How to Use a Flint Stick

A flint stick is a tool made of a stick of flint and a small sheet of steel, and it's used to light fires. This article will tell you how to use one.

Steps

  1. Image titled Use a Flint Stick Step 1
    1
    Put dried grass, leaves, or paper into a small pile that will be used as tinder.[1]
  2. Image titled Use a Flint Stick Step 2
    2
    Put the flint stick end near the edge of the pile.
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  3. Image titled Use a Flint Stick Step 3
    3
    Use the piece of steel to scrape the flint roughly, causing sparks to go into the pile.[2]
  4. Image titled Use a Flint Stick Step 4
    4
    Continue until the fire starts.(If no fire is created from sparks alone, scrape some of the flint into filings on your tinder; then light these filings with sparks)[3]
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    5
    To keep the fire going, add dry wood of gradually increasing size.[4]
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Could I use a rock instead of steel?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It depends on what rock you use. Most rocks will work.
  • Question
    What if I’m on a desert island without a proper flint and steel; how could I make a fire and find the correct things?
    sebastian gomez
    sebastian gomez
    Community Answer
    You can make a hand drill, it needs just two sticks. One has to be a board-like shape, and the other has to be straight and narrow, about as long as the tip of your middle finger to your elbow. Spin the thin stick with your hands into the board, putting pressure as you go downwards. Keep going until you see a spark.
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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

  • A flint stick
  • A piece of steel
  • Dry leaves, grass, or paper
  • Wood
  • Water
  • Stones

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.adventuresportsnetwork.com/sport/paddle-sports/canoe-kayak/bushcraft-how-to-start-a-fire-with-flint-and-steel/
  2. ↑ https://www.adventuresportsnetwork.com/sport/paddle-sports/canoe-kayak/bushcraft-how-to-start-a-fire-with-flint-and-steel/
  3. ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/traditional-firestarting-part-i-how-to-make-fire-with-flint-and-steel/
  4. ↑ https://lifehacker.com/how-to-build-a-better-fire-both-outdoors-and-in-5812728
  5. ↑ http://www.northwestjournal.ca/I1.htm

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 22 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 84,068 times.
50 votes - 91%
Co-authors: 22
Updated: September 3, 2020
Views: 84,068
Categories: Fire Starters | Fire Making
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