When I tried this the ice was slightly foggy but be the time I was done the ice had become crystal clear. I dont know why. The best I could get in an hour or so was a 8 inch dia and a nickel dia star shape. Wish I had a lathe out on the ice fishing trip to help me shape it better.
@x2malandy I got a kick out of you torching your friends neck. The lens really does function if you get it right. I had sort of a starburst shaped concentration form my lens as well. I have read that the too you want is a short section of pipe to carve a perfect sphere. That's what ice sculptors use.
I think the issue was the material was to light in color, therefor reflected the beam, If you could find materials darker i think it would work,, but i agree, there are much better methods then ice lol,, every survival kit should have a flint kit, but if your without everything friction will be your best chance, just takes some good prep and a bit of elbow grease. still that was entertaining,,thanks
We were shown this during an survival class on Kodiak Alaska.. after it was done.. the guy laughed.. and said.. "or you can just do this.."...
He proceeded to take his glasses off and incinerate the tinder. We all had a great laugh. I thought of that when I saw him doing all of this while wearing a pair of glasses.
Ah.. very true.. I also think his were bifocals. After he showed the ice trick, he then showed off several other ready made items that could be used. Ocular lens from a pair of binoculars was also a common one. If any do this though, be aware.. binoculars are usually filled with nitrogen. If you open them to make a fire with one of the lenses you may find that they will fog up after that... so it's kind of an emergency thing.
@PaleHearse Like I said in this series the best use for my time and resources would have been to make a bow drill. I did have seasoned cedar in the forest and could have used the same knife for that. Making fire with ice is possible but too many conditions have to come together to make it viable. It is fun though to pull it off.
Understood... and yes very fun to see you pull it off. I get strange looks when I tell folks about seeing it done.. like it should be on mythbusters or something.
Good job! As a kid growing up in west Texas I found that with any lens, you can get the best burn by using a dark material. Newspaper with black background worked best. That may have been the main factor with your charcloth and the tinder fungus: they were black. Your tinder bundle was much lighter.
With all respect, making a fire this way (and especially without couple of things needed for it and plenty of time) doesn't work 999 times out of 1000. But when it does, it is an exciting event, no doubt. Camping on snow and fire making is the most demanding outdoor discipline and very useful too. Thanks for the upload.
@SvrchovaneCechy I don't know if you watched the first video about making the lens. I talked alot about the limitations of the whole concept. Making the lens was not that difficult and once made it was very easy to use. The problem is that you have to have perfect, ice, tinder, and weather conditions to make it happen. Like I said in the 1st video, "more of a gimmick than a tactic".
That's great, real survival skills means improvising, But in my compass there's always a magnification lens. Evderybody should think on it before purchasing a common compass
@newhuskytwenty This was an experiment. When I go out in the winter I carry a Bic and a Trixoene bar in addition to a fire steel and treated cotton tinder. I have actually had to use that Trioxene bar to save my life so its not a lesson I'll forget easily.
@Colhane You know? I already made this. I took the idea from a survival book writen by a german, Rudiger Nehberg. I used an old plastic plate that I filled up with water and let it freeze, then molded the lens with my hands. Looking for a "natural" piece of ice is even more realistic.
True, it was hard to film it by myself with the camera propped up on a stick. I was surprised to get a coal that fast in the charcloth. The lens made sort of a starburst pattern of light rather than a tighly focused single point. It was very hard to film and do at the same time and really capture the exact moment. It was the same coal and I only used things I had collected in the forest as the tinder ball.
Even with the charcloth that was probably the most amazing thing I have seen relating survival. I was able to tell by your reaction that even you were suprised it worked
Great job! I have to agree that char cloth is the best. Although we have Oldmans beard from spruce trees which takes a spark just as well also. The next best thing here in the north, Since we have very little birch.
While the result of the test itself were only partially conclusive, the main success of this experiment will come from the dispersion of the knowledge you have imparted on people. Out of this one trial that partially worked, there is countless amounts of attempts that will achieve success. I still think it was cool that the charcoal lit. I am from Quebec, and was the third time have seen this done. The other ice lens i saw befor were about 3 times the size though. Good job. Mike, London,On.
