FIRE STARTING
WHAT IS FIRE STARTING?
Fire starting is the act of making fire. Fire is necessary for any survival situation. There are many different methods in which to make fire. Below we will cover some of these methods. Fire is used is cooking, keeping warm, purifying water, bathing and so much more.
HISTORY OF FIRE STARTING
Controlled use of fire began over 1 million years ago and changed everything. With controlled fire early humans had a source of heat, protection, way to travel at night, lightening and a method of cooking (which change diets).
MATERIALS
There are a wide range of materials that can be used in starting fires. These materials include: tinder, twigs, kindling, charcloth,fungus, magnesium shavings, DIY cotton balls with petroleum jelly and countless other things. Simply research and try new things that work for you.
FIRE ECOLOGY
Fire happens in nature such as: volcanic activity, meteorites, and lightning. Humans knew what fire was long before they could ever make it. One of the first ways early humans found fire was from forest fires and lightening hits. These fires were kept going for as long as possible, by adding wood and animal fats.
METHODS OF FIRE STARTING
FRICTION
Friction fire is made by rapidly rubbing solid pieces of wood against each other. This is done until a ember is created. This type of fire starting requires skill, fitness, knowledge and the right environmental conditions. Once you have a hot ember, its added to a light tinder, adding oxygen by blowing to ignite ember.
HAND DRILL
A hand drill is the most common among indigenous cultures. It is characterized by the use a straightened wooden shaft/ reed , that is spun with the hands against a soft wooden base of a fire board ( wooden board with a carved notch to catch heated fibers created by friction). This repeated spinning and downward pressure creates a hot coal. The coal is placed in dense tinder, which is pressed against it as one blows directly onto the coal until the tinder begins burning and eventually catches into flame.
BOW DRILL
The bow drill uses friction by rotation of wood on wood, and is driven by a bow, which allows longer, easier moving and protects the palms.
PUMP DRILL
A pump drill uses a coiled rope around a cross-section of wooden to spin the shaft by pumping up and down a cross-member.
FIRE PLOUGH
The fire plough or fireplow is a piece of wood cut to a dull point, then a longer piece of wood has a groove cut down its length.
FIRE SAW
A fire-saw consist of a piece of wood with a notch in a second piece to generate friction.
FIRE THONG
A fire-thong uses a non-melting cord or wood to saw against wood creating friction.
RUDIGER ROLL
The Rudiger Roll friction fire or Fire Roll consist of a small amount of wood ash rolled up inside of cotton like a cigar. Then the cotton is then placed between two boards and rolled back and forth. Pressure and speed are increased until ignition.
PERCUSSION METHODS
FIRE STRIKER
A Fire striker starts fire when hit against hard stone such as quartz, agate or flint.
COMPRESSION OF AIR
FIRE PISTON
A fire piston ignites by rapid compression of air.
SOLAR
Sunlight concentrated through a type of lens, mirror or glass is focused into a tinder of wood.
MATCHES
Matches are wooden sticks that are coated to ignited with friction.
SPARK GENERATORS
FIRE STARTING SYSTEMS
LIGHTERS
ELECTRICAL
CHEMICAL
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NATURAL MATERIALS FOR FIRE STARTING
DRY GRASS
LEAVES
SHAVED BARK
DANDELION HEAD
BIRCH BARK
CATTAIL FLUFF
DRY CATTAIL LEAVES
DRY PINE NEEDLES
FAT WOOD
TINDER FUNGUS
PUNK WOOD
PINE CONES
