Fireplow Help

[Vivi]

Today at a park I was showing my friends how to get embers going with the fireplow method. It got me to thinking how little I know about proper wood selection, because it took us much longer than it should of and I'm pretty certain that's why.

I'm looking for some general rules for picking out wood for friction fire methods. I'm going to make a new rule for when I take my friends to the woods to build fires that we can't use lighters, matces etc.

What I was looking for was fairly seasoned wood with the grooved piece being slightly softer wood than the stick we held.

Also, any tips in general for this kind of method would be appreciated. What we found was working best for us was place the grooved stick into the base of a tree to support it and block the wind, put one foot on it and using a long stick run it back and forth along a track about 6~8 inches long. We had issues knocking the powder off the bottom stick due to clumsiness. We got it smoking many times but it was difficult to get any embers going, more dificult than it was last time I did this.

Would also be interested in expedient materials we could use to make the string for a firebow. We talked about making one but I wasn't certain what we could make the string out of.

 

[DaleW]

Would also be interested in expedient materials we could use to make the string for a firebow. We talked about making one but I wasn't certain what we could make the string out of.

Your shoelaces, braid some clothing strips, a drawstring from your shorts, hood, or jacket hem, your whistle lanyard, hat lanyard, paracord from your survival bracelet, or strip some bark and braid it into a cord. Shred some bark for tinder while you're at it.

 

[Vivi]

Sorry, by expedient I meant natural materials gathered from the field. That's our approach to everything we do - shelters, fires, hunting etc. We're allowed knives, lighters and our brains, but we're cutting out the lighters and after that's settled the knives go. I'm looking for certain plants I'd be able to braid together and make a strand robust enough to use for a firebow.

 

[bikermikearchery]

The primitive world was held together with cordage. People were tyeing there world together for a lot of centuries before a nail, button, latch or Velcro was invented, This is one of those skills that is not hard to learn but takes a while to master. www.primitiveways.com has a good tutorial on cordage.
Once you learn the principal any thing fibrous can be used as cordage, I have spools of cordage that I have made out of Yucca, bark, dog hair, coconut husk, flax, and paper towels. Take a look at www.primitive.org they have some information on the fire saw. I have to admit the fire saw is the one method that I haven't even tried, But, I can turn most anything fibrous in to cordage so I'll stick to the bow and drill.

 

[Rick Marchand]

My first friction fire (age 9) was with a fireplow. Poplar for the base and hickory for the plow. It really isn't that hard once you've done it and get a feel for the technique involved. Here is what I can add that has given me good results so far.

Woodtypes
(base) - poplar, willow, cedar, sumach(staghorn).
(plow) - ash, hickory, oak, maple, cedar.

Technique
- the groove is made by the plow following the grain in the wood... don't bother trying to carve it in just start off slowly and allow the plow to seat itself in the base. The groove does not need to exit the wood at the end of the base. The end of the groove is where the tinder dust builds up... you need to be able to reach this with the tip of your plow to get your coal.
- start off with moderately increasing pressure using your bodyweight (we are going to need to reserve some arm strength for later) in a rocking motion until it smokes and an ample amount of dust is created.
- once you have enough dust (marble size) back off on the pressure a bit (moderate) and switch to using just your arms.
- This is where speed is crucial! you need to generate heat... That doesn't come from pressure but rather speed (we are talkin' friction her folks)
- Keep it moving until it's smoking like Marge Simpson's sisters.
- then on the last downstroke slide the tip of the plow until it touches the dust. keep an eye on it... if you see a trail of smoke coming from it your almost there.
- now, carefully remove the plow (sometimes the ember is stuck to it) and allow the coal to grow a bit before transfering to your tinder.

I hope this helps you.

Oh ya and if you gather a bunch people to watch you do this... it will NEVER work for you. Trust me. You can't just want it, you have to need it.

Rick