Creating enough heat to make fire!

In order to make fire you need heat, this heat in the 18th century was created by smouldering tinder that had caught & held a spark. Kindling such as dry grass or similar is placed next to or on the smouldering tinder and then blown into flame. But sometimes in wet weather this heat generated by the burning kindling grass is not enough to cause damp kindling twigs & sticks to burn, so you need a more constant flame.

In my fire-bag I carry a little kindling and a stubby beeswax candle. If the fuel for the fire is damp and will not easily catch fire, then I light the candle and place the candle beneath the damp fuel. This constant heat although only small, aventually will dry out some of the sticks & twigs and they will take fire.

My Tinderbox and contents.

Closed Tinderbox and steel.

My Fire-bag which holds the tinderbox, some kindling and a candle.

A dipped beeswax candle, broken but will still function.