I think this guy needs a RAT Firestarter....

C

canis-lupus

Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
116
The first attempt lasted 2 hours and resulted in blisterage....

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The second only lasted half hour, but the board did start smoking at one point

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Yeah I've never successfully started a bowdrill fire. Never tried flint and steel. My firesteels work well, and oddly enough, so does a Bic lighter.
 
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Not that I could do any better. I suck at making old-school fire. I cheat.
 
Carolina River Rat said:
Yeah I've never successfully started a bowdrill fire. Never tried flint and steel. My firesteels work well, and oddly enough, so does a Bic lighter.
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I was camping in a really windy canyon last month and had a hard time starting a fire with my lighter. A Firesteel with Vaseline soaked cotton balls would have worked so much better in that situation. But yeah a lighter when they don't get blown it works great. I'm using fire steels and tinder more and more.

Heber
 
The entire duration of the flint and steel excursion I kept telling him why lighters were invented. I suppose though, one must be prepared to be without the spoils of modern invention.
 
Making fire with a bowdrill is on my list of things to do this summer. I've only tried it a couple times, and only achieved smoke once:o. Regarding preparedness, you are absolutely correct.
 
You think making a fire with a bow drill is hard, you should see the movie "Quest for Fire".

Three cavemen wander around the ancient world, running from Neandertals, sabertooths, cannibals, modern humans with atlatls, and finally, jealous rivals. But they bring back the fire -- and it falls into the lake and sizzles out !!!

canis-lupus said:
The entire duration of the flint and steel excursion I kept telling him why lighters were invented.
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"Can't" can't. The entire duration you were discouraging him, which doesn't help his concentration. Why do you think team members cheer each other on?
 
Esav Benyamin said:
You think making a fire with a bow drill is hard, you should see the movie "Quest for Fire".

Three cavemen wander around the ancient world, running from Neandertals, sabertooths, cannibals, modern humans with atlatls, and finally, jealous rivals. But they bring back the fire -- and it falls into the lake and sizzles out !!!



"Can't" can't. The entire duration you were discouraging him, which doesn't help his concentration. Why do you think team members cheer each other on?
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My spirit is far from dampened, I do admit with the flint and steel I was feeling discouraged; after two or so hours of straight striking and a blistered finger that is now scared in that spot, I was unsuccessful but I was continually motivated by small successes, such as larger throwing of spark clusters a better direction and grouping which was acquired with every strike. Although in the end Lupus took the kitchen pan that I was striking into which contained the firepit charcoal, dryer lint and bird nested grass and chucked it out the door. I wouldn’t give up and it was two thirty in the morning. The Bow Drill was easy it produced smoke rather quickly and was a breeze to facilitate supplies for and make. Boot lace, trashed veggie can, two sticks and a board.
Although im sure a Rat Fire Starter would save me the energy and flesh. :D
 
Although in the end Lupus took the kitchen pan that I was striking into which contained the firepit charcoal, dryer lint
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I have heard of many things people keep in stash....but when someone produces a quart baggy full of dryer lint they've had hidden, it is time for intervention.
 
Yeah I remember that movie! good one, or Tom Hanks in Castaway, kinda makes you appreciate what we take for granted.
Esav Benyamin said:
You think making a fire with a bow drill is hard, you should see the movie "Quest for Fire".

Three cavemen wander around the ancient world, running from Neandertals, sabertooths, cannibals, modern humans with atlatls, and finally, jealous rivals. But they bring back the fire -- and it falls into the lake and sizzles out !!!
Click to expand...
 
Well he's got a lot of patience and determination. That would go a long way in a survival situation.
 
hey what's wrong with having a baggy of dryer lint? we have one or two. i try to use the firesteel for my fires but damn when you're hungry and the kids are yelling 'mom are we gonna eat soon' i go straight to the lighter or matches.
 
I haven't even gotten smoke with a bow drill. I have started a fire quickly many times with flint and steel though.
 
DMH1112 said:
I haven't even gotten smoke with a bow drill. I have started a fire quickly many times with flint and steel though.
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Man, I wonder what I was doing wrong with my flint and steel?:confused: i was throwing sparks so. I would presume that it must have been the bird nest and dryer lint were not the right combo or consistency to properly catch and feed the spark...
The bow drill was rather natural and easy for me; it seemed to respond more so with the amount of downward pressure asserted upon the rod. There seemed to be a sweet spot were the pressure was great enough to produce an adequate amount of friction to facilitate smoke and then embers; yet it was not so great as to seize the rods rotation. Play around with it.
:thumbup:

hopefully that may help you.
 
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