VIDEO: How to Use a Ferro Rod with Natural Tinder

A ferro rod is an indispensable piece of survival equipment. Even a pocket-sized version will be a viable fire starting option for thousands of strikes.

However, they aren’t always a sure thing with natural tinder. Knowing what natural materials are viable tinders in the area is very important. Even then, proper preparation goes a long way towards successfully starting a fire. In this video, Tyler shows us how select and prepare the tinder before using the ferro rod and the 90-degree spine of a knife to bring a spark to flame.

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Written by Tyler White

Tyler White is one of those rare creators of online survival content who is amply qualified. Growing up on a ranch, Tyler learned about homesteading and preparedness as a way of life, taught by grandparents who had lived through the Great Depression. Although he had already worked at a guide in Alaska, served with U.S. Army, Tyler knew there was more to primitive survival than he could learn from military schools or other outdoorsmen. His passion for primitive survival drove him on a quest to track down the most knowledgeable instructors in the field, traveling from Utah to the Amazon to Canada and finally back to Utah. Like all competent survivalists, Tyler has experience in a broad range of subjects. Highlights from his background includes criminal justice, law enforcement, archery, small arms, amateur radio, farming, gardening, raising cattle, and poultry. He has attended classified schools, worked in law enforcement, studied too many martial arts to list, and achieved the rank of 2nd Dan in Shōrin-ryū karate.