How to Make Fire the Bushcraft Way
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It’s one of those skills which everybody should have. The ability to start a fire without using matches or a lighter. Here’s a brief look at a few well known techniques that are fun to try:
Using Friction.
We all know that rubbing things together makes them warm up and if you have ever watched any of the excellent Ray Mears Bushcraft TV series you will have seen Ray use a variety of friction based techniques. Be warned, these are not easy and you’re likely to wear yourself out in the process. But making fire using these basic bushcraft techniques can be enormously satisfying.
You will need two pieces of wood, one to act as a fireboard and another as the spindle. This wood must be bone dry. You will need to make a tinder nest using dry grass, wood shavings or other material, like cotton wool.
Cut a V shaped notch in your fireboard and place some bark under the notch to catch the smouldering ember. Make another indentation at the point of the V for the tip of your spindle. You can spin your spindle, which should be about two feet long, using a bow made with string and a bent piece of bendy wood. You can use the bow to spin the spindle really quickly, creating a lot of friction and heat. Hopefully you will soon see wisps of smoke coming from your fireboard. Once you have created a burning ember, transfer this to your tinder nest using a piece of bark. Gently blow on your tinder nest to turn the embers into fire.
Using Fire Sticks
Once upon a time many people would carry a piece of high carbon steel and flint to make fire. The flint would be struck against the steel to create a spark. These days you can find excellent firesteels consisting of a high carbon steel rod and hardened steel striker. You can also use the steel blade of a knife.
As for other fire-making methods you need a nice dry tinder nest for your spark, but this method is much easier than the friction based method described above.
Using the Sun
We’ve all used magnifying glasses to scorch things as children. This is another weil known way to make fire but of course it doesn’t work during the night. Unfortunately we don’t always carry magnifying glasses wherever we go. You could use a pair of glasses or even make a lens from a condom filled with water.
Electricity
This is a great way to demontrate the power and danger of electricity. To make this work you will need a battery and some steel wool. The best batteries for this are the 9v variety. By rubbing the battery contacts on the wire wool you’ll make it heat up and start to burn. Transfer your burning steel wool to your bone dry tinder nest and blow to start the fire. Hey presto, fire!
These firemaking techniques are great to try out when you are next on a family camping trip. Why not include a few fire-making tools with your camping equipment and let your children have a go. But be sure to take plenty of warm outdoor clothing because you might be a little chilly without a fire.
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