How Many Primitive Fire Starting Techniques Can You Do?

[Arak Zantara]

Hand ,bow and Flint

Of those pictured
The pump looks easier to make
but the drilling the hole through the big piece of wood seems like it would take longer then just doing a bow or hand.... if you only had your blade

[Curdog]

I have been playing with fire for a long time- I have managed to get a fire with pretty much all primitive methods. Never used pyrites, fire plow is HARD, but we got it ONCE. Fire thong is very materials oriented- pretty much need rattan for the thong, but green briar can work. Hand drill is my favorite!

[ryeder]

Uhmmmm...bow drill, steel, zippo and calling down lightening, which is my favorite..really impressive.

[johnnie l.]

Flint and back of Razor knife
Lens
fire steel
Magnifying mirror
Haven't got any of fire drills to work yet
still working on that.

[survivalguy]

4 of the 6 shown i've seen the fire pump and nobody can get it work atleast nobody i was with

[petersonsman]

I've tried all but the pump. In all honesty I haven't had luck with the hand drill. Bow drill and fire plow I've had much success with though.

[1way]

Anybody tired the fire piston? Do a google, So. American tribes use it often

[bullpupm2]

that video was, simply put, impressive. a lot of smoke, was the tinder wet or what?

[RICHFL]

I have 2 methods that work every time and do not waste time trying to get a fire started.

(1) pull out my BIC lighter and push down on the button.

(2) pull out and strike on the strike paper a wooden safety match.

Works every time and I do not waste time that I could be using for other more important things!

[survivalguy]

I've tried all but the pump. In all honesty I haven't had luck with the hand drill. Bow drill and fire plow I've had much success with though.

you know how you have to have downward pressure on the spindle while your spinning it between your the palms of your hand? Well I was taught a trick to this a few years ago .. take a piece of string, shoelace, 550 cord ETC about 18 inches in length tie a loop in each end of the string now tie the string to the top of the spindle ... put your thumbs in the loops now you'll have continues downward pressure and you won't have to stop spinning to put your hands on top of the spindle again to reset .. just keep spinning!

[survivalguy]

Anybody tired the fire piston? Do a google, So. American tribes use it often

I call the fire piston a novelty fire starter there are too many moving parts to wear out and you have to carry spare O rings, charcloth, lube and pick ... yes it does work just not my cup of tea

[vinnie]

4 of the 6 never had any luck with the plow and on trail walks it was always an individual contest. Vinnie

[JLBIII]

I can do all of them except the fire pump and to be honest from the picture there are just too many moving parts for me. I can and will use those techniques if needs be, I'll use my Zippo in most cases, unless I'm done with everything else I need to do and am bored


Joe

[wondertouched]

Well never tried any of these but I can say I have litters and matches in my bug bag. Here is a small one for the Ladies I have a small baggie with lent in it from the dryer good starter. Got that idea from a site like this.

[MGF]

I have 2 methods that work every time and do not waste time trying to get a fire started.

(1) pull out my BIC lighter and push down on the button.

(2) pull out and strike on the strike paper a wooden safety match.

Works every time and I do not waste time that I could be using for other more important things!

I smoke so I always have a bic or two around but I don't really find them to be all that reliable. They don't work once they get cold, they don't work wet (and they take a while to dry), they don't work well in the wind and of course they run out of fluid and can be broken. Additionally, you have to get to a store and spend money to replace them.

Matches are fine as long as it isn't too windy...until you run out.

My favorite is the good old fashioned and extremely reliable and sustainable flint (or other hard rock) and steel.

A striker or two will last the rest of your life (and there's more to be found), there are sparking rocks all over the place and every fire is an opportunity to replenish charred tinder (not to mention the tinders that work without being charred).

I can get a fire going as fast (faster in some conditions) with flint/steel as I can with a lighter.

The friction methods are fine but you had best find the materials and carve a set that works long before you're wet and cold.