobo stove, which then acts as a windshield. Your billy can of choice can then sit on top of the hobo stove to heat your water or warm your meal.

Hobo stoves can be adapted to take all manner of billy cans, pans and pots etc. Its just limited by your imagination really.

Depending on what size of bean tin you use, your hobo stove design will work in different ways and allow you to do more or less functions.

You may want a larger bean tin to create a more versatile and robust cooking platform. Or you may want to use the smaller tins to create a lightweight backpacking tin can stove setup.

Whichever you chose (maybe both) you can be pleased with what you have created, knowing you have produced a cheap (if not free) and versatile cooking set, giving you the option to use natural fuel (wood) or alcohol/meths.