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flint and steel

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carpenter374:
hey all. ive been wanting to get a new firestarter ive just about worn out my old boy scout one. i have some assorted spalls of tx edwards chert and some other misc flint peices ive picked up. what type or grade should i look for in the chert? do i wanna use a sharp peice of steel to strike the flint or what works best? what type of steel works best?                                   -carpenter

DanaM:
Good question I'm also wondering what to get to use for steel ???

Minuteman:
Get an old file, preferably a short one. I bought a shoe box full of old files at a garage sale coupla years ago for a dollar.
 You're gonna need a real hot fire, a pair of blacksmiths tongs or vice grip pliers to hold it, and a non plastic magnet.  A wood fire will do it' You just have to make sure its big enough that you don't run out of fuel before you get the metal hot enough.
 The name of the game is getting the metal super heated so the magnet won't stick to it. Once you have done that you have two options . You can leave it in the fire and allow it to cool slowly thereby softening it (annealing)and allowing you to belt sand off the file marks ( or beat 'em out with a hammer )or you can go straight to the next step if you aren't concerned about it looking like a file. Once its red hot and the magnet won't stick to it you'll need to hold the side that you want to use as a striker in some water til its cool. That hardens the metal and makes it easier to get a spark from.
 You'll prolly wanna put a hook in one end so it'll hang off your fingers while yer wacking it with the flint.
 A piece of copper pipe with the end crimped down to a small hole, makes a great bellows for the fire, by the way. Increases lung capacity as well!
 Have fun fellers

Kegan:
The steel should have carbon. Files work, but I've seen on the internet where a "mountain man" striker costs about $8. Cabela's even sells the whole kits for about $13. And the striker will last you quite a while, not to mention bing more comfortable to hold. iF you want, you can use the back of a high carbon steel knife blade.

Minuteman:
I was told the same thing about the carbon steel knife, Kegan. I've never been able to get a spark from one. But steel hardness varies so I guess it could work , just doesn't on any of my carbon steel knives.

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