Well, I finally decided today to try my fire starting skills and I'm glad I did cause I learned some things. One is that with certain types of starters, I need practice. Also, decided I definitely need to get a Lite my Fire fire steel or two. Hope you enjoy the pics...Not much but I figured I better take pics if Im going to do this.

I started with my newly acquired BlastMatch and some dryer lint rolled in PJ.



Just hold your thumb down and push down and it sarts a nice little fire instantly


First attempt with the BM and this was the result:


It started first try every time. I did realize though that a sturdy surface is necessary - that is why I want the LMF fire steel.

Next up was a strike rod and a little roller flint.




I gotta say the roller flint was horrible (its the orange handled thing with the little roller at the tip)...It might of worked if I had used some gasoline but not with PJ and dryer lint. The striker rod (not sure what type it is) worked but I couldn't get it to work with a knife edge - I had to use the little hack saw blade striker that came with it. It worked fine with that but not as easy as the BM- took several strikes.

Next I decided to baton some wood with my DC DM and start a little fire to see how long it would take me.
DCDM did great




Using the BM, dryer lint in PJ and some small wood strips, I was able to start a small fire on the first try. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Here's what was used (minus the lint as it is in the fire). <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />


BlastMatch was really good but required a sturdy surface. I defintely need a couple LMF fire steels. The DM batoned great through the wood. And dryer lint and PJ work great for fire starting. I will get some cotton balls next time Im at the store though as well as some Wet Tinder.

Hope you enjoy the pics. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the pics and demo. The blade is one of my favorites.

I have heard folks talk about using food as an aid in fire making as well. Supposedly anything fried in oil (the more oil saturated the better). Corn chips are supposed to be good. Never tried this but hey, if the hand sanitizer works, don't know why this wouldn't help and Oil WILL burn!

Nice KS,I bet that brought a smile to your face when the lint caught the first try.
The full size BM looks a bit sturdier than the mini I had.

Now for the bow drill!
I'm going to try one when I go camping this week end.

Thanks. The BlastMatch was flawless. It started a fire every try. I WAS very surprised to see it lite up after the first strike. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I tried it with lint and PJ and with lint and no PJ as well as some saw dust and every one lit on the first strike with the BM. That little flint roller thing wouldn't lite anything. I'm not even sure it would ignite a bowl of gasoline. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Its about the equivalent of striking a Bic lighter that is out of fluid and using the sparks it generates. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" />

As for bow drills and the like, I'm not sure I am up to that just yet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />


Thanks for the comments.

Definitely let us know how the bow drill fire starting goes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

glad to see the BM workded so well. great review.

Failure!I got plenty of smoke,but couldn't get the sawdust/wood powder to ignite.Will try again next camping trip.
Sooooooo close.

Nice try. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Thanks for posting your results. This would be my last resort. Only after lighters, matches and other firestarters fail would I resort to rubbing sticks together...but I would like to know that I could if I had to. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Have never tried the bow string method and is something I would love to try.