Mike, Thanks for the comments. I am positive that this lens would have lit true tinder fungus easily, it actually lights quicker than char cloth. Here in PA the correct conditions are pretty rare for making this method work. I'm sure Quebec is a much better place to use the ice lens. A sphere is a very aggressive lens and can be made quite small.
We ask too much of ourselves. If we are realistic to be genuine you need to be naked & walk with nothing in our hands. You have just gotten another tool for your bag of tricks. Now someplaces one can go naked but they don't have snow banks & ice balls don't matter there either.
Winter's sun is not very strong so I'm not surprised you couldn't get it going on natural materials. I think it is really cool though that you got it going on char cloth. This may be one of my favorite videos as I know I have to try this too. Thanks!
The problem with the natural materials was that I couldn't see where the beam was focusing. The imperfect lens didn't create one tightly focused beam but rather a "majority opinion" on where the light should be bent. I think the sun was bright enough but I needed a bigger lens.
Great stuff, but it would have been nice if you found a natural tinder for the lens, try Amado horse hoof fungus or cramp balls. In the UK they grow on Birch or sycamore. You can improve the ignition qualities of the grass by smudging black chared wood from a previous fire so as to darken the grass helping to absorb heat. Also punky wood would easily light with your lens. Great stuff though.
You showed what was possible. That is to say that it is not impossible to light the natural tinder... the conditions just weren't right on that given day.
When I tried this the ice was slightly foggy but be the time I was done the ice had become crystal clear. I dont know why. The best I could get in an hour or so was a 8 inch dia and a nickel dia star shape. Wish I had a lathe out on the ice fishing trip to help me shape it better.
x2malandy 4 weeks ago
@x2malandy I got a kick out of you torching your friends neck. The lens really does function if you get it right. I had sort of a starburst shaped concentration form my lens as well. I have read that the too you want is a short section of pipe to carve a perfect sphere. That's what ice sculptors use.
Colhane 4 weeks ago
good job!
MatchlessFire 2 months ago
this is the only advantage with smoking
lislaneal 6 months ago
This is THEE only video on YT showing how to make fire with ice! Awesome Mac!
giutoniolo 11 months ago
I think the issue was the material was to light in color, therefor reflected the beam, If you could find materials darker i think it would work,, but i agree, there are much better methods then ice lol,, every survival kit should have a flint kit, but if your without everything friction will be your best chance, just takes some good prep and a bit of elbow grease. still that was entertaining,,thanks
PaulRevere1959 1 year ago
We were shown this during an survival class on Kodiak Alaska.. after it was done.. the guy laughed.. and said.. "or you can just do this.."...
He proceeded to take his glasses off and incinerate the tinder. We all had a great laugh. I thought of that when I saw him doing all of this while wearing a pair of glasses.
Great fun! Thanks for the video.
PaleHearse 1 year ago
@PaleHearse That depends on the glasses. If you are far-sighted they will work to make fire. My glasses don't work.
Colhane 1 year ago
@Colhane
Ah.. very true.. I also think his were bifocals. After he showed the ice trick, he then showed off several other ready made items that could be used. Ocular lens from a pair of binoculars was also a common one. If any do this though, be aware.. binoculars are usually filled with nitrogen. If you open them to make a fire with one of the lenses you may find that they will fog up after that... so it's kind of an emergency thing.
PaleHearse 1 year ago
@PaleHearse Like I said in this series the best use for my time and resources would have been to make a bow drill. I did have seasoned cedar in the forest and could have used the same knife for that. Making fire with ice is possible but too many conditions have to come together to make it viable. It is fun though to pull it off.
Colhane 1 year ago
@Colhane
Understood... and yes very fun to see you pull it off. I get strange looks when I tell folks about seeing it done.. like it should be on mythbusters or something.
PaleHearse 1 year ago
Good job! As a kid growing up in west Texas I found that with any lens, you can get the best burn by using a dark material. Newspaper with black background worked best. That may have been the main factor with your charcloth and the tinder fungus: they were black. Your tinder bundle was much lighter.
