Friction Fire

Discussion in 'Survival and Wilderness Skills' started by R Stowe, Oct 25, 2016.

  1. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Thanks Mud! Honestly when I got back from my hike I hadn't spun a coal in 3 months. Took a while to pick it back up. Personally I think hand drill is one of the truly perishable wilderness skills out there.
     
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  2. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    What James Gibson recommends (he's closer to the humid south than I am lol) Is grabbing some cedar at a lumber store and then finding some Mullin or horse weed stalk growing wild. These mate pretty good and students had good luck with it at the Idaho Bushcraft Class. Generally the stalk I'm looking for is as fat as a sharpie or a little less. Too thick it's hard to get it spinning fast enough, too thin and you can loose your grip and tear up your hands. For starting out look for something around 18 inches or more. Hope that helps!
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2019
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  3. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Yessir! Mtgoat let me borrow it to see how I liked it. Good stuff!
     
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    SEMO Member

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  5. Tashunka witko

    Tashunka witko Member

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    Man I haven’t made a coal in awhile now. I probably can’t even get one now it’s been so long.
     
  6. DYSPHORIC JOY

    DYSPHORIC JOY Administrator Staff Member

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  7. DYSPHORIC JOY

    DYSPHORIC JOY Administrator Staff Member

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    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    Se7eN Member

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  10. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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  11. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Hand drill, coal caught in existing hole. Helps the coal still form in windy conditions and keeps more warmth in the board. This combo was cocklebur on beargrass 41812626-E66B-4448-B4EC-F9AAB0DB4E17.jpg
     
  12. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    And another today IMG_6887.JPG
     
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  13. Se7eN

    Se7eN Member

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    Went out yesterday for a ruck and ended up practicing friction fire.. go figure.

    Balsam spruce on balsam spruce. This always produces and ember really fast.

    I’ve been forcing myself to blow the embers into flame with a tinder bundle every time for good measure. Getting a coal is one thing, being prepared with a sufficient tinder bundle is another.

    I used old mans beard with small twigs as my tinder bundle. Worked OK, but. The moss absorbs moister extremely fast...if it’s too cold out, the humidity from your breath will render the moss utterly useless.


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    Se7eN Member

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  15. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Bow drill today. Mesquite on saguaro B72C7D50-17F0-4C00-9ED4-B1F33E7C0A73.jpg 2318FD84-4D15-428B-8A2A-88989F04F2D7.jpg
     
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  16. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Hand drill today 5F217B03-4C01-4BC7-8BE3-0D10E3BC0885.jpg
     
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  17. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Last one for a bit. lol Want to see some other folks embers. IMG_6938.JPG
     
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  18. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    Same combo or new woods?
     
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  19. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    D9E0DD13-4F87-4F56-88C4-D6551FD38269.jpeg

    Took this coal and popped it on a cigar to light it. Works well. :)
     
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  20. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Same combo as the last pic. Seep willow on regular willow if I'm rembering were I harvested the hearth from. Spun two embers today with hand drill, same materials. That board is pretty much used up though.
     
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