primitive fire starting methods.

[Echo2]

This last fall I played with an idea of using 2 corncobs tied together for a fire board along with a cedar drill and it worked great.

Give it a try!

very slick...I like it...:)

[PT945]

For the fire bow drill You don't really need a "curved" stick for a bow, it just makes it a bit easier if you have not had a lot of practice. Dry mullein makes a great "drill" very soft and it turns to ash very quickly. Hardwood can be used for the "hand hold" but you may notice it will squeak loudly once the wood starts to heat up. Take your finger and wipe the oil from the side of your nose and apply it to where it meets the drill, it will quiet it long enough. Bone or a stone, with a carved divit works best in my opinion. Primitive fire starting is one of my favorite subjects. I have not started a fire with a match or a lighter in several years. It's just the common way to do it for me.

Maybe you can post a few pictures of your bow drill in action.I haven't yet perfected the method and any help is appreciated.

[PT945]

This last fall I played with an idea of using 2 corncobs tied together for a fire board along with a cedar drill and it worked great.

Give it a try!

What a unique idea for a fire board. Thanks for the tip.

[Stitch]

The most effective combination I have found in my area is a Yucca spindle and a Cottonwood hearth. A lot of the books and videos out there show putting your tinder bundle underneath the hearth. In my experience this causes my tinder bundle to either compress or self destruct. Cody Lundin taught us in Aboriginal Living Skills to use a leaf, piece of bark, etc. underneath the notch. Once you have a good coal going tap the hearth with the spindle to free the coal. Then transfer the coal to your tinder bundle. I have had better luck with a straighter as opposed to curved bow. Dry Cottonwood cambium of dry Juniper bark make good tinder bundles.

[slowz1k]

I'm curious... What's the best time anyone has had getting flame (not ember or smoke) from a bow drill. I know there are more variables than one could count affecting the outcome (humidity, location, tinder, drill materials, etc...)
From the first twist of the spindle to an actual flaming tinder pile what's your best time? average time?

I've never done it so count me out.:mad:

[PT945]

I'm curious... What's the best time anyone has had getting flame (not ember or smoke) from a bow drill. I know there are more variables than one could count affecting the outcome (humidity, location, tinder, drill materials, etc...)
From the first twist of the spindle to an actual flaming tinder pile what's your best time? average time?

I've never done it so count me out.:mad:

Don't feel bad, I haven't yet had a successful fire with the bow drill.

[bcauz3y]

Don't feel bad, I haven't yet had a successful fire with the bow drill.

About 8-10 minutes.

[J40SW]

The methods i know of are bow drill, hand drill, fire plow , and fire thong .

I never thought to use a thong, but then again I have never worn a thong either...

[PT945]

I never thought to use a thong, but then again I have never worn a thong either...

You don't know what your missing, you try it.

[Iron mike]

I have used the fire thong and bow drill flint and Steel methods all with success how ever I cant start a fire with a magnifying glass to save my life it is a horrible thing to watch my trying to do it would try the patients of a special needs teacher

[Stitch]

The hand drill always kicks my butt. I have gotten a wisp of smoke, but never an ember.

http://www.primitiveways.com/pt-fire.html

[registror]

I am working on and trying to perfect fire with the bow drill I will be posting pictures and a video when I perfect my technique.
what is your primitive method of fire starting that you've perfected.
The methods i know of are bow drill, hand drill, fire plow , and fire thong .

here you go. I used 7" long, 4" OD logs for the counterweights, split the spindle for a 4 sided, tapered end plug, used 2 stick with a notch as the crosspiece to hold the weights, notched the top of the spindle and put in a wooden wedge-plug, so I never had to drill any holes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8BXhxHWyF4

[registror]

Rudiger roll is the way to do emergency fire, if you've been too lazy to carry a wallet fresnel lense, a keychain ferrorod or a peanut lighter.. All 3 are EDC for me. Total wt about one oz and all 3 fit in the palm of your hand. They offer many hundreds of lights. You can bury your coals in your ashes and keep the fire alive for 12+ hours, and you can carry the coals/ashes in a torch-bundle for hours on end, too. So friction fire is merely a hobby. There's no reason why you would ever need to know such things, other than being too lazy/ignorant to have basic EDC gear at all times.