Jimbeaux1111 1 year ago
With all respect, making a fire this way (and especially without couple of things needed for it and plenty of time) doesn't work 999 times out of 1000. But when it does, it is an exciting event, no doubt. Camping on snow and fire making is the most demanding outdoor discipline and very useful too. Thanks for the upload.
SvrchovaneCechy 1 year ago
@SvrchovaneCechy I don't know if you watched the first video about making the lens. I talked alot about the limitations of the whole concept. Making the lens was not that difficult and once made it was very easy to use. The problem is that you have to have perfect, ice, tinder, and weather conditions to make it happen. Like I said in the 1st video, "more of a gimmick than a tactic".
Colhane 1 year ago
That's great, real survival skills means improvising, But in my compass there's always a magnification lens. Evderybody should think on it before purchasing a common compass
newhuskytwenty 1 year ago
@newhuskytwenty This was an experiment. When I go out in the winter I carry a Bic and a Trixoene bar in addition to a fire steel and treated cotton tinder. I have actually had to use that Trioxene bar to save my life so its not a lesson I'll forget easily.
Colhane 1 year ago
@Colhane You know? I already made this. I took the idea from a survival book writen by a german, Rudiger Nehberg. I used an old plastic plate that I filled up with water and let it freeze, then molded the lens with my hands. Looking for a "natural" piece of ice is even more realistic.
newhuskytwenty 1 year ago
WOW====== not you made a lens that melts in room temperature how are you supposed to burn your couch from the window
islandfireballkill 1 year ago
@islandfireballkill you'd have to drag the couch outside, but it's do-able.
Colhane 1 year ago
How do you make an ice ball?
aguswidjaja 1 year ago
@aguswidjaja
I cover that in the video "Making an Ice Lens". I did this series to prove it can be done with natural ice and only a Swiss Army knife.
Colhane 1 year ago
@Colhane Thanks. I'll check it out.
aguswidjaja 1 year ago
i believe it, but you can't see that it was the same coal
plokjedan2 1 year ago
@plokjedan2
True, it was hard to film it by myself with the camera propped up on a stick. I was surprised to get a coal that fast in the charcloth. The lens made sort of a starburst pattern of light rather than a tighly focused single point. It was very hard to film and do at the same time and really capture the exact moment. It was the same coal and I only used things I had collected in the forest as the tinder ball.
Colhane 1 year ago
@Colhane than it was verry cool!!!!!!!!!!!!
plokjedan2 1 year ago
Absolutely awesome, first time I have seen anyone do this on camera. Well Done! 5*
PackRat556 2 years ago
bad bad sorry very boring for mi
fre4545 2 years ago
That was great, thanks for that, it's the first time i've seen it,,,
woodminder 2 years ago
That's one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. How did you learn to do that??? Crazy, man. Thank you for the knowledge.
simpleman2423 2 years ago
cuck norris so tough he just looks at the grass and it starts on fire :D
haloCE6 2 years ago
Great video serie!! amazing.. just amazing!! cool that a cold thing as ice can light a fire:) 5/5
bushmag 2 years ago
I'll say it worked, it counts. It causes heat, heat causes fire. Simple as that, very interesting and good videos.
coyote7272 2 years ago
Ha! Simply outstanding. That's the first time I've seen that principle utilized, especially with any success! Bravo.
SpookyPistolero 2 years ago
Even with the charcloth that was probably the most amazing thing I have seen relating survival. I was able to tell by your reaction that even you were suprised it worked
HanzoHK 2 years ago
That was COOL!!!!!!!!!
tim3jones 2 years ago
I had a great time doing this video and was really surprised it worked as well as it did.
Colhane 2 years ago
Yes it worked great video!!!!!!!!!!!
tim3jones 2 years ago
The refractive property of ice is not the same as glass, you need a very aggressive lens to get a short focal length.
Colhane 2 years ago
Best of the best right here. Thank you sir and I respect what you do. Conrats on sucess.
