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BUILDING A FIRE WITHOUT MATCHES

Building a fire is a useful skill for any gentleman in the making. From a weekend camping trip to a backyard barbeque, fire is a necessary ingredient. But why learn how to build a fire without meches when they are so readily available and lighter fluid can be purchased by the gallon? Any wilderness expert or regular camper would describe many situations in which matches were not always at their disposal, so an alternative fire starting technique would be valued. Not an avid outdoorsman or camper?

 

Regardless of a Dapper Gentleman's hobbies everyone should know basic fire starting techniques. Fire can sustain life in many situations which arise without warning. In addition, no one had seen someone start their grill with a bow drill for a barbeque. Wow factor. An explanation of the versatile bow drill technique will be outlined below. THe bow drill is versatile because supplies needed are simple everyday items that can vary depending on the situation. 

The Bow Drill Technique

The bow drill technique is one of the most basic technique for starting a fire and is especially useful because all of the necessary items needed in the process can be found in nature. The steps required include making the bow, making the drill, choosing a fire board, choosing a hand piece, making an ember, and lighting the fire. 

Making the Bow

The first step in the bow drill technique is to make a bow. THe bow is made out of a convex curved tree limb about a half an inch in diameter. The limb should be stiff because too much flex will make it difficult to stroke the bow back and forth, however a little bit of flex in the bow is acceptable. A shoe string, paracord, vines, or any type of cordage is attached with knots across the curved section of the limb loose enough to wrap around the drill. The cordage used is completely dependent on the situation and what is available to use. If rope or paracord are available this is the best option because they are strong and will not easily break. However, if no rope is available vines can be used as well. 

Making the Drill

The drill or spindle is made out of a straight round piece of wood approximately a half inch to three quarters of an inch in diameter. A tip is carved at one end of the drill, using a knife or rock. This minimizies friction with the hank piece and maximizes contact and friction with the fire board. 

 

The drill is then combined with the bow by wrapping the string once around the drill. The drill should be on the opposite side of the string as the bow with the dull end facing down when the bow is held in the users dominant hand. 

Making the Hand Piece

The hand piece's primary purpose is to hold the spindle vertical while still allowing it to rotate freely. The hand piece can be made from a variety of materials including another piece of wood, a bone, a shell, as well as many others. If the hand piece is made out of wood, a hole may be carved into the center which will hold the pointed end on the drill. Oil or sap may also be spread onto the hand piece to reduce friction between the drill and the hand piece. If neither oil nor sap is available, ear wax and facial oils can also be used. If oils are applied to the hand piece it will be dtrimental to the process if oils come in contact with the blunt end of the drill, as this decrease in friction will cause it to be more difficult to make an ember. 

Making a Fire Board

A fire board is chosen from a dry piece of wood about two to three inches wide and a foot long. This size allows the user to stand or kneel on the board easily. About one diameter from the edge of the board is a small hole made in the board from driving the pointed end of the spindle. Next, a burning process is done by stepping or kneeling on the board, taking the bow in the dominant hand, placing the dull end of the drill on the hole created previously, and stroking the bow back and forth. This process causes the drill to spin in the hole creating friction which in turn creates heat. The heat causes the wood to blacken around the edges and causes smoke to form. The creation of smoke is the signal that the burn-in process is complete. After the burn-in, a 90 degree notch is added to the edge of the board with a knife or sharp stone, which serves as a place for a coal to form and then fall. 

Lighting The Fire

The last step is to light the fire. This is done by repeating a process very similar to the burn-in technique of the fire board. A leaf, bark, or other flat object is placed directly below the notch in the fire board which will catch the coal that falls. The bow is again stroked back and forth causing the drill to turn and friction to heat the board. Eventually the heat will cause a small glowing ember to form and fall into the leaf or bark that was placed below. The coal may then be carefully transferred via the leaf or bark to a tinder pile. Final ignition is achieved byu adding additional oxygen to the tinder pile by slowly and carefuilly blowing on it. 

Troubleshooting

  • If ignition still cannot be achieved, make sure that the wood being used is dry but not rotten. Dry wood is essential when creating a friction fire. 

  • If oils were used on both ends of the drill, a new drill tip needs to be created. 

  • If unable to achieve the creation of a coal, the powder created in the process can be used in order to troubleshoot. Use the chart below. 

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