Make Fire

Fire Starting Without Matches

When it comes to preparedness, few skills are as vital as starting a fire. A fire provides warmth, the ability to cook food, boil water for safety, and comfort in stressful situations. Many preppers stockpile matches and lighters, but what happens when they run out or fail? Knowing how to start a fire without them is a core survival skill. Let’s explore several reliable methods, along with their pros, cons, and tips for effective practice.

With all of these--practice well in advance!  For a lot of the items, I've linked to a product on Amazon similar to what I use.  These are not affiliate links and I am not compensated for any purchase here.  I do want to include them at least for your reference.

Fire is #2 on Dave Canterbury's 10 C's of Survival.

Ferro Rods

How it works: A ferrocerium rod produces hot sparks (over 3,000°F) when scraped with a striker or the spine of a knife.

• Pros: Works when wet; lasts for thousands of strikes; compact and easy to carry.
• Cons: Requires practice; needs good tinder (cotton balls, char cloth, birch bark).
• Practice tip: Learn to direct the sparks into your tinder instead of pushing the tinder away.

This is the same concept as the flint and steel (below), but frankly works so much better because the ferrocerium rods are manufactured to spark easily.  Don't go camping without a set.

Bayite Ferro Rods (1/2" x 5") (1/4" x 3.14")

Cadupor striker

Flint and Steel

How it works: Striking a piece of high-carbon steel against flint or chert creates sparks hot enough to ignite char cloth or fine tinder.

• Pros: Traditional and durable; provides a sense of heritage and skill.
• Cons: Less spark volume compared to ferro rods; requires very fine, prepared tinder.
• Practice tip: Make char cloth from cotton fabric in a small tin over a fire—it’s the ideal tinder for this method.

Old school.  In many places you can find flint on the ground.  Not as efficient as the Ferro rods (above) but it will work.  If you want to purchase a set to practice, here's one:  flint and steel set.

Steel Wool & Battery

How it works: Touching fine steel wool to the terminals of a 9-volt battery (or rubbing with flashlight batteries in series) causes it to glow and ignite.

• Pros: Quick and dramatic ignition; modern materials make it easy.
• Cons: Consumes steel wool rapidly; batteries may not always be available.
• Practice tip: Carry fine-grade steel wool (#0000) in your kit, as coarse grades don’t catch as well.

A small tuft of steel wool has a lot of uses that can't be duplicated--fire starting is one, cleaning is another.  Lightweight and not bulky at all, carry some in your kit or even pockets.   The finest grade of steel wool is 0000.

Bow Drill

How it works: A bow is used to spin a spindle against a fireboard, creating friction dust that ignites into a coal.

• Pros: No modern tools required; can be made entirely from natural materials.
• Cons: Physically demanding; high learning curve; moisture ruins the process.
• Practice tip: Start practicing with pre-cut sets before attempting to carve your own in the field.

These take practice.  The tendency for most beginners is to push hard and fast... which can break the bow and then you're sunk.  The worst time to attempt to use a bow and drill to start a fire is during an emergency.  Be sure to use a practice kit and watch Corporal's Corner video The Simple Bow Drill on how to do it right.

While the rest of the prepping world aims to pick up two pieces of wood to rub them together to make a fire, Chuck Norris picks up two pieces of fire and rubs them together to make a stick.

Magnifying Lens

How it works: Concentrating sunlight through a magnifying glass, Fresnel lens, or even eyeglasses creates enough heat to ignite tinder.

• Pros: Simple to use; no moving parts; lightweight if you carry a Fresnel card.
• Cons: Weather dependent—requires bright sun and dry conditions.
• Practice tip: Darker tinder such as char cloth catches faster because it absorbs heat more efficiently.

I've found that the older I get the more I need a magnifying lens for anything.  Here's a collection of wallet-size lenses that are flexible and easy to use.

Final Thoughts

Each of these methods has a place in your preparedness toolkit. Ferro rods and flint-and-steel offer durability, while steel wool and batteries provide quick results if modern items are available. The bow drill teaches patience and resourcefulness, and magnifying lenses give a low-effort option in sunny conditions. No matter which methods you choose to carry or practice, the key is consistent hands-on experience. Fire starting is not something to figure out in an emergency—master it now so you’re ready when you need it most.