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Offline schoolmaster

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Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« on: July 21, 2011, 05:50:33 AM »
Has anyone ever just gone out and made a fire with only natural materials gathered in the wild? I have made bow drills, tried to catch sparks from knife steel striking rocks to no avail. I am starting to believe if I were caught out somewhere and could have only one item, I would take a sure means of kindling a fire over anything else.

Offline BUGEYE

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2011, 05:53:17 AM »
I keep fire making stuff at home and in my truck.  and I don't get far from the truck.
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Offline Rex in OTZ

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2011, 07:39:05 AM »
 
This was October, the mudpuddles were iced up and sea still open,(Coastal Arctic beach)I'd taken some dead grass and dipped some in my ATV gastank, stuck that under some smaall twigs off the beach then used another hand full of dead grass (damp) and held it to my ATV exhaust header pipe till embers were glowing blew on them (quest for fire style) till I had flames then stuffed that next to the gasoline soaked grass,
 
 
 
 
I saw this as Lighting a cigar
 
http://youtu.be/gDFL5_Jfhfc

Offline blind ear

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2011, 07:42:42 AM »
The turbo manifold on most tractors will get hot enough to light a cigarette even in cold February.  ;D  ear
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Offline schoolmaster

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2011, 01:23:38 PM »
Ok, I get the hot engine part. What I want to know is, has anyone ever gone out in the wild and made a fire with a stone that they picked up or whittled out a fire board and made a bow drill and gathered tinder and used these natural materials and successfully built a fire without anything prepared before hand.

Offline Lost Farmboy

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2011, 01:28:49 PM »
  I tried. The only thing that worked for me was a magnifying glass. Some day I will try to use the lenses of my glasses.
A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.   John F. Kennedy

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Offline reliquary

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2011, 04:22:15 PM »
I've been through jungle survival training ( canal zone '66), arctic and mountain survival (Black Rapids, '77), and desert survival (29 Palms, '82).  I've tried bow drills, etc, and have never had much luck.  Most of the survival instructors I've known haven't had much luck with the natural methods, either.  If they did, it was in a highly artificial "training" setting, not "in the wild".
 
That's why I carry firestarters and waterproof/windproof matches and pieces of highway flares.

Offline BUGEYE

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2011, 04:26:20 PM »
  I tried. The only thing that worked for me was a magnifying glass. Some day I will try to use the lenses of my glasses.
I remember doing that as a kid. I've got a magnifying glass laying here beside me that I use on coins.
I'm gonna try it again.
Give me liberty, or give me death
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Give me liberty, or give me death
                                     bugeye

Offline Lost Farmboy

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #8 on: July 23, 2011, 02:42:47 AM »
  I tried. The only thing that worked for me was a magnifying glass. Some day I will try to use the lenses of my glasses.
I remember doing that as a kid. I've got a magnifying glass laying here beside me that I use on coins.
I'm gonna try it again.

 


When I was 4 we lived in the city for a while. One day I was walking down the sidewalk and saw a lot of kids lighting fires with magnifying glasses. The oldest one had to be less than 10. They got the magnifying glasses from Cracker Jacks. It would never happen today.
A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.   John F. Kennedy

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under" -Ronald Reagan

“So this is how liberty dies; with thunderous applause.”  Padme Amidala

Offline schoolmaster

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #9 on: July 23, 2011, 08:40:59 AM »
I went out yesterday and got some dead brown dry grass (it hasn't rained here in two weeks) I took my eyeglasses and tried to get them to work and got nowhere. It was close to 100 degrees yesterday. I am thinking that it is hard to do unless you know just the right natural materials and have practiced a lot. Primitive people carried fire with them from place to place when they could.

Offline blind ear

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #10 on: July 23, 2011, 09:54:07 AM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0bEoVhxFJ8
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC_54ICw-ao
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmipIIBpzMk
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlxujVPiN6U

 
click 2go2 thread

I have seen this fire making method all my life on the movie and tv screen, and yes I was a Boy Scout, but no, they didn't teach it in my troop. I was the expert there in makin fire, even as a kid, but only in preparation with a one match used fire. I guess I have a little of the pyro gene in my ancestry.
But seriously. I have been interested in my Cherokee Culture ever since I was able to understand that I was Cherokee. My father on the other hand, although full blood, was into slick cars, air conditioning, and being a workaholic.
Well I have fooled with this bow drill concept for years, off and on, and could make the smoke but that was all, and I never put any real effort into it, until about 2 weeks ago. I started watchin youtube demos until I dreamed about them, and they all were pretty much the same UNTIL. I had just about decided that it was not meant to be. Then I decided to watch one more, and once again this smart ass youngster came on the screen that was about the same age as my youngest son, and he immediately announced that he was an instructor for some primitive skills school. ::) Oh brother, here we go again. ::)
He started the lesson by telling me what I already knew about different woods, spindles, hearths, ect, you know the drill but then! He made a comment that no one in the DOZENS of videos ever made. How to test the hearth wood for correctness in texture.  WOW!:o Nobody ever done that before, let's pay attention.

