Revealing the Secrets of the Hand Drill FRICTION FIRE!

Nothing says primitive skills quite like a hand drill friction fire. There's just something about the process of making a hand spun fire that conjures up images of primitive man. Once you understand friction fire techniques, it's not all that hard but the process can seem mysterious for those new to primitive survival skills and bushcraft. This video is kind of a hand drill friction fire 101 so to speak. I'll cover material selection for the spindle and fire board, tinder, kindling, etc. I'm using yucca and birch bark in this video. Then we'll get into the nitty gritty of spinning up a coal by hand and growing that coal into flame.

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[dougbond]

Clay that was so funny making a primitive fire and your cell phone goes off 😂😂😂

[juppo]

Never seen such a skilled yet humble guy.

[JAB]

Two things I appreciate most about this video:

1. Explaining about the dust color - I don't recall having ever heard that, before.
2. The big ass knife. I generally prefer larger knives and, within reason, can do small knife tasks with a big knife better than I can do big knife tasks with a small knife. Even in the kitchen, I am not a professional cook but I can peel potatoes with a large chef knife a lot easier than slice up a large roast or mince a pile of garlic with a small paring knife.

It was nice to see someone do some sort of fine 'bushcraft' tasks with a big knife. That is very different than a lot of bushcraft/woodscraft/survival channels. Subbed.

Oh, and bonus thing I appreciated - the look on your dog's face. It was like, "I'd die for this human if need be but he sure does some weird things, sometimes."

[bhewiig]

I love the water level footage of your dog swimming. That was so cute!
This was a great tutorial, thank you. You're an excellent teacher.

[xionix]

"Why are your hands bleeding?" "Forgot my boot laces." "What?"

[carrdoug]

Excellent instructional video. You explained the really important steps that too many friction fire videos leave out (produce dark brown. Don't go too hard or fast at the beginning, etc.). 👍👍

[MrRugercat]

Yucca is definitely the complete fire kit, I just cut a small late blooming one to dry and make a hand drill from. The thich bottom part is perfect for the grip on a stone Basketmaker style knife. They also make nice lightweight walking sticks and spears. Great video!

[billgibson]

EXCELLENT your the only one who has said anything about the colour of the dust great tip

[donrogers]

… and I especially appreciated your explaining that THAT was a “Barn Owl”. Before your comment, I wondered how many viewers were thinking, “Boy, he really needs to work on his Humpback Whale call.”
(seriously, your call was so spot-on, I was surprised that you weren’t attacked by crows.)
Again… Most entertaining.

[ismaelrivera]

I like that you're doing all of this in crocs!

[jessydoris]

I live in northwest florida myself .horseweed stalk for spindle and eastern red cedar bark for tender is a great pair .I'm amazed u where able to get an ember sitting down I'm gonna try the adams needle next .awesome video !!!!

[Anthony_Stewart]

Another awesome video my man. Thank you and please don’t stop teaching.

[bottomfeeder]

I think it’s cool that you’re doing instructional stuff on youtube. Spreading knowledge to us average people. When i watched you win a season of alone…I was so happy for you. The fact that you didn’t play the starvation game. You really worked for it. I’d say out of all the seasons…you and Roland were/ are my favorites. There was always work involved to stay and thrive and it’s being passed on. I’m a huge fan.

[ArnovanWyk-qj]

a man who makes a friction fire on a wet sand river bank is a man who knows he can make a friction fire just about anywhere

[BushcraftExplorer]

I watched your video on Bow Making a few months ago and Subbed. I noticed you said you won season 8 of Alone... I quit watching TV back in 2007, never heard of Alone; so my son recently purchased Hulu and after my surgery last Monday I had to stay down and decided to see what was on Hulu - found the Alone series and watched Season 1, 2, and then skipped to 8😄 to see you - great job brother! Thanks for sharing this vid!

[fernandomedeirosduarte]

Muito obrigado por dividir o seu conhecimento vou aplicá-los na próