Getting close to a drill fire!

[jeff_c]

I try to get out every weekend and practice my skills. Today I wanted to make a fire using a ferrro rod. It was a good excuse to try out a new Mora as well.

I got my fire going and brewed a cup of tea and thought I may try my hand at a friction fire. (my goal is to get one by the end of the summer).

A few weeks back I found a great bow from the crook of a fallen tree. Today I was really jsut going to try to make my hearth. So I took a piece of pine and batoned out a hearth. Then using my RAT RC4 i made the "divot" and also made a hand piece. My spindle was an old piece of hard wood.

I had all my pieces and thought, "why not give it a try". I knew I was no where ready to start a fire, but my goal was smoke. I quickly learned that its a balance between finding the sweet spot on the spindle, the hand pressure, and the speed of the drill.

But in the end I had a nice plume of smoke. My next step will be to cut the V in my hearth and actually see of I can get an ember!

When I cut the V do I want the tip of the V to be in the center of the divot? and wht kind of angle do I want for the V?

Man, Its been a while since taking my RC4. I have been so in love with my 3. The RC4 made the hearth without a hitch and the drop point was jsut perfect for carving out the divots in my hearth and hand piece.

 

[adaman04]

There are lots of good write ups on friction fire on the net. Take a look at a few of the different methods and see what you like best.

The 4 is a great blade.

 

[Mistwalker]

I try to get out every weekend and practice my skills. Today I wanted to make a fire using a ferrro rod. It was a good excuse to try out a new Mora as well.

I got my fire going and brewed a cup of tea and thought I may try my hand at a friction fire. (my goal is to get one by the end of the summer).

A few weeks back I found a great bow from the crook of a fallen tree. Today I was really jsut going to try to make my hearth. So I took a piece of pine and batoned out a hearth. Then using my RAT RC4 i made the "divot" and also made a hand piece. My spindle was an old piece of hard wood.

I had all my pieces and thought, "why not give it a try". I knew I was no where ready to start a fire, but my goal was smoke. I quickly learned that its a balance between finding the sweet spot on the spindle, the hand pressure, and the speed of the drill.

But in the end I had a nice plume of smoke. My next step will be to cut the V in my hearth and actually see of I can get an ember!

When I cut the V do I want the tip of the V to be in the center of the divot? and wht kind of angle do I want for the V?

Man, Its been a while since taking my RC4. I have been so in love with my 3. The RC4 made the hearth without a hitch and the drop point was jsut perfect for carving out the divots in my hearth and hand piece.

It's been my experience that true hardwoods only work best for the bearing blocks with friction fire. Things like Poplar may work...haven't tried yet but using seasoned true hardwoods like Walnut, Hickory, and Oak spindles or hearths has so far only ever gotten me a little smoke and a nice glossy surface on the parts used and the glossy surface really doesn't make as much friction.

I've been taught to make my notches at a width 1/8 of the diameter of the spindle I'm using and stop just shy of center...so far it works great.

Yeah, the RC-4 is in my opinion a tougher survival knife and will take more abuse than the RC-3. But the RC-3 is still a great knife for field craft and the size is more sheeple friendly for the "close-in" day hikes in the state parks and the light weight is nice on some of the exhausting hikes I do for photos here where it is really hot and muggy and I'm packing a lot of other gear and taking out wood and rock specimens.