New Fire Making technique

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Jeff,
I wonder if the ice would melt before you got fire, on a hot day in Alabama....of course it was that hot you would not have ice in a survival situation...it would be in your drink.
In any event A.C posted a link to a site that had pictures of the technique.
http://www.primitiveways.com/ice-fire.html
:eek:
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Re your comment on Iron Pyrites.
So if you don't have man-made steel is it possible to get a spark some other way from striking. I remember getting a spark off a rock when I was a child, but don't recall if that was from steel or just two rocks. The reason I was asking is that one of the points in the Earth's Children series by Jean Auel (4 so far, 5th due next year) was the protagonists discovery of a new method of fire making other than a hand drill. Ayla found some rocks (iron pyrites, as I recall) that she used with flint to strike and make fire, thereby amazing everyone. Of course these enjoyable books are fiction, but the author did try to research them thoroughly, and try some of the techniques.

In other words, if you do not have steel, say as with the people tens of thousands of years ago, is it possible to use a percussion method to get fire? :confused:

Thanks for the interesting topic Jeff. :D

Donald
 
Donald, on the ice-fire thing I believe anything is possible, but it's one of those things I would really like to experience first hand. In short, I doubt it unless it's under perfect conditions - but then again I've never tried it.

As far as Iron Pyrite. I don't doubt it is capable of making a spark. I DO doubt that it's ability to be consistent as a fire maker - in my opinion it's truly hit and miss. The same with two rocks slammed together...they will make a spark but catching it is another thing.

Another point to ponder is even today the only natural substance we know of that will catch a spark from true flint and steel is a tinder fungus. So, even if they were making sparks before steel, what were they catching them in? Charred wood from lightning strikes maybe? Having said that I am on a quest to find another natural substance that can be prepared naturally (without fire) to catch a spark from true flint and steel. Maybe it's a combination of things that will work...maybe nothing. There have been a lot more people investing a lot more time over the years on this same subject so I'm probably just chasing my tail, but it's still fun and it is a learning experience. Hell, I'm even looking into spontaneous combustion. Making fire under adverse conditions fascinates me. This past weekend I got soaking wet making fire in a damn rain storm. We managed to get a roaring blaze going without any prepared tinder and using only natural materials except for the spark maker.

Fire saws, bow drills, hand drills, and even plows are still the most reliable method of fire making with all natural substances if you have no other tools.

Jeff
 
Jeff,

Another tried and true method is to put Simonich in proximity to a South African knifemaker and have them discuss apartheid. :D
 
E,

I was speaking of mere fire...not a blast furnace :) I think the South African could have whupped Rob's ass though....but Rob could out-drink him. Sorry Simonich, you ain't going to live that one down as long as Blues, Mike, and I are around.

Jeff
 
You guys are killing me! And to tell you the truth I would be rather dissapointed in you guys if you didnt rib me about that!:D :D
 
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:D
 
The finest steel wool carried by my local hardware store is marked "0" FINE. I teased a little of this out, put it on the ground, and put a lit match to it. It glowed a bit and sparked, but no flame at all. Is there a big difference between "0" and "0000"?
 
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