Very well explained. I admire your ability to explain thoroughly the point you are trying to get across.

FINALLY! Someone who is willing to clearly tell people that they need to get out there and TRY stuff to see what works and what doesn't. Experience isn't something you get from someone else. Really nice video -- on point. I live in a rainforest, so finding tinder is a very different challenge here. The best way to know what works is just to get out there, collect a bunch of different things that look like they might work, and try them... bearing in mind that results can be seasonal.

You are spot on with this video Joe. Preparing your resources is KEY! You can have the best materials in the world but if you don't have enough of them or don't properly prepare them you are doomed for failure.

Excellent guidelines! I'll be practicing mine later this afternoon. Anyone can luck out and do something perfect every now and then. But practice makes it happen more often than not. Keep up the good videos!

I really like how you present your ideas and the humility you have. Thank you. Peace from Turkey, Izmir.

Great video. Very informative and honest. Your humbleness and demeanor are exactly what others on KZfaq should follow. You are part of the solution.

These are all great truths I could've used about a year ago....any beginner out there listening, this is great advice.

Thanks, Joe. These basics are so important, and often glossed over. Be blessed my friend. John

Excellent video ! So often the tools get the blame on the firing line. Stop reevaluate adjust and execute. Collect it, shred it, fluff it, and burn it. Thanks for sharing !

I appreciate the way you break everything down and give the reasoning behind success. Your "verboseness" makes it clear and easy to understand.

Very straightforward and too the topic at hand. You're a quick talker but easy to understand and I appreciate that you don't boast about your skill level. Practice, practice, practice is a good motto for most curiosities in life :) Time to shop online and get to practicing!

Joe, you say you are not an expert in this area, but you ARE the best I have seen at getting fire. Pay attention people, this man knows his stuff. I say you are an expert, yet humble. Thanks for another great video.

Great point on practice Joe, and I know from watching your videos that you speak from experience not just head knowledge. You are so right on Number 1!!!!! I know this was big area of trouble with me when I first started learning new types of fire starting methods. I wanted to rush the process and skip processing large amounts...and usually failed!!! Thanks for sharing the knowledge you have learned.

this is great explanation of ferro rod usage. I havnt been able to watch videos for about a month (no time) at home sick so its catch up time. good way to spend the day keep up the good work

Great video Joe. Loved hearing you mention that you teach 4H kids. All seven of mine went through the 4H program and I am a huge proponent thereof. Thanks for sharing.

Good and informative material, thanks! I like the mindset of first looking at yourself, not the gear flaws. I'm not a huge bushcraft expert but for these dozens of fires I made with ferro rod, learned my lesson in even slightly moist conditions - as you said, the key to success is the preperation of your tinder. In the beginning I tended to use only birch back, but at some point I wasn't able to pick it anywhere near. Then I moved to feathersticks. It was a good method, but I wasn't good enough, I took me quite a bit of time to produce nice, well distributed, long and thin shavings. At some point I started to use the bird's nest and... My, oh my, what a gamechanger that is! Anyway, thanks for the tips!

I appreciate your humbleness. You say you are no expert, but hands down you are the best at fero rod fire making. Period. I have never seen anyone get flame with one spark of a fero rod like you do. If you are no expert, then there are no experts. You are also the best with bow drill fires. Making fire with hickory using a bow drill is very hard, except you make it look easy. I'm telling you KZfaqrs that if you want to learn fire craft, listen to this man. He is an expert.

Using a ferro rod to light a fire demands that you have a working knowledge of the environment where you are lighting the fire. Being able to recognize the trees, plants etc will prove very useful. Obviously common (or not so common these days) sense comes into play. Preparing tinder beforehand is always the best. I always carry some sisal that's been teased into a woolly consistency, along with some char-cloth (easy to prepare at home). Good video, however, for those new to fire lighting with a ferro rod. Easy to make the mistakes you pointed out .. so well done! Btw, I would strongly suggest don't buy the cheap, small ferro rods - you know the ones - they're only about 2 inches long. .. and get a good striker - a length of broken hack-saw blade works well.

All very good points Joe, thanks for sharing!

