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friction fires suck!

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ricktrojanowski:
Man, that subject line sure caught my attention. :o
 Friction fire is my favorite of the primitive skills.  Your wood combo is the most important part of your quest for fire.  I like ERC for a board as Jamie suggested.  Also had very good luck with Paw Paw and Poplar.  I like to use a Northern White Cedar spindle, but the board and spindle can be of the same material with great results.  Just keep all material nice and dry
 A proper notch is also very important.  Too big, and the dust cools to fast, too small and it doesn't collect and build up well.  Make sure the point of the notch meets the center of your hole that the spindle creates.  I like to also enlarge the bottom side of the notch, so that it is larger on the bottom than the top.  This shelters the dust and allows it to heat up better. 
Make sure you are using some type of lubricant between your handhold (made of a hardwood, or stone) and the spindle top.  I usually just crush up a leaf and stick it in the socket. 
Start off slow with good long trows of the bow.  Slow and Steady at first, then gradually pick up speed.  When you start seeing fair amounts of smoke, add pressure and more speed.  Keep going even if you think you have it, and don't stop until you are completely exhausted.  Most importantly BREATHE.  I see when I teach people, that often they hold their breath.  This is an aerobic effort, you will need to keep breathing.
Another thought, start with the hand drill.  Same principles, but far simpler.  Horseweed on ERC is my favorite combo for that.

Buckeye Guy:
I like Yucca on Yucca  very easy to use and find as its planted in almost every cemetery across the nation or so it seems !!

richardzane:
all good suggestions here.
my first choice will always be using materials that are all around me.
if i have to get in a vehicle and drive to harvest something for a primitive ANYTHING ... i think i'm probably
missing some ancient knowledge of whats right under my nose.
boxelder grows along the creek here is Okl. and is perfect for a spindle. dries as light as a stick of yucca, and will start smoking on the board in less than 20 seconds.
a piece of light driftwood , half rotten sycamore makes a good board. if its as light as balsa wood .
I just tested one out a few minutes ago and it produced a coal in less than a minute.
if a spindle or board squeaks like a dying rabbit forget it..its a sure sign of resin...might attract unwelcome attention as well.
my stone handhold was a gift, an ancient one from our Wyandot homelands...grease or crushed leaves keeps the spindle turning smooth.heard even earwax works,
but the idea of a group of people saving or donating their earwax to the pile isn't appealing.

stickbender:

    Eeeewwwww! Earwax donations! :P :P  You can use your own natural oils, by either applying the end of the spindle to the sides of your nose, or rubbing your finger on the sides, and then applying the oil to the socket tool.  My cousin found a little earwax spoon on an old wreck down here in Florida.  So that is what it was for, saving it up for spindles and sockets for fire making! ;) 8)
Now to find the little earwax depository box...... ::) ::) ::)! ;D ;D

                                                                     Wayne

jpayne:
I had my first success with friction fire today . I've been trying this off and on for years now. It's so simple when you do everything right and don't rush or panic.
.

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