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How to Build a Percussion Fire Starter

Matches may seem like old news, but humans have been starting fires since before the dawn of history, and those little sulfurous firesticks are a mere 200 years young. If you've got hours and a pile of dry wood on your hands, you can always rub two sticks together, but if you're in a hurry, you can't beat a percussion fire starter --- well, except with a match. Once called "tinderboxes," these little boys are all you need for warm hearths and a roaring good time.

Things You'll Need

A rock harder than steel, such as flint or quartzite
Carbon steel (not stainless) or pyrite ("fool's gold")
Char paper, birch bark, or other tinder
Metal lunchpail
Ziplock bag

Instructions

On the Go
- 1
  Place tinder in a Ziplock bag and seal tightly.
- 2
  Place rocks and/or metal in the lunchpail, along with the ziplock bag.
- 3
  Close the case, and carry your percussion fire starter wherever you want to go.
Start It Up
- 4
  Open the lunchpail face-up in a dry location and remove contents.
- 5
  Take a small amount of tinder from the Ziplock bag and place it in a corner of the lunchpail, sheltered from the wind.
- 6
  Reseal the Ziplock bag and remove it from the fire-starting area.
- 7
  Place the steel (or substitute) against the edge of the lunchpail, near the tinder.
- 8
  Strike the steel with the flint (or substitute) so the sparks are directed onto the tinder, blowing on the sparks as they fall to keep them hot.

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