A lot of great info Joe, I use to think what am I doing wrong then I thought it's not me or my ferro rod, but then with practice I learned it was me and my type of striker ( not like a 90 degree spine) I had a more rounded spine on my striking tool, then I worked on my material I was lighting to refine its ability to take a spark, and of course watching guys like you to learn from helped a lot.

You never mentioned removing the lacquer from the rod - Once I did this I get better sparks. Saw this from others - I learned.

Good video, very sensible. I light my woodburner most evenings, have done for decades, and agree with everything said here

Thanks Joe great video, I have to admit my fire skills need a little refresher I got a little lazy with my fire making through the summer. Jason

Spot on my friend! You hit the most important points necessary for success.

Great video. I preach preparing your fuel greatly. ferro misuse or understanding how to use is a bigger issue that's never talked about. thanks for shedding some light on the subject.

Excellent Video! Great job on the break down and incorporating the physics behind it all..Know all the basics and practice, practice, practice..

I've watched several similar videos, this is my favorite so far. 👌

Really like your humble attitude, great video!

point 4 2:52 Hold the ferro rod closer to your bundle point 3 3:04 Know your resources point 2 4:55 ? Try different materials, see what works? point 1 5:30 Not properly planning your resources not being a jerk, just helping future viewers.

Great tips! Here in South Carolina, I found that thistle seed takes a spark very well. The slightest spark sets it on fire.

An excellent and highly useful video. This really helps fill in some of the gaps were I was getting frustrated in my attempts. Thank you Joe!

I wonder why you don't have more subscribers. Your videos are great. Your way of teaching is what I aspire to.

you rock my friend!! many new people mute be put off from trying. this is what they,we need to see. thanks much and blessings sir 😇

Nice video Joe. Big thumbs up! Out here in the Arizona high desert, we have "tinder" rather different than in the eastern wood land forests. Example, there are no birch trees in my State. But in the mountains that rise out of the desert, there are pines, meaning pitch and fat wood.....and the stubby Pinyon Pine sweats golf ball size globs of resin. Down in the desert, the sun and the extreme heat turns many parts of many plants into very dry tinder, almost as good as birch bark. Dried out palm fronds resemble parchment. And there are dead cholla, and ocotillo, and too many bush type plants to list here. All your points are sound. Just yesterday, I was practicing with my ferro rod in my back yard. It's fun!! And there are two items I always carry for fire starting, that being Esbit fuel cubes burning at 1300 degrees and Vaseline impregnated dryer lint. These two are fool proof in my opinion.

Excellent tutorial

Excellent video. I too am in NEC. I am a fire keeper and I learned some from you. Thank you.

Awesome Sir. your explanation is informative, pretty good. I am from Indonesia.

Good video! He does a good job, on subject, humble, honest guy! I liked it, and learned! Practice, practice, practice is right!!! Thank you!

Thanks for the video, I to do agree with material prep, for many years I sucked with ferro rods, largely because I didn't prepare it well enough.

Great tutorial, points well broken down! Main point, practice, practice, practice! Materials, and Ferro rods, are not all the same!

I appreciate the video. I've made basically the mistakes you mentioned. I'll be trying the ferro rod again this summer when out camping. That said, I WILL have a bic in my pocket as backup...

Great how to! I have some catching up to do. Have a great day

Great video sir, I would love to take any class you teach, you explain things very well.

Great educational video Joe. God bless and stay safe.

I really enjoyed this video, many thanks for making it

Good video. This is a very well spoken young man and he does a nice job on this subject 👍🏻

Great video and very worthwhile...... Offers a great platform for learning.

Well-done sir. Good info.

Excellent video like you showing feather sticks exactly right on all 4 👍🏻

Excellent video!

the entire video was VERY smart...… … ! I live and breath in Alaska. good job sir ...

Just found your channel. Great vid, simple explanation of exellent tips. thank you.

Well said! Important info. I did not find that you rambled. Soothing to listen to. Refreshing actually because you just tell it like it is with no condescending or judgemental tone. Good teaching and that is why I watch these kinds of videos. You have a new subber! Joel T.

