Is friction your primary source of ignition?

[chris_r]

I'm sitting here sipping a can of Stella, primarily to purge the taste of smoke from my mouth. Reason being that I've just completed what's turning out to be my annual fire by friction refresher. Every once in a while I feel the urge, so I go at it hammer and tongs until I knock out a flame, but then that's it, until the next urge.

Normally, I choose to use a flint and steel, or a ferrocerium rod with either char cloth or birch bark, but how many of you guys choose to use friction as your primary source of ignition in the outdoors? I'm thinking that I may be packing a hearth and drill on my next outing.

 

[coln18]

Like you Chris, i tend to use fire by friction when the urge takes me and just to keep my hand in, most times i do it, i go away with the feeling that i have learned something new and my abilities have improved a step in the right direction, dont feel i could guarantee success every time i do it though....

 

[chris_r]

Like you Chris, i tend to use fire by friction when the urge takes me and just to keep my hand in, most times i do it, i go away with the feeling that i have learned something new and my abilities have improved a step in the right direction, dont feel i could guarantee success every time i do it though....

That's largely why I don't do it as often, success that is. That's why I'm considering making it my first option. Guess I'll still have a ferro rod, matches and lighter to fall back on, but at least I'll be getting some practice in.

 

[coln18]

Good idea mate, think i will make a few mini sets and give it a bash myself next few trips, let me know how you get on and any tips/lessons learned you find about the experience.

 

[Jinsin456]

I think I would suffer from severe cases of cold and death if I had to rely on friction fire lighting I'm bad enough with a Zippo never mind friction

 

[The Big Lebowski]

Choose your wood carefully

I made a bad choice of birch hearth and hazel drill last time... after half an hour and nearly a mild heart attack, out came the fatwood and lighter!

 

[lannyman8]

really good thread Chris....

i was thinking of doing this from now on, maybe as you will have with fero rod as back up.....

the next time im out its minimal kit as below:-

knife
axe
bow drill
water bottle
tin for boiling water or tin of big beans etc for a little food
good tinder for bow drill

i will be in just my clothes and jacket and kit as above, natural shelter cordage etc......food will be what i can find (appart from the can of "stuff"..)

due to the lack of kit i will have a pouch or pocket with fire steel puri tabs and some energy bars just as an emergency pack, i might also bung a survival blanket in too...

good idea this thread chris..........

 

[chris_r]

Chris, you know I keep threatening to do that, but it never seems to happen. I might wait until summer to make it a little more comfortable. You'll have to post and let me know how you get on. That would make for a good thread.

 

[Shewie]

Being a smoker I'll admit to reaching for the lighter every time

 

[lannyman8]

Chris, you know I keep threatening to do that, but it never seems to happen. I might wait until summer to make it a little more comfortable. You'll have to post and let me know how you get on. That would make for a good thread.

im going to see Raikey at some point so it will be then, he is doing a light weight thing with nothing but a bug out bag, i dont have one and thought sod it just do it....

as for the summer i will be using bow drill for my fire, been meaning to do it for some time....

i will have to sort the new camera so i can upload the pic's....

it will also give me a chance to try this out.......

 

[chris_r]

Shiney, shiney like that is why I still carry the striker on my ferro rod. Looking very good btw.

 

[lannyman8]

thanks Chris, started to shapen it and it will be like a razor when its done....

 

[rik_uk3]

Na, zip firelighters these days, or paraffin.

 

[bilmo-p5]

Striking a light with lighter, ferro-rod, match or flint is friction firelighting too.

 

[chris_r]

for the benefit of the pedantic, can I introduce the word primitive into the thread? ;-)

 

[bilmo-p5]

Fair dos.

The Sun's come out; where's my lens?

 

[ged]

for the benefit of the pedantic, can I introduce the word primitive into the thread? ;-)

And for the REALLY pedantic, can I just point out that lighters, matches, ferro rods and suchlike all rely on friction? Bilmo's the first with a non-friction firelighting method in this thread. okenest: