Fire bet!

[Clint]

So, I really enjoy the survival shows, and always fascinated by the methods used to create fire from nature. I've always wondered if I could do so if necessary, and now I will find out!

My wife and daughter and I are going camping in a few weeks. As we were creating the seemingly endless list of gear to bring and/or buy, I put down "lighter/matches". Then I thought, huh....here's a chance to see if I can create fire a la caveman.

So to make it more interesting (and create some additional motivation) I bet my wife $100 that I could do it. :stretchgr

Here are the ground rules...

1 I can ONLY use items found in nature....Nothing man made is allowed.
2 There is no time limit

So, methinks the bow method would work the best....Any thoughts?

 

[Hoshneer]

What are you going to use for the bow string that is not man made? If that doesn't work the only natural way would be friction I think.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[jpasser4]

What are you going to use for the bow string that is not man made? If that doesn't work the only natural way would be friction I think.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Was wondering the same thing? You could try to find a flint rock to create sparks, but you better have a big tinder pile!!

 

[daniyal]

sounds like you made a proposition bet my friend.. no man made stipulation will get you, unless its really really hot and you have a lot of dry leaves/tinder around. You may want to pull out some lint from the dryer to use as a starter and its technically not man made.

 

[MoJo]

Well it is not in the rules that you can't bring something from nature with you to use....maybe bring some really dry grass with you and practice at home before you go, if you get it working at home bring the nature tools you used at home with you I'm sure there are some good vids on you tube that will show you how to do it

 

[jmartins]

Clint I am an avid outdoorsmen and I can help you out here.
The bow method is tough because string is man made. If it is an item on you your shoelace will work perfectly.

There is another method that you can use which is very similar. Find a large flat piece of wood and cut a "V" slot into it. Use whatever tinder you can find that is very very dry place it inside that V cut. Now use a stick and rub the end of it about 5 inches from the V to the V. This will create heat and the necessary friction to ignite the fire. This is a very long process which can take roughly an hour to get done. Once it begins to smoke this is when you blow very lightly on it to get it to ignite. Remember though you need alot of tinder to be able to get this done.

If you have any questions just shoot me a quick IM and I can help you out. Cheers

 

[strife]

You can find a piece of vine and smash the crap out of it until it becomes pliable much like the way hemp is made into rope. Here's a link to a tutorial, the guy made his string from flax.

http://www.primitiveways.com/pt-bowfire.html

 

[daniyal]

This may help http://artofmanliness.com/2008/04/29/9-ways-to-start-a-fire-without-matches/

 

[Clint]

What are you going to use for the bow string that is not man made? If that doesn't work the only natural way would be friction I think.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

The idea would be to create the friction by using the bow method....Creating the cordage would be a huge challenge! my thought would be finding palm tree frowns, pliable bark from a sapling, or whatever I can find to weave into cordage.

 

[Clint]

Clint I am an avid outdoorsmen and I can help you out here.
The bow method is tough because string is man made. If it is an item on you your shoelace will work perfectly.

There is another method that you can use which is very similar. Find a large flat piece of wood and cut a "V" slot into it. Use whatever tinder you can find that is very very dry place it inside that V cut. Now use a stick and rub the end of it about 5 inches from the V to the V. This will create heat and the necessary friction to ignite the fire. This is a very long process which can take roughly an hour to get done. Once it begins to smoke this is when you blow very lightly on it to get it to ignite. Remember though you need alot of tinder to be able to get this done.

If you have any questions just shoot me a quick IM and I can help you out. Cheers

Thanks so much!
Can't use a shoelace, though....Not allowed according to rule #1

 

[strife]

Clint I am an avid outdoorsmen and I can help you out here.
The bow method is tough because string is man made. If it is an item on you your shoelace will work perfectly.

There is another method that you can use which is very similar. Find a large flat piece of wood and cut a "V" slot into it. Use whatever tinder you can find that is very very dry place it inside that V cut. Now use a stick and rub the end of it about 5 inches from the V to the V. This will create heat and the necessary friction to ignite the fire. This is a very long process which can take roughly an hour to get done. Once it begins to smoke this is when you blow very lightly on it to get it to ignite. Remember though you need alot of tinder to be able to get this done.

