I would like to share my feelings of getting my first fire going.
It was on the course last weekend.
I have tried several times before to get fire by friction and never got more than smoke, even on the course that I went on previously.
On saturday afternoon, I was notching a hearth board of either poplar or something else and using a hazel spindle. stone hand hold and green bent stick.
I deliberatly chose the same materials that were demonstrated as working.
I can't remember the faults of each but the first two notches where badly done, one was too wide.
On my third notch, being a lot more carefull, I had a decent notch.
My technique wasn't bad by the end of it, the problems I had fixed and pointed out to me where,
Not holding the string with right hand.
Locking shin properly
Avoiding an angled spindle.
Not pressing too hard on hand hold.
Getting the best use of string length.
Not to pick a bow that is actually too long for me.
I can't remember any more but I am sure there was.
I had a lot of tips from different ppl, But couldn't get the technique down.
Eventually after everyone had suceeded and left to get a brew, I decided to give up, only one of the helpers on the course stayed to help.
After deciding to give up I tried it again, and actually managed to get a very good glowing coal about a centimetre across.
After blowing this into the fungus and burning myself a little, I finally settled down and said yes.
I had made fire by rubbing two sticks together.
I felt over the moon, and still do.
Then on tuesday I went out to my not so local woods, and picked up a few branches of dead wood.
I took a green stick from across the road.
And a thick holly branch as a hand hold.
I have gotten smoke so far, but I am not really trying for fire.
I am working on my technique.
I am using a hazel spindle and a hearth board from something else.
I know I could get fire from it quite easily if I made a proper notch.
I feel all the better because I went out and picked these materials out of my walk, took them home and they worked, they didn't need dried out or nout.
It is probably a fluke but It makes me feel good anyway.
I still get the smack on the fingers when the spindle slips but I am getting there.
Hope you enjoyed reading my lil story.
It was on the course last weekend.
I have tried several times before to get fire by friction and never got more than smoke, even on the course that I went on previously.
On saturday afternoon, I was notching a hearth board of either poplar or something else and using a hazel spindle. stone hand hold and green bent stick.
I deliberatly chose the same materials that were demonstrated as working.
I can't remember the faults of each but the first two notches where badly done, one was too wide.
On my third notch, being a lot more carefull, I had a decent notch.
My technique wasn't bad by the end of it, the problems I had fixed and pointed out to me where,
Not holding the string with right hand.
Locking shin properly
Avoiding an angled spindle.
Not pressing too hard on hand hold.
Getting the best use of string length.
Not to pick a bow that is actually too long for me.
I can't remember any more but I am sure there was.
I had a lot of tips from different ppl, But couldn't get the technique down.
Eventually after everyone had suceeded and left to get a brew, I decided to give up, only one of the helpers on the course stayed to help.
After deciding to give up I tried it again, and actually managed to get a very good glowing coal about a centimetre across.
After blowing this into the fungus and burning myself a little, I finally settled down and said yes.
I had made fire by rubbing two sticks together.
I felt over the moon, and still do.
Then on tuesday I went out to my not so local woods, and picked up a few branches of dead wood.
I took a green stick from across the road.
And a thick holly branch as a hand hold.
I have gotten smoke so far, but I am not really trying for fire.
I am working on my technique.
I am using a hazel spindle and a hearth board from something else.
I know I could get fire from it quite easily if I made a proper notch.
I feel all the better because I went out and picked these materials out of my walk, took them home and they worked, they didn't need dried out or nout.
It is probably a fluke but It makes me feel good anyway.
I still get the smack on the fingers when the spindle slips but I am getting there.
Hope you enjoyed reading my lil story.
