Knowing how to start a fire without matches is an essential skill of any great survivalist. Check out the tutorial below to learn how to start a friction fire – no lighter needed.
Essential Wilderness Survival Skill: How to Start a Friction Fire
If you find yourself in the wilderness with no lighter on hand, knowing how to start a fire save your life. In this tutorial, we teach you how to start a friction fire using a wooden spindle and fire board. Check out the steps below to see how it’s done, and follow these steps to create an instant friction fire without matches.
Step 1: Find board and spindle.
Find hard wood for your spindle and soft wood for your fire board.
Step 2: Find a bow and string.
Find an arm-length stick of sturdy wood for your bow and a strong string to wrap around the spindle.
Step 3: Locate a handhold.
Find a piece of wood to be your handhold – this will protect your skin from the heat the spindle generates.
Step 4: Prep hole for spindle.
Use a rock to carve out a hole for the spindle to sit in on the fire board.
Step 5: Get poised for efficiency.
Sit on one knee, and prop your wrist against your shin for maximum stability.
Step 6: Mate the board.
Pull your bow back and forth to allow the spindle to further carve out a hole in the fire board.
Step 7: Carve a notch.
Carve a notch in the fire board to allow oxygen to mix with the wood dust created by the spindle.
Step 8: Start your fire.
Once again begin pulling your bow back and forth until a significant amount of smoke emerges from the fire board.
Step 9: Transfer your embers.
Move your embers from under the fire board to fine plant material.
Step 10: Billow the bundle.
Blow on the bundle to increase oxygen flow to the embers. Continue until the bundle produces flames.
Looking for another way to start a fire in the wilderness?
Check out the video below to see the full tutorial:
Want more DIY firestarter ideas? Check out the posts below!
- How to Start a Fire with Flint
- 10 Fire Starting Materials You Probably Have at Home
- DIY Fire Starter: The Cotton Ball
- Making Simple Tools From Flint
If you’re looking for useful survival gear that you can’t make at home, check out the Survival Life Store!Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on November 29, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