Willow is best for the hearth, and if its dead enough, and just right, you should be able to easily score it with you thumb nail. It's just that simple, along with a slightly bigger V-notch cut into your hearth board.
 
So! To the creek I went with the saw, found a dead limb about 2" thick and cut it. Got back to my shop, split it with my tomahawk and shaved it flat with same tool. Got my cedar spindle, my leather stringed bow, and after gettin a hole started, and cuttin the V-notch had fire in under a minute. My my, just one little comment turned a frustrating endeavor into a success.
Now it's on to flint and steal. Think that's gonna be easier though.
Oath Keepers: start local
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“It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” – Ron Paul, End the Fed
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An economic crash like the one of the 1920s is the only thing that will get the US off of the road to Socialism that we are on and give our children a chance at a future with freedom and possibility of economic success.
-
everyone hears but very few see. (I can't see either, I'm not on the corporate board making rules that sound exactly the opposite of what they mean, plus loopholes) ear
"I have seen the enemy and I think it's us." POGO
St Judes Childrens Research Hospital

Offline schoolmaster

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #11 on: July 23, 2011, 12:48:41 PM »
 Ear, Oh my gosh. Now I have to start all over. What did he use for tinder?

Offline blind ear

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #12 on: July 23, 2011, 03:00:25 PM »
'with a fire striker rod, dryer lint has flamed the first time every time that I struck a good spark. With the drill, the wood drill stem and the base board, makes sawdust that is lit to a burning ember by friction.
 
 Any DRY, well shreaded (picture steel wool) very fine plant material  packed into a small "nest" can usually be blown or fanned to life when the "ember form the fire board" is placed in it and the nest lightly folded around it. One video had the nest placed under the board to begin with to avoid having to move the wood dust ember.
 
 Bark (stem and root), leaves, shreaded grass stalks and leaves,  most plant downs like cat tail, dogbain and milkweed will catch if dry enough and they are held close enough around the ember and blown on. good luck. ear
Oath Keepers: start local
-
“It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” – Ron Paul, End the Fed
-
An economic crash like the one of the 1920s is the only thing that will get the US off of the road to Socialism that we are on and give our children a chance at a future with freedom and possibility of economic success.
-
everyone hears but very few see. (I can't see either, I'm not on the corporate board making rules that sound exactly the opposite of what they mean, plus loopholes) ear
"I have seen the enemy and I think it's us." POGO
St Judes Childrens Research Hospital

Offline Casull

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #13 on: July 23, 2011, 03:00:36 PM »
Well, being a smoker, I always have a disposable butane lighter with me.  Weighs less than a flint and steel (and lights much quicker).  Buy an 8 pack of them at Wally's for $1.98 and put 2 in the car, 2 in the tackle box, 2 in the hunting pack and 2 in your pocket.  Cheapest and best going.
Aim small, miss small!!!

Offline blind ear

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #14 on: July 23, 2011, 03:10:28 PM »
Well, being a smoker, I always have a disposable butane lighter with me.  Weighs less than a flint and steel (and lights much quicker).  Buy an 8 pack of them at Wally's for $1.98 and put 2 in the car, 2 in the tackle box, 2 in the hunting pack and 2 in your pocket.  Cheapest and best going.

 
A turbo manifold works well also but it doesn't fit in the pocket well and is not usually found hot in the woods nor does it fit the intent of the original post.     ;D   ;D   ;D    ear
Oath Keepers: start local
-
“It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” – Ron Paul, End the Fed
-
An economic crash like the one of the 1920s is the only thing that will get the US off of the road to Socialism that we are on and give our children a chance at a future with freedom and possibility of economic success.
-
everyone hears but very few see. (I can't see either, I'm not on the corporate board making rules that sound exactly the opposite of what they mean, plus loopholes) ear
"I have seen the enemy and I think it's us." POGO
St Judes Childrens Research Hospital

Offline reliquary

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #15 on: July 23, 2011, 03:55:31 PM »
Blind Ear & the young guy on the video...thanks for solving the mystery.
 
Now...I offer this without any trace of sarcasm or ill intent.  Could you do all this with just the materials you gather in the wild...not using a readymade, already-tuned bow drill, spindle, etc?  I'm talking about finding yourself out in the woods with just a knife and  bootlaces and coming up with all the utensils/equipment and starting a fire? 
 
I've tried that and I couldn't.  That's why I carry a firestarting kit with me if I'm away from the house, and have one in the vehicle as well.

Offline blind ear

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #16 on: July 23, 2011, 04:22:37 PM »
Blind Ear & the young guy on the video...thanks for solving the mystery.
 
