This is something that everyone should learn how to do and practice makes perfect.

I think this is the easiest method by far.



Learning how to make a fire without matches or a lighter is  an essential survival skill. You never know when you'll find yourself in a situation where you'll need a fire, but you don't have matches. Maybe your single engine plane goes down while you're flying over the Alaskan wilderness, like the kid in Hatchet. Or perhaps you're out camping and you lose your backpack in a tussle with a bear. It need not be something as dramatic as these situations — even extremely windy or wet conditions can render matches virtually uselessly. And whether or not you ever need to call upon these skills, it's just damn cool to know you can start a fire, whenever and wherever you are.


Bow Drill Method

Starting a fire with a bow drill

The bow drill is probably the most effective friction based method to use because it's easier to maintain the speed and pressure you need to create enough friction to start a fire. In addition to the spindle and fireboard, you'll also need a socket and a bow.

Get a socket. The socket is used to put pressure on the other end of the spindle as you're rotating it with the bow. The socket can be a stone or another piece of wood. If you use another piece of wood, try to find a harder piece than what you're using for the spindle. Wood with sap and oil are good as it creates a lubricant between the spindle and the socket.

Make your bow. The bow should be about as long as your arm. Use a flexible piece of wood that has a slight curve. The string of the bow can be anything. A shoelace, rope, or strip of rawhide works great. Just find something that won't break. String up your bow and you're ready to go.

Prepare the fireboard. Cut a v-shaped notch and create a depression adjacent to it in the fireboard. Underneath the notch, place your tinder.

String up the spindle. Catch the spindle in a loop of the bow string. Place one end of the spindle in the fireboard and apply pressure on the other end with your socket.

Start sawing. Using your bow, start sawing back and forth. You've basically created a rudimentary mechanical drill. The spindle should be rotating quickly. Keep sawing until you create an ember.

Make you fire. Drop the ember into the tinder nest and blow on it gently. You got yourself a fire.

I strongly suggest you practice this till it becomes second nature for you...that way when you need to do it...you can do it quickly.

Once you learn it...you can impress your girlfriend...I find girls are really impressed if you can show them how to do this.

Welcome young man...   CherokeeSlim

QuoteOnce you learn it...you can impress your girlfriend...I find girls are really impressed if you can show them how to do this.

well I am a little old for impressing girls.  But my 3 kids and my 3 grandkid are impressed, with luck my 2 great grandkids will be also if I live that long.  You can find most all the thing you need just by looking around.   But I always have a roll of fishing line for the string, as it can be used for most anything.  Fishing line is also part of my first aid kit.   

Quote from: walkstall on October 16, 2016, 07:04:02 PM
Welcome young man...   CherokeeSlim

well I am a little old for impressing girls.  But my 3 kids and my 3 grandkid are impressed, with luck my 2 great grandkids will be also if I live that long.  You can find most all the thing you need just by looking around.   But I always have a roll of fishing line for the string, as it can be used for most anything.  Fishing line is also part of my first aid kit.

thanx for the welcome and the tip about fishing line.  A good thing to have with you for sure.  I usually use my shoelaces and most out hiking would have those.

BTW how does one insert a picture on here?   I was going to put one in but I do not seem to be able to do that.

Quote from: CherokeeSlim on October 16, 2016, 07:18:20 PM


BTW how does one insert a picture on here?   I was going to put one in but I do not seem to be able to do that.

Click on this address line, you will find help there.  If You need more help let me know by P.M.  and I will walk you through it step by step.
http://conservativepoliticalforum.com/help-7/help-with-posting-pictures/

https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2008/04/bowdrilldemo.gif

https://youtu.be/F95akZGZB18?t=2

Quote from: CherokeeSlim on October 17, 2016, 11:32:59 AM


http://youtu.be/F95akZGZB18?t=2

Quote from: walkstall on October 16, 2016, 07:04:02 PM
Welcome young man...   CherokeeSlim

well I am a little old for impressing girls.  But my 3 kids and my 3 grandkid are impressed, with luck my 2 great grandkids will be also if I live that long.  You can find most all the thing you need just by looking around.   But I always have a roll of fishing line for the string, as it can be used for most anything.  Fishing line is also part of my first aid kit.

Braided Parachute Cord or braided Daycron cord is cheap, lasts a really long time, and works better than monofiliment fishing line, it doesn't slip, it's very light weight & strong, very soft, so it bends real easily.   5000' of it will set you back $10.  Yeah, almost 1 mile of it, and it comes in Black, White, Green, Lt Blue.   Even works as kite string, or pulling up HAM radio antennas... 

Quote from: Hoofer on October 23, 2016, 06:34:58 AM
Braided Parachute Cord or braided Daycron cord is cheap, lasts a really long time, and works better than monofiliment fishing line, it doesn't slip, it's very light weight & strong, very soft, so it bends real easily.   5000' of it will set you back $10.  Yeah, almost 1 mile of it, and it comes in Black, White, Green, Lt Blue.   Even works as kite string, or pulling up HAM radio antennas...

I like the sounds of that.   I could have got that back when I was 5 years old and even have some of that today.    

My grandkids enjoy flying kites.  My son is also a big kite fan, I will let him know.

Quote from: walkstall on October 23, 2016, 09:46:10 AM

I like the sounds of that.   I could have got that back when I was 5 years old and even have some of that today.    

My grandkids enjoy flying kites.  My son is also a big kite fan, I will let him know.

I just weighted a 5000' spool, 8.5lbs, around 1/16-3/32" thick.  It might be called "Nano Cord", I'll have to ask at the next HAMfest.  As far as strength, we've pulled up antennas and hung +25lb logs on the ends to keep them up in the air.  This stuff doesn't stretch hardly at all, even though it's braided.  For that fire starting "bow", the braid will keep it from slipping around the stick / rod.   If this stuff slips through your hand, it'll burn you easily, wear gloves if you're flying kites.

We cut off a couple hundred feet for our go-kits and first aid kits - used in CERT and other first responders kits, because it's CHEAP and strong.   As far as UV resistance, I've got some up outside in the Virginia sun for 1.5 years, BLACK ... if that makes a difference, I don't know.