What is flint? This device is designed to receive open fire. This item was very popular in the late 18th - early 19th centuries. Then the flint went out of wide circulation, it was replaced by matches. They are much more convenient in everyday life. Today, tourists use flint. In this article, we will consider the principle of operation of such a device and tell how to use it correctly. And also you will learn about the meaning of the word according to the interpretation of some dictionaries.
How is the flint arranged?
Many have heard of flint. What this is and how this subject is arranged, not everyone knows. The simplest flint includes a chair - a file with the smallest notch, and flint. The mineral SiO2 (silicon dioxide) is used as flint. And also tinder is used together with the product (a lump of dried moss, dry grass, leaves, a ball of cotton wool and so on). After flint hitting the chair, a sheaf of sparks occurs that ignites the tinder. Then it begins to smolder, and it must be inflated in order to get a flame. However, if the tinder quality is good, then the fire will break out immediately.
The meaning of flint: how is the word interpreted in different dictionaries?
According to the explanatory dictionary of Ushakov’s Russian language, the flint is a piece of stone or steel intended for cutting fire from flint. Other dictionaries indicate identical meanings.
Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998. Flint - “an iron or steel plate for making fire by striking a flint. It was used from the beginning of the Iron Age to the 20th century. ”Great Soviet Encyclopedia. Flint - a chair, an iron or steel product (predominantly of a caliphoid or rectangular-oval shape), which serves to produce fire by striking a flint. It was common from the advent of iron to the invention of matches in the 19th century. In a number of regions of Europe, it remained in peasant life until the beginning of the 20th century. O. was worn at the waist in a leather bag along with flint and tinder.
If earlier you asked yourself what it is - flint and did not know the answer, now you probably understood what was being discussed.
How to use the device?
How to use a flint? It is very important to know this, because such a device does not give the flame that a lighter or ordinary matches can give. It can only give sparks, using which they receive fire.
When it comes to the classic flint, it is powered by two hands. It is first necessary to drain all the elements of the device and check whether it is dry. Wet flint will not give sparks. After you check the dryness of the components, you must put the tinder prepared in advance on the basis of the future bonfire. A flammable material should be used as such a base.
After that, you need to firmly grasp the silicon base with your left hand. Then the hand is brought to the tinder as close as possible, the maximum distance is 5 cm. With the right hand, take a chair and press it to the flint body of the side where the tinder is located. After this, it is necessary to rub the body of the chair on the surface of the flint, which will lead to the appearance of sparks. The main thing is not to make movements with large amplitude. The amplitude should be short, and the swings should be fast.
After the sparks fall on the tinder, it ignites, which leads to the ignition of the base of the fire. In the event that the tinder is only smoldering, it must be inflated well. If we are talking about a semi-automatic flint, you can use such a model with one hand.
It is very important that the components of the flint are stored in airtight, waterproof bags to prevent moisture from entering them. Particular attention should be paid to the dryness of tinder and flint, they create the greatest problems. A wet chair can simply be wiped before use.
What models are there?
Today, there are two types of flint:
- semi-automatic;
- mechanical.
The second comes into action with the participation of two hands. The price is low and depends on the functionality and configuration, as well as the company that released the flint.
Flint Benefits
We examined the features of the flint. What it is? The fixture is a fixture for producing fire. It differs from ordinary matches or lighters in the following advantages:
- you can work with flint even in the wind;
- does not break and does not freeze;
- suddenly the "flames" cannot, unlike matches;
- differs in high durability.
Of course, this device does not last forever, it erases over time. How many uses of one or another flint is enough depends on its size.
The disadvantages of such a device include the fact that the fire after its use is not immediately generated. Here it is necessary to ignite flammable material with sparks, which is not always possible due to weather conditions.
You will see a photo of the flint below.
How to choose a flint?
In fact, there is no value what the handle of the device will be made of. It can be aluminum or wooden. And the rod can be hidden inside a titanium case or cheaper. In addition, no matter what the chair is made of: cheap carbon steel or stainless steel metal. These characteristics are not very important, because the main component of the flint is a ferrocerium rod. So the packaging does not play a role and will not affect the operability of the device.
Why is it necessary to have a flint in a survival kit?
Well-designed survival kits always have a flint. After all, a tourist should have two sources of fire, which can, if necessary, replace each other. The main source is a lighter or matches. But the flint is a fallback. Yes, to light a fire with a lighter is very simple, but only if it works. Matches end, and lighters break and fail. But the flint will always come to the rescue, the main thing is to apply it correctly. Thanks to frequent practice, you will not be left without fire in a difficult situation.
Useful Tips
Any steel is suitable for extracting sparks from the described device. The main thing is that it be alloyed. Even if it does not have high corrosion resistance, the only important thing is whether it forms a sufficient number of sparks. Remember that using a knife blade as a chair is not advisable. It burns out and may become dull. This method can only be used in extreme cases.
The regular flint chair will successfully replace a small piece of the hacksaw blade. You can do without a flint, however, in traveling conditions it is definitely useful. If you are an avid tourist, get one. Moreover, even the cheapest model will cope with the task, if everything is done correctly. Now you have received the answer to the question, what is it - flint.