If you have any questions just shoot me a quick IM and I can help you out. Cheers

Thanks so much!
Can't use a shoelace, though....Not allowed according to rule #1

Seriously, don't you read replies? :stickbeat :stretchgr

 

[Clint]

Clint I am an avid outdoorsmen and I can help you out here.
The bow method is tough because string is man made. If it is an item on you your shoelace will work perfectly.

There is another method that you can use which is very similar. Find a large flat piece of wood and cut a "V" slot into it. Use whatever tinder you can find that is very very dry place it inside that V cut. Now use a stick and rub the end of it about 5 inches from the V to the V. This will create heat and the necessary friction to ignite the fire. This is a very long process which can take roughly an hour to get done. Once it begins to smoke this is when you blow very lightly on it to get it to ignite. Remember though you need alot of tinder to be able to get this done.

If you have any questions just shoot me a quick IM and I can help you out. Cheers

Thanks so much!
Can't use a shoelace, though....Not allowed according to rule #1

Seriously, don't you read replies? :stickbeat :stretchgr

Eh? Me?

Yes, the suggestion is great, hence the "Thanks so much!" part!

...Don't YOU read replies?! eckkiss:

 

[mdwest]

you dont need a bow... you can go the hand drill route....

just be prepared to work at this for a LONG time if you dont have very dry tinder and dont know what you are doing.. LONG as in your hands are going to bleed....

primitive fire is the absolute most challenging survival skill for most people.. and it takes a whole lot more patience and time than most people think....

this guy gives a pretty good explanation on how to do it, and gives a quick demo... dont expect it to be quite as easy for you... he is in practice

[video=youtube_share;CF9GiK_T4PA]http://youtu.be/CF9GiK_T4PA[/video]

 

[Jfire]

Bow string method FTW. It creates the fastest friction rate( Rpms) over other methods. If u have a dry "birds nest" you'll have it a couple of mins after starting the friction process. If its damp good luck.

 

[Jfire]

Btw why at least not a knife to be used? Any outdoorsmen worth a lick doesn't go into the woods with out a trusty knife..... This to me wouldn't be cheating.

 

[jmartins]

Clint I am an avid outdoorsmen and I can help you out here.
The bow method is tough because string is man made. If it is an item on you your shoelace will work perfectly.

There is another method that you can use which is very similar. Find a large flat piece of wood and cut a "V" slot into it. Use whatever tinder you can find that is very very dry place it inside that V cut. Now use a stick and rub the end of it about 5 inches from the V to the V. This will create heat and the necessary friction to ignite the fire. This is a very long process which can take roughly an hour to get done. Once it begins to smoke this is when you blow very lightly on it to get it to ignite. Remember though you need alot of tinder to be able to get this done.

If you have any questions just shoot me a quick IM and I can help you out. Cheers

Thanks so much!
Can't use a shoelace, though....Not allowed according to rule #1

Seriously, don't you read replies? :stickbeat :stretchgr

Eh? Me?

Yes, the suggestion is great, hence the "Thanks so much!" part!

...Don't YOU read replies?! eckkiss:

I think you missed what I meant. Don't use a shoelace use the V method. It's all man made.

 

[Clint]

Yes, the v method is a great suggestion and fits within the rules. The 'thanks so much' was referring to that suggestion.

I think my next move is a bit of research on what plants and trees are indigenous to the campsite, since certain woods are much better to use than others.

 

[Clint]

Btw why at least not a knife to be used? Any outdoorsmen worth a lick doesn't go into the woods with out a trusty knife..... This to me wouldn't be cheating.

Very good point...I do have a few great knives, but I don't think I can use one based on the rules....Using a knife or any other man made object would not be allowed.

...This is going to be a freakin' challenge for sure!

 

[strife]

I think my next move is a bit of research on what plants and trees are indigenous to the campsite, since certain woods are much better to use than others.

Hemp, if it doesn't help with the fire at least you can smoke it. If you had fire. :smokingbo

 

[MoJo]

Keep us posted if you win the bet or not