Fire Starting Techniques

See also:  Fire Ignition Gear |  Fire Building (Laying a Fire) | Tree Identification | Tinder, Fatwood, Charcloth

Acknowledgements:
When it comes to primitive fire making skills, I know of no one that has taken it to the limit like David West has. He calls this his “hobby” but to me he is the “Professor of Pyro”. Click here to visit and subscribe to David’s YouTube fire making channel. David demonstrates how to efficiently achieve ignition using everything from his modified ferrocerium rods, various hand drills, bow drills, trash from the side of the road to even bottles of water!

We also want to recognize video creators David Cantebury survival expert and author of the book Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival, Steve Despain of Firebox Stove fame, Tom McElroy-Wild Survival , the Nomadic Woodsman , TA Outdoors, PaleoManJim. and Far North Bushcraft & Survival

 

Bow Drills – Fire Drills

(from Wikipedia) A bow drill is a simple rotational hand-operated tool of prehistoric origin. As a “fire drill” it commonly was used to generate friction to start a fire.

Two-man bow drill demonstration…

 

Using a Ferrocerium Rod or Ferro Rod

( info on types & sources for ferro rods here )

Buy 5-star rated 1/2 x 6 inch Ferro Rods at Amazon.com

 

Fire Plough (Fire Plow)

(from Wikipedia) The typical fire plough consists of a stick cut to a dull point, and a long piece of wood with a groove cut down its length. The point of the first piece is rubbed quickly against the groove of the second piece in a “plowing” motion, to produce hot dust that then becomes a coal. A split is often made down the length of the grooved piece, so that oxygen can flow freely to the coal/ember. Once hot enough, the coal is introduced to the tinder, more oxygen is added by blowing and the result is ignition.

 

Fire Rolls

Ignition using a fire roll involves rolling wood ash wrapped inside a tube made from natural plant fibers such as cotton or jute.  This tube is rolled between two hard and flat surfaces. The friction from the ash generates heat which leads to the creation of an ember within the roll which is then used to ignite a tinder bundle.

 

Fire Saws

A fire saw uses friction to create an ember using two components: a “saw” and a “hearth” (fireboard). Bamboo is a commonly used material.

Flint & Steel

A fire striker is a piece of carbon steel from which 800 degree sparks are struck by a sharp edge of flint, chert or similar rock which is used to ignite char cloth or other highly flammable fuels. Buy a 4.5 star rated flint & steel kit at Amazon.com   Buy striker steel only at Amazon.com

 

Hand Drills

 

Pump Drills

Not meant to be presented as a traditional bushcraft tool, this adaptation of the bow drill may inspire experimentation when time at a more permanent camp permits.

 

Solar Ignition

Ignition accomplished using the sun and various items such as fresnel lenses, a magnifying glass, parabolic mirrors, eyeglasses, drink cans, even table spoons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQvH-zMm_4k