Primitive fire starters
From WildernessWiki.org
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This article is incomplete. |
| Firestarters |
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| Primative |
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Flint and steel |
| Modern |
Flint and steel
Flint and steel have been used together to start fires for centuries. Flint is a form of mineral quartz that is usually dark-gray, black, or deep brown in color. It should not be confused with ferrocerium, an artificial material often marketed as flint. In addition to its use as a cutting tool, flint will scrape off a shower of hot sparks when struck against high-carbon steel.
A flint firestarting set uses a piece of flint large enough to be firmly grasped with the thumb and forefinger. One edge should be an acute angle, but it does not need to be sharp enough to cut. Any piece of high-carbon steel can be used as the striker. For ergonomics and ease of use, a "C-shaped" piece of steel which fits around the fingers is most often used.
Bow drill
The bow drill is an ancient tool used as a firestarter, and also as a primitive drill. A bow drill is comprised of four components: the bow, socket, spindle, and hearthboard. The user uses the bow to spin the spindle against the hearthboard, while the socket is held in one hand to keep the spindle upright. The friction between spindle and hearthboard simultaneously grinds the wood of the hearthboard into a powder and creates heat. The heat eventually ignites the wood dust, creating a hot coal which can then be blown into flame.
Fire piston
A fire piston is an ancient device that uses heat from the rapid compression of air to light a fire. The device consists of two pieces, a hollow cylinder closed at one end and a piston that slides into the tube, creating an airtight seal. The user places a small amount of tinder into a recess at the tip of the piston, then inserts the piston into the tube. Holding onto the tube end, the user quickly forces the piston into the tube, creating heat through the rapid compression of the air inside the device. This heat ignites the tinder that was placed at the tip of the piston. The piston can then be removed from the cylinder and used to light other tinder and start a fire.
Hand drill
The hand drill is similar to the bow drill, but your hands are used to spin it and provide pressure. A small variation of this is the mouth drill, where you use a socket held in your mouth to keet the drill straight and provide pressure, and your hands to spin it.
Fire plow
The fire plow is done by cutting a groove in a softwood base board and using a hardwood 'plow' to rub up and down the groove to produce a coal.
Trivia
This method is used for making a fire in The Sims 2: Castaways.
Fire thong
The fire thing is done by using a leather thong in a fashion similar to a flexible saw, to produce a coal.