Now...I offer this without any trace of sarcasm or ill intent.  Could you do all this with just the materials you gather in the wild...not using a readymade, already-tuned bow drill, spindle, etc?  I'm talking about finding yourself out in the woods with just a knife and  bootlaces and coming up with all the utensils/equipment and starting a fire? 
 
I've tried that and I couldn't.  That's why I carry a firestarting kit with me if I'm away from the house, and have one in the vehicle as well.

The only thing not available from a dead willow or other softwood dead bush is the string, easy. Winged elm bark, wisteria vine bark, dogbane fiber and many other plant fibers can all be turned into cord, very strong cord.
In one of the videos the guy used hickory bark.

ear
 
 
Oath Keepers: start local
-
“It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” – Ron Paul, End the Fed
-
An economic crash like the one of the 1920s is the only thing that will get the US off of the road to Socialism that we are on and give our children a chance at a future with freedom and possibility of economic success.
-
everyone hears but very few see. (I can't see either, I'm not on the corporate board making rules that sound exactly the opposite of what they mean, plus loopholes) ear
"I have seen the enemy and I think it's us." POGO
St Judes Childrens Research Hospital

Offline chefjeff

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #17 on: July 23, 2011, 05:07:40 PM »
Only thing with the butane lighter,no wookie in super cold temps.There are some good fire starters on the market now for <$20.

Offline Casull

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #18 on: July 23, 2011, 05:26:37 PM »
Quote
Only thing with the butane lighter,no wookie in super cold temps.

 
I've heard that, but it just aint true.  I've used them below 0 degrees many times.  The simple trick is to warm it with your hand.
Aim small, miss small!!!

Offline blind ear

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #19 on: July 23, 2011, 06:37:40 PM »
Reliquary,
 
 I agree with you that carrying a kit is a much more safe and sane approach to starting a fire, I'm just saying, "If you have no other choice" it would be nice to be able to go from scratch .
 
 ear
Oath Keepers: start local
-
“It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” – Ron Paul, End the Fed
-
An economic crash like the one of the 1920s is the only thing that will get the US off of the road to Socialism that we are on and give our children a chance at a future with freedom and possibility of economic success.
-
everyone hears but very few see. (I can't see either, I'm not on the corporate board making rules that sound exactly the opposite of what they mean, plus loopholes) ear
"I have seen the enemy and I think it's us." POGO
St Judes Childrens Research Hospital

Offline schoolmaster

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #20 on: July 23, 2011, 07:04:58 PM »
OK, watched all the videos, and I have a much better idea how to go about it. Am going out and trying it the first chance I get. The one where the guy starts by knapping an edge on a rock is kind of what I had in mind. This would be a skill that might come in handy in a survival situation. The next thing on my list is snares. Already built a Mohave bird trap and successfully caught starlings, sparrows, and robins. Since they were caught alive, they can be released unharmed.

Offline don heath

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #21 on: August 02, 2011, 11:17:53 PM »
I did a detailed post on this a year or two back and have plenty of photo's of the bushmen (san) peoples in the kalahari making fire. Most of the older men use fire sticks and can get a fire lit in under a minute. Key is to trickle a little sand into the hole in the base stick so you increase the friction substantially.
 
Most of the younger bushmen have all but lost the knack. They rely on a magnifying glass or an old D cell battery and a file. The old style tinder boxes with the magnifying glass built in are hugely popular and eighter a specific mushroom or dried elephant dung is used as tinder and kept in the box - of course we have fewer than 20 cloudy days a year. For the more modern types...take a D cell, cut one end off and remove the center rod and fill that hole with tinder. Scrape file across the open edge of the battery and sparks will fall on either the carbon or your tinder centre and your have an ember to drop into your fire. Also lights a cigarette or pipe and just about all the bushmen smoke the local weed and rubbing sticks is a hard way just to get a light!

Offline Spirithawk

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #22 on: September 29, 2011, 02:35:56 PM »
A simple 9 volt battery and a piece of steel wool, carried in seperate pockets, works great.

Offline geezerbiker

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Re: Making an emergency fire from scratch.
« Reply #23 on: October 14, 2011, 08:39:37 PM »
It's not that hard to make a fire when everything is dry but how often do you need a fire when it's warm and dry?  The best option is to remember your boy scout training and be prepared...

A small bundle of tinder in a zip lock bag and long with a few matches will go a long way.  If you can still find strike on anything matches they can be water proofed with a quick dip in melted wax...

Tony

Offline Rex in OTZ

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Fire from what you pick up around you
« Reply #24 on: October 17, 2011, 11:48:30 AM »
We tried that this fall from what youd pick up off the beach, makeing a fire bow useing a leatherman and some 550 cord, the wood we had tried was too damp to light it'd just get warm and smoke some (better selection of materials next time) and the hand piece was tough didnt find a goo cupped stone, It takes DRY componets.
 
just scraping anything off the ground to build a fire is tough (esp after a sprinkle)