Main Discussion Area > Primitive Skills
Friction Fire
Forest_Farmer:
Pappy & Bob,
I've used a sinew bow string that I made and it works great. I have some yucca leaves that I will process into cordage and also give that a try.
I've also been practicing with my hand drill, and took Bob's advice and tried horse weed. The piece I had worked good, just could have been a little thicker. This was about 5/16".
I also found that after making an ember , it's best to redress the spindle tip and cut off any burnt material. This seemed to make the process a lot quicker.
nclonghunter:
Great info guys...I have heard everything you need to start a fire is in a poplar tree. The inner bark for cordage and wood for the spindle and board. I have stripped small poplar trees to make cordage and it will work however I have not tested it for friction. I am certain that is going to be hard on it. Dogbane does make great cordage if you can find it when needed. Poplar bark seems to be available over a larger range of areas.
I agree with Pappy about using brain tanned hides. I have used it with success. Rawhide will also work well. If you could trap or otherwise get an animals hide you would have some great bow drill material plus a good meal when you got your fire started... :laugh:
Outbackbob48:
Lyman, I have used Tulip Popalar for bow drills , hearth and spindle with mixed results, Some worked pretty well and others were iffy, Needs to be really dry for sure, never messed with the inner bark for cordage but dry dead inner bark made good tinder bundles. Forest, I like to trim up the end also and some get a burnished end and needs a trim for sure. i also make a small divet in the pith , not sure if it is really necessary. I believe the thinking is less friction surface , drill will just be cutting on circle edge, eventually ends up making a hump in drill hole. Bob
swamp monkey:
I have seen some lengthy lists of plant species for the western states detailing which species are best for hearth boards and which make good spindles. I have never seen a good list for the eastern states. This thread is filling in that gap. :D
Here are some items I have been successful with here in Missouri
Hearth boards: baldcypress, eastern red cedar, drift wood cottonwood, drift wood silver maple
spindle: yucca flower stalk, horseweed, ragweed stem.
tinder: dogbane fibers left over from string making, cedar bark shredded, fine shaving from my bow making (hickory, ash, osage orange, etc.)
This thread has some good comments about species and combinations. I like it.
Zuma:
--- Quote from: swamp monkey on October 24, 2015, 08:46:46 am ---I have seen some lengthy lists of plant species for the western states detailing which species are best for hearth boards and which make good spindles. I have never seen a good list for the eastern states. This thread is filling in that gap. :D
Here are some items I have been successful with here in Missouri
Hearth boards: baldcypress, eastern red cedar, drift wood cottonwood, drift wood silver maple
spindle: yucca flower stalk, horseweed, ragweed stem.
tinder: dogbane fibers left over from string making, cedar bark shredded, fine shaving from my bow making (hickory, ash, osage orange, etc.)
This thread has some good comments about species and combinations. I like it.
--- End quote ---
You know, I totally agree and hope this thread can be archived or included in the tutorials before it is someday just forgotten. ???
Zuma
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