Hand Drill Friction Fire Starting Ignition Floating Method

[Naoocotzo]

I'm reading a survival book and tried this method couldn't get it to work. The Hearth-Board I used was a cut in half log from my woods. I want to know two things really.

How would you get such a smooth stick like getting out the knots and sanding it from items from the wild.

Also how can you make a really smooth Hearth-board from the wild. I'm trying to go completely natural in case I'm in a situation in my future job doing field research as a fish and game biologist. If I can get the job...

[loosanarrow]

"log in the woods" - only specific combinations of base/spindle will work, but I have found something like twenty different species that will work in various combinations. Fro learning, I recommend one of the proven "easy" combinations like mullein stalk spindle on pawpaw or white cedar base. Once you get it down, try new combos.

I just use a flint flake or the pocket knife you see here for shaping the base from a small branch or sapling. Put it in the sun for a day after shaping to dry.

[Naoocotzo]

Thx a lot

[Thedoctor19000]

@loosanarrow: Where can you locate a flint core? I have been having difficulty in such a pursuit. Even tried looking how to online, without any useful results.

[WhichDoctor1]

Naoocotzo - I would just like to say that if its the first time you've tried anything like this you mite wont to give the bowdrill method a try first. I can make fire with a bowdrill but I'm still having real trouble getting the hand drill to work. There are lots of bowdrill vids on here to check out.

loosanarrow- Respect man :-). I think the floating hand method is just the most elegant way imaginable to start a fire.

[5tonyvvvv]

@Naoocotzo dont use any pine..try to find good dry hardwoods.catail,yucca.hickory­.willow,,all work well

[chargerSRTHIMI]

I tried this many times but I failed :( . could you please tell me what type of wood did you use for starting a fire?

[loosanarrow]

Read the info under "more info"

[chargerSRTHIMI]

thanx

[mingthecat]

actinomeris alternifolia

[mingthecat]

I have great success with pawpaw and wingstem - similar to the jerusalem artichoke you are using. Where are you?

[loosanarrow]

I am in a cofffee shop... Oh, you must mean what geographic region? Upper Wabash watershed/Great Lakes area. Do you have the latin name for wingstem? I can think of a few plants that would match description around here, from herbacious to woody. Lots of materials work for both base and spindle, but only certain combinations in my experience.

[blacksmithju]

Well done