Just got back from a camping trip, to try out bushcrafting, tried out a number of gasifiers, and alcohol stoves. Learned a lot about what works and what doesn't in windy conditions. Really wanted to try my ferro rod. must have misplaced it. all in all it was a great learning experience. Going to take a lot more practice to get good at it.

Very good video, thanks for sharing. Take care.

great vid, thanks for the knowledge.

I enjoyed your video very much. Thanks Joe. I need to start getting out again.

Thanks for your time and viewpoint

This is helpful information. Thank you

Great advice best I have ever heard

Awesome video Thanks for your knowledge/tips

Pine is common pretty much all over the US and makes a great feather stick

Great stuff sir!

I would like to add a tip here. If one is getting horizontal fine grooves on your ferro rod, they can be removed, not to return. When holding the rod and running what ever striker that you use, people usually hold it at a 90 degree angle to the rod. But....if one holds the striker at a 45 degree angle, or there about, the annoying tiny speed bumps are much much less likely to occur.

Good strategy that applies to many things in life Good reminder, thank you

Very good ideas. Thank you very much

Good video I live in north west pa I really love using birch bark burns better than paper and hemlock has super fine branches and the lower ones are usually dead and dry

Excellent video. Thank you

Awesome Video Joe, Thanks Much!

Awesome Joe!!!

Thanks for the great advice.

Im in Boone NC, i use whatever will light and burn! Have a great day!

Amigo Joe gracias por los consejos 🔪👍👍

Great tips Joe.

great post my friend, right on the money, all the best [I subbed]

Joe! Awesome video. Thanks!

Good stuff! Thank you.

Thanks...Great Video.....

Watching you show different fire skills such as bow drills and other techniques, I've realised I don't need to practice...... I just need to invite you along on my outdoor adventures ! Well done sir ! It's just as important to know why your doing something as is the techniques themselves....... Sometimes other youtubers fall short there......PAPA DUKES

Great video...Great knowledge. Ta..

Great video! This was super helpful :)

A very good video! Thanks for sharing bro:)

very informative Joe. new subscriber and enjoying your videos.

You make excellent videos. I’m learning a great deal. Please keep up the good work :-)

Awesome video, Joe !

Good job! Thank you.

Even though I'm not much of a "ferro rod" user, Great statements made in getting out in one's own area ,learning from others in said areas, and different areas may have different resources and such. Higher or lower Humidity has effects on resources used to make fire as well, and may require different techniques that work best in a specific area(which can change , even within one's own state boundaries ,especially with substantial elevation changes) . Good vid, Joe.

No rambling, straightforward and to the point. Thank you.. During practice I kept losing my fine gathered and fluffed up material. I found a gather bag helpful to contain and concentrate these materials until all my material was in position. I ended up using a lowly Walmart bag that due to wet conditions burns and added to the tinder.

Nice vid Joe , lots of good info ! atb john

Joe, great tips for beginners.

Ferro rod is definitely one skill I need to work on.Lighter is usually my go to most of the time.

Good stuff!

When I had to take Hunter Safety Class, we would use just a flint n steel with charcloth and on top of our tender nest would be the inner bark fibers with a piece of steel wool on top to place our lit charcloth on to get our bundle started and I still use this method everytime I make a tinder start bundle. But moving from Colorado to Nevada as you said was a learning process as to what types of wood works in the desert from that was abundant in Colorado changes where you live. So you definitely need to familiarize yourself with your area of camping and survival.

thank you Jo

Very good video.

Thanks brother, keep up the good work! Just a quick question, what size rod do you prefer?

Great tips Joe! A Bic is always a good choice. If Lewis and Clark had access to some Bics they surely would have made use of them! Love that shirt and the BHK!

Thanks! Another great video. -Corey @ PREPARED 2 THRIVE

Good Info Brother, It could save someone's life.

I have had a fun experience with my probably Chinese made ferro rod. It came with its own striker which is so very difficult to get a spark with. I eventually tried the back of my folding saw blade and much better sparks were produced. Continuing with this experiment I have found that the back edge of childrens scissors (mine are Faber Castell) which I use in my first aid kit are the best at producing really good sparks.