SurvivalWithBushcraft
SurvivalWithBushcraf 2 years ago
I respect you.
messuh14 2 years ago
Great job! I have to agree that char cloth is the best. Although we have Oldmans beard from spruce trees which takes a spark just as well also. The next best thing here in the north, Since we have very little birch.
Ggreenvideos 2 years ago
That was F'n COOL!
btjohnson83 2 years ago 3
I think this was a great success and a great video. Had you had some thisel I bet it would have been fire galore. Thanks.
wolfinside 2 years ago
While the result of the test itself were only partially conclusive, the main success of this experiment will come from the dispersion of the knowledge you have imparted on people. Out of this one trial that partially worked, there is countless amounts of attempts that will achieve success. I still think it was cool that the charcoal lit. I am from Quebec, and was the third time have seen this done. The other ice lens i saw befor were about 3 times the size though. Good job. Mike, London,On.
msamour 2 years ago
Mike, Thanks for the comments. I am positive that this lens would have lit true tinder fungus easily, it actually lights quicker than char cloth. Here in PA the correct conditions are pretty rare for making this method work. I'm sure Quebec is a much better place to use the ice lens. A sphere is a very aggressive lens and can be made quite small.
Colhane 2 years ago
Well done! Loved it.
TickleExpress 3 years ago
Absolutely INCREDIBLE! (*****)
Well done, sir - well done indeed!
~Kasp£arf☼
KASPLARFO 3 years ago
first time i have seen this done. absolutely incredible! Great video.
AlexxMcGraw 3 years ago
You and me both!
Colhane 3 years ago
Wow mac, that was great!
jeepzillajoe 3 years ago
We ask too much of ourselves. If we are realistic to be genuine you need to be naked & walk with nothing in our hands. You have just gotten another tool for your bag of tricks. Now someplaces one can go naked but they don't have snow banks & ice balls don't matter there either.
Tossdart 3 years ago
I have heard of this before but have not seen it done til now. Great video.
desertsnoopers 3 years ago
That was one of the coolest thing I have ever seen!!!
ED
wildlifeed 3 years ago
Great video Pict! That is the first time I have seen that.
faolbushcraft 3 years ago
brilliant idea! i am gonna try that soon
fortwildmember 3 years ago
Winter's sun is not very strong so I'm not surprised you couldn't get it going on natural materials. I think it is really cool though that you got it going on char cloth. This may be one of my favorite videos as I know I have to try this too. Thanks!
SwampShuck 3 years ago
The problem with the natural materials was that I couldn't see where the beam was focusing. The imperfect lens didn't create one tightly focused beam but rather a "majority opinion" on where the light should be bent. I think the sun was bright enough but I needed a bigger lens.
Colhane 3 years ago
dude...that's awesome
WongKonPow 3 years ago
I think its more then a fair test, that was amazing
Valk9Dyson 3 years ago
nice demonstration
4ancientarts 3 years ago
Yay! well done! you sound very chuffed I would be too. I honestly didn't think it would work either.
RedheadCobweb 3 years ago
super
capreolus4 3 years ago
Great stuff, but it would have been nice if you found a natural tinder for the lens, try Amado horse hoof fungus or cramp balls. In the UK they grow on Birch or sycamore. You can improve the ignition qualities of the grass by smudging black chared wood from a previous fire so as to darken the grass helping to absorb heat. Also punky wood would easily light with your lens. Great stuff though.
bushman11865 3 years ago
You showed what was possible. That is to say that it is not impossible to light the natural tinder... the conditions just weren't right on that given day.
Excellent! ... success!.... 5/5
Ed
CATmover1 3 years ago
Brilliant Series.
You did succeed in showing the limitations of an ice lens. Kudos!
FriarTuck1961 3 years ago
I'm happy that you succeeded.
vstoprohva 3 years ago
That was good. except when you almost lit your hands on fire though. lol. Great vids
improllyfingrbording 3 years ago
great video! i'll have to try this. ive seen it bud never tried
THREEFLOORSDOWN1 3 years ago
It was a good test and you did very well.
rikuk3 3 years ago
cool vid 5 stars cant wait till it gets warm out to do some camping!!
blowgunking1994 3 years ago