Fire kit more detail

Managed to get to watch the Mears show again and I have refined some of the details of the fire kit.

Cool fire kit

Saw this fire kit on the new Ray Mears Series of Shows "walk about" it's one of the best little flint and steel sets I've seen. it was carried by the artist Steven King that accompanied the scottish explorer Jon McDowell Stewart the first man to lead an expedition across Australia. Interestingly it was taken as a personal memento of Australia's only astronaut on the space shuttle discovery is a descendant of
F.G.Water house the naturalist that accompanied Jon McDowell Stewart on some of his expeditions.

It consists of a steel striker, a flint in a holder and a slow match of cotton wick impregnated with saltpeter. these items are all held on their own mounting a push fit bezel for the striker is attached to a tube that holds the wick ad the flit in it holder is attached to the tube with a chain.

The hole set up is housed in cylindrical box with a push fit bezel lid, again the lid is attached to the box so it can not be lost.

I did my own drawing with the intention of making my own. Today I made the steel striker out of some scrap 01 tool steel i had in the workshop rest of the setup will follow soon.

Oxford Again

Went out last night for a paddle with Richie and Chris had a good paddle on the Thames past the lasher, aiding a swimmer with cramp. Some teens had take advantage of the warm day and decided to strip of and get in the river, not the greatest idea water was very cold indeed. Paddled on from the river side center up the Thames. Found some very old arches that connected a back water through to the main river very cool breaking through a wall of ivy back out in the sun light felt like entering the lost world. Lots of rowers out practicing their starts mostly crews of ladies, which brought a smile. Paddled of the Thames on to the Cherwell, pulled out on the bank for a brew and some nibbles and watched the punts go by. Swapped with Chris and paddled midnight solo and paddled back to the riverside center. Went for a pint in a lovely pub in Cuxham two pints of Breakspear's and some wild bore salami finished the evening of nicely on the water 5:40 off at about 9:15 home midnight.


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