Fire starting with fire bow, etc...

A

AWGunS

Joined
Sep 16, 2006
Messages
616
I picked up the book 'SAS Survival Handbook'. I have been reading and rereading it now for about 3 weeks. I have a couple questions on firestarting techniques.

The book talks about the firebow, hand drill, and the plough technique. I am sure some of you have tried these techniques, or maybe even use them on a regular basis! So I am curious about your experience with these tricks.

All of them look difficult, as it seems it is highly dependent on the quality of wood. Also seems its pretty demanding physically. True?

Out of the three, which one have you had the best luck with? The bow seems like it would work the best. But I am a newbie.

Any tricks that you gentleman, or women, have come up with these techniques?

Smith
 
The fireplow, in my experiance at least, is climate dependant. I have yet to find anyone who has been able to do it here(costal BC).

I am a big supporter of the bow drill, with good quality wood almost anyone can do it, I learned in school in grade 10 and almost everybody could do it, cedar is pretty abundant in my neck of the woods. Even with poor quality matiriels you can do it once you have some practice. I've seen alot of people fail at it due to useing nylon or other slippery/elastic cords, I like cotton or hemp. In my experiance the hand drill cannot compete for speed but is do-able with enough patience and good wood.
 
I would hope if I were ever in a situation, I would have a firesteel handy, or matches, etc. If not though, I would like to be able to come up wioth something else.

The pump drill looks interesting, but as you said, its not as simple to construct as the bow. But it certainly looks more efficient.

I wonder what my neighbors would think if i started practicing firemaking skills in my garage? All of this is very interesting. Just wished my Boy Scout troop made an effort to teach this back in the day.

Smith
 
if your looking to have some fun starting fires old school style i suggest some flint or pyrite, steel striker & your choice of tinder :) takes some practice but you wont work up a sweat or get blisters :D :thumbup:
 
Wow I've never seen a pump drill before, that looks awesome, I'll have to try that.
 
Jaiofspam said:
if your looking to have some fun starting fires old school style i suggest some flint or pyrite, steel striker & your choice of tinder :) takes some practice but you wont work up a sweat or get blisters :D :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I agree. I've started a couple with my flint and steel now. Its as primitive as I've practiced, and its really not too hard to get at all.
 
The key to friction fire is finding the proper wood. I've had great luch with ash, cottonwood, willow and mulefat (AKA seep willow). You want a decent medium density wood, without resin.
 
I thought about it today, and i could probably whip one up fairly easily in a saturday afternoon. More I thought about it, the more fun it sounded! Now all i need is an aftenoon......:grumpy:
 
If you're carrying flint and steel, you may as well have a bic or a zippo, no? The point I think being that you just lost that stuff in the river...

I would say practice in controlled conditions to improve your chances when you need the skills, then you'll also recognize good candidates around you for a bow branch, spindle and cord, palm rock/knot, notch board, and tinder.
I'm still learning myself...

(my $.02)

.............................

DSC00914.JPG




http://www.primitiveways.com/pt-bowfire.html
 
AWGunS said:
I picked up the book 'SAS Survival Handbook'. I have been reading and rereading it now for about 3 weeks. I have a couple questions on firestarting techniques.

The book talks about the firebow, hand drill, and the plough technique. I am sure some of you have tried these techniques, or maybe even use them on a regular basis! So I am curious about your experience with these tricks.

All of them look difficult, as it seems it is highly dependent on the quality of wood. Also seems its pretty demanding physically. True?

Out of the three, which one have you had the best luck with? The bow seems like it would work the best. But I am a newbie.

Any tricks that you gentleman, or women, have come up with these techniques?

Smith
Click to expand...


The bow drill is the easiest of the three to master. It is by far the most reliable and in northern climates the easiest to collect materials.

However, as the others mentioned carry several man made methods of fire making.
 
ells said:
If you're carrying flint and steel, you may as well have a bic or a zippo, no? The point I think being that you just lost that stuff in the river...

I would say practice in controlled conditions to improve your chances when you need the skills, then you'll also recognize good candidates around you for a bow branch, spindle and cord, palm rock/knot, notch board, and tinder.
I'm still learning myself...

(my $.02)

.............................

[MG]http://www.spiritinthewind.com/DSC00914.JPG[/IMG]



http://www.primitiveways.com/pt-bowfire.html
Click to expand...

I could really use some help on this. I did some practicing this weekend. I could get mass amounts of smoke but I never could get a real good ember. I mean I spent 3-4 hours 2 different times this weekend.

edit: I checked out that link. I might try a leaf under it to catch the embers but it seems most of what falls through is dust.
 
Hah. Bear Grills. I watch the show, i admit it, but i know its staged, and just as much for entertainment as for education.

As for the bow drill thing, ive done it, but it takes a LONG time to get up the friction, and it requires something sharp (a rock or a knife or something) to start the hole that the rotating stick goes into. I honestly prefer carrying around a magnesium and flint bar, as it will fit in your pocket, and starts a fire relatively fast. Not to mention, after hiking for a while, or doing something physically straining enough to get you lost to the point where you have to stay the night, spending an hour using a bow drill isnt going to be my first choice.
 
I was also rereading it on the weekend, and realized that for the firebow they recommend a soft wood base board, and a hard wood drill, while it is opposite for the hand drill. Is this a typo? Can someone that either read the book or tried it before elaborate on this?
 
I wouldnt think it was. The Greater the difference in density between the two, the more wood would get rubbed off. Seeing as you dont want your drill to wear down, the board is the only thing that should be soft. Perhaps im wrong, just seems to make sense.
 
JReilly said:
I wouldnt think it was. The Greater the difference in density between the two, the more wood would get rubbed off. Seeing as you dont want your drill to wear down, the board is the only thing that should be soft. Perhaps im wrong, just seems to make sense.
Click to expand...

I'll tell ya the problem I had with a soft board is drilling right through it. after some working I ended up having to make another hole because I cut right through it.
 
Well how soft is the board? Are we talking like Balsa-wood? I hadnt considered that... i can see how it would be a problem, you would have to essentially restart.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top