A Punk Friction Fire Experiment

[Mistwalker]

It was a nice day today, the thermometer at the bank said it was 82F at 12:45 pm today, it's been a while since it was that "cool" at that time of the day. I had a theory I have been wanting to test and therefor an experiment I had been wanting to try. So this evening I headed off to the woods for a bit in search of a large leaf and some punk. Punk is something that is almost always in great supply in the woods here.

I saw a few other things along the way but I was limited in photos by the small memory card in my little p&s as the 4 gig is now in the SLR and I haven't bothered to pick up another larger one yet. The large leaf I found was a muscadine leaf, and I noted, looking at a smaller vine, that muscadines don't seem to be such great judges of tree heights.

I'm really not quite sure what this is, I've seen a few here and there but never many in one spot.

The only mushroom I saw today.

The trees seem to be under assault from multiple attackers

Then I found the punk I was looking for, time for the experiment.

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[Mistwalker]

The first step was to burn the spindle into the new hearth-board I had made and cut the notch.

The next step was to get a coal.

the forth step...of which I didn't take time to snap the picture...was to transfer the coal to the punk and try the punk as an extender/tinder. Then the next step was to blow the coaling punk into a larger coal and use that heat to ignite smaller twigs. This shot was taken as I was blowing the coaling punk into a large hot ember.

And the experiment was a success.

I'll have to put this to use more later this year as it cools off more. Friction fire is really neat,you really don't need a fire to stay warm...I'm thinking just multiple attempts alone would keep a body warm


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[kgd]

Hi Mist, I was able to get really dry and spongy punk wood to both act as a coal extender and to fan it into flames, but it does take the right kind of punk to do that. So far, I've never had success getting a coal using purple heartwood like you are using there. Is it cedar? Cool, I can imagine it was a bit of huffing and puffing. Final note, humidity of summer makes friction fire sometimes pretty unpredictable. A few times I've had a heck of a lot more difficulty getting an ember on woods that should have been easy. Usually its those armpit wet humid days that foul me up.

 

[Mistwalker]

Hi Mist, I was able to get really dry and spongy punk wood to both act as a coal extender and to fan it into flames, but it does take the right kind of punk to do that. So far, I've never had success getting a coal using purple heartwood like you are using there. Is it cedar? Cool, I can imagine it was a bit of huffing and puffing. Final note, humidity of summer makes friction fire sometimes pretty unpredictable. A few times I've had a heck of a lot more difficulty getting an ember on woods that should have been easy. Usually its those armpit wet humid days that foul me up.

Hi Ken. Yeah, that Cedar is some pretty old stuff and it definitely does take a bit of work but with determination I've usually managed it. I'm told (lol by you and a few others) that I'll like the Basswood and cottonwood a lot better and I keep meaning to go harvest some in another area where I have seen both but I haven't been back there in a while and haven't run across any in other places yet. I do have some Poplar I am going to try next and see how it does. The humidity wasn't near as bad today as it has been and that Cedar hearth has been in the house for several days. I have been told to try a Cedar root section and I am going to if I ever run across a downed Cedar. I don't want to go buy any wood for this I want to always practice with types of woods I know I can find in the woods here.

 

[TheGame]

Sounds like a cool little experiment. The more I see friction fire the more I really want to practice it. It may not be the most reliable, but it is definitely one of those skills you would want to have. :thumbup:

 

[kgd]

Sounds like a cool little experiment. The more I see friction fire the more I really want to practice it. It may not be the most reliable, but it is definitely one of those skills you would want to have. :thumbup:

Its like masterbation - shunned by many, but universally enjoyed once one has achieved success!

 

[j williams]

Thats awesome Mist. Great pics.

Your diggin the Fiddleback arent ya?? Looks like its seen some use.

 

[Mistwalker]

Sounds like a cool little experiment. The more I see friction fire the more I really want to practice it. It may not be the most reliable, but it is definitely one of those skills you would want to have. :thumbup:

It may not be the most reliable compared to modern methods...but in a lot of areas it's the most reliable starting with nothing but a cutting edge...and some here can do it starting with nothing at all...

Its like masterbation - shunned by many, but universally enjoyed once one has achieved success!

Yep...much like masterbation...once you've achieve success you find yourself thinking about it a lot

Thats awesome Mist. Great pics.

Your diggin the Fiddleback arent ya?? Looks like its seen some use.

Thanks J, yep I'm diggin' it a lot. I guess you can tell it's not so shiny and new lookin' anymore

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[Doc13]

Hey Mist, thanks for sharing, great post as usual:thumbup:

And I had to requote this ...

Its like masterbation - shunned by many, but universally enjoyed once one has achieved success!

I'm thinking of adding it to my signature!!!

 

[Mistwalker]

Hey Mist, thanks for sharing, great post as usual:thumbup:

And I had to requote this ...


I'm thinking of adding it to my signature!!!

Hi Doc, thanks glad you enjoyed it!

I had a feeling the first time I read that sentence that someone might use it in their sig line lol.

 

[Fiddleback]

Man, thats cool. I'm embarassed to say I've never tried to achieve a friction fire. I've had success with flint and steel a few times, and continue to practice that. Neat to see the knife. I love the way 01 ages. Now that its patina'd, its basically maintainance free. Nice post!

 

[Mr. Night]

great post, thanks for sharing!

 

[HikingMano]

Good stuff Brian :thumbup:

 

[Mistwalker]

Man, thats cool. I'm embarassed to say I've never tried to achieve a friction fire. I've had success with flint and steel a few times, and continue to practice that. Neat to see the knife. I love the way 01 ages. Now that its patina'd, its basically maintainance free. Nice post!

Thanks Bro, glad you enjoyed the post. Nothing to be embarrassed about...hell I only recently became re-interested in the subject after years of using modern fire lighting means. You're a step ahead of me as I have lots of flint and a few old files laying around but I have yet to seriously experiment with flint and steel. I am studying Flint and steel and the hand drill both at the moment.

The knife is really sweet, I love how it handles and it is aging very well. I too love the way O1 ages and gets that "weathered" look.

great post, thanks for sharing!

Thank you, I am glad you like the thread!

Good stuff Brian :thumbup:

Thanks Russell, I'm glad you enjoyed it

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[wildmike]

Great thread Mist!!! Thanks for sharing.

Ever notice how normies look at folks like us like were some kinda sick pyros when out practicing fire starting skills.

 

[Don M]

The patina on that blade really adds character. It looks very nice. Did you do anything unusual to get that patina, or is that just from normal use? What steel is it?

 

[Pritch]

Punk Friction!

 

[Mistwalker]

Great thread Mist!!! Thanks for sharing.

Ever notice how normies look at folks like us like were some kinda sick pyros when out practicing fire starting skills.

Thanks Mike, glad you enjoyed it!

Yeah, but I haven't experienced that in a while. I'm fortunate enough to live in a place where I can get miles off of the trail and spend the whole weekend entirely alone if I like.

The patina on that blade really adds character. It looks very nice. Did you do anything unusual to get that patina, or is that just from normal use? What steel is it?

It's O1 tool steel and that's just the naturally occurring patina from use and food prep. I haven't done anything to force the patina on this one.

Punk Friction!

Well...waaaaay off topic lol, but I love that movie :thumbup:

Reminds me I haven't seen it in a while. I wonder if it is on the internet view list on Netflix?


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