Primitive Fire

Fire Piston: Darryl Patton brought one by my house and we played with it. Worked great but finally quit working due to the o-ring or something.

Another friction method I have used is the Bamboo Fire Saw. Good technique.
 
As for the reason behind building for this way: As already been mentioned it's to truly learn how to build fires under the worst of conditions. Even with a Bic lighter sometimes building fire is not that easy. Learning the basics first gives you knowledge to make more modern methods easier. Fire with a Ferro rod, IMO, is just too damn easy. Try true flint and steel or friction if you really want to learn the real basics.
 
otis williams said:
that's compression. i've tried making a couple, and it's never worked out.
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Yes, but if I remember my high school physics, heat generated by compressing air is caused by molecular friction...or then again (high school was sooo long ago) I may be speaking out of my azz again...
 
Murphyslaw said:
Yes, but if I remember my high school physics, heat generated by compressing air is caused by molecular friction...or then again (high school was sooo long ago) I may be speaking out of my azz again...
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well there ya' go. i never took physics.:p
 
R.A.T. said:
As for the reason behind building for this way: As already been mentioned it's to truly learn how to build fires under the worst of conditions. Even with a Bic lighter sometimes building fire is not that easy. Learning the basics first gives you knowledge to make more modern methods easier. Fire with a Ferro rod, IMO, is just too damn easy. Try true flint and steel or friction if you really want to learn the real basics.
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Do you use charcloth at all or is that "cheating"?
 
johnnyKnives said:
Do you use charcloth at all or is that "cheating"?
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I suggest starting with nothing-only with what you can find. Ideally you want to be able to build a fire with only materials and tinder you can get off the land. Really makes you appreciate what firebuilding tools you do bring. Also teaches you the importance of fire BUILDING techniques-collecting and prepping the tinder and wood or other fuel sources (around here I find more cow crap than woody plants)
 
Where should one go if they want to move into more technical fire making skills? Basically what is a ascending list say starting with a ferro rod and getting progressively harder??
 
PayetteRucker said:
I suggest starting with nothing-only with what you can find. Ideally you want to be able to build a fire with only materials and tinder you can get off the land. Really makes you appreciate what firebuilding tools you do bring. Also teaches you the importance of fire BUILDING techniques-collecting and prepping the tinder and wood or other fuel sources (around here I find more cow crap than woody plants)
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I think this is a goal to be achieved, but almost never how I approach trying to teach somebody. I have about 30 or so bow drill coals under my belt, but as of yet, none of them full wild. However, I have progressed from trying different types of optimum woods to harvesting my own wood and drying it as Jeff has done. I've harvested wildwood on the fly, just haven't been successful with it yet.

I think the value of learning these methods is that it provides a lesson in humility. It doesn't work every time and you feel accomplished when you get it to do so. It also shifts the emphasis of the fire making to preparation. I still always quote Jeff's rule 'prepare enough tinder and kindling as you think you need and then triple that amount'. Primitive fire forces you to take that philosophy at every step. You begin looking at a piece of wood and evaluating its potential before even using it. You smell it and bring it close to your lips to detect moisture. You get a feel for its hardness and pay attention to how it whittles. When drilling, you pay attention to the grain of the dust and colour of the ash. There are a hundred different little things you begin to notice that you would have otherwise been completely blind to.

Anyhow, I digress. I don't think I'd ever willingly just take off into the bush with no fire aids thinking, hey if the chips are down, I'll just fashion a bowdrill from my boot laces and build a fire. Yet, at the same time, you build confidence and so many secondary skills from learning the method.

Jeff - really glad to see you doing the hand drill. Its a technique I haven't successfully done yet. I'm waiting on harvesting some teasil to try my hand at it again. I know what you mean about hand blisters and callouses :D :D

Here is DocCanada - another proud RC-3 owner, showing me how its done.

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-oops he's using his bravo-1 to cut that notch <--shame ;)

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DocCanada is awesome at the handrill!
 
You might have got a coal, but you sure had it smoking like crazy. I still have yet to get one going with a bow drill. Once I manage that, I'll try the hand drill. Oh yeah, man that was an awesome class!
 
I love fire. I see these as backup methods. Matches get wet, lighters break. Ferro rods apparantly 'run out' :). Plus it makes you look cool in front of girls.
 
Very cool stuff. I've been wanting to get out and try my hand at a couple friction fire techniques. Very good info.
 
I have never mastered friction.

I love making fire with simple flint and steel. Fun!
 
of course it didn't work Jeff, other people were around! That kills my hand drill power by 60% right off the bat. Would work forever with basswood and horseweed, trying to show friends how to do it. On the same board that I would get coal after coal from, in front of friends, no go. I would think humidity or something. Then of course afterwards, I could get a coal again. The frustration with the board/drill set gets to where I stick the fireboard in my mouth, bite down, and form a coal with my anger. I refuse to do handrill in front of people now though until I get past that gremlin. Where is the bic.

Do you think we could find a piece of good solid dead bamboo to try in Peru? I would love to see the technique
 
If you don't use char cloth or charred punk wood for true flint and steel, the only other option you have is true tinder fungus.
 
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