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- May 3, 2006
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After reading though the thread on the best emergency firestarting method in a "tipped Canoe" senario, and reading some of the comments about starting a fire with one hand, I thought I would post this. Back when carrying a handgun was a job requirement (as opposed to an obsession 
), I recall several injured hand exercises that we had to go through. I think this is a good practice with survival skills as well.
I got this from the late Gene Ward, who demonstrates this technique oon his DVD, Survival: Beyond the Ten Essentials. Gene held that this method is actually easier that the normal two handed method, and was great for teaching children.
Starting a fire using a ferro rod is very easy to do with one hand, provided you have a saw, or your hacksaw scraper still has its teeth.
First, as in all proper firestarting, gathering plenty of tinder, kindling, and wood is essential, so you don't have to run around franticly after you get fire. (Not that presonally know anything about that!
) Make sure you have the kindling and fuel separated into various piles by thickness and located within easy reach of your good hand.
Second, find a flat piece of wood to use as your fire base.
Third, use your saw, or the saw teeth on your scraper (striker) to cut a slot in your fire base. This slot should be cut to a depth of about half the width of your scraper.
Fourth, place your scraper in the slot and scrape a pile of tinder (magnesium, fatwood, whatever) by scraping it against the scraper in one direction. Scoop the scrapings into a pile close to the scraper.
Fifth, scrape the ferro rod across the embedded scraper so that it will rain sparks down on your pile of tinder.
Sixth, once you have your tinder lit, add kindling of increasing sizes until the fire is big enough to add fuel wood.
-- FLIX
), I recall several injured hand exercises that we had to go through. I think this is a good practice with survival skills as well. I got this from the late Gene Ward, who demonstrates this technique oon his DVD, Survival: Beyond the Ten Essentials. Gene held that this method is actually easier that the normal two handed method, and was great for teaching children.
Starting a fire using a ferro rod is very easy to do with one hand, provided you have a saw, or your hacksaw scraper still has its teeth.
First, as in all proper firestarting, gathering plenty of tinder, kindling, and wood is essential, so you don't have to run around franticly after you get fire. (Not that presonally know anything about that!
) Make sure you have the kindling and fuel separated into various piles by thickness and located within easy reach of your good hand. Second, find a flat piece of wood to use as your fire base.
Third, use your saw, or the saw teeth on your scraper (striker) to cut a slot in your fire base. This slot should be cut to a depth of about half the width of your scraper.
Fourth, place your scraper in the slot and scrape a pile of tinder (magnesium, fatwood, whatever) by scraping it against the scraper in one direction. Scoop the scrapings into a pile close to the scraper.
Fifth, scrape the ferro rod across the embedded scraper so that it will rain sparks down on your pile of tinder.
Sixth, once you have your tinder lit, add kindling of increasing sizes until the fire is big enough to add fuel wood.
-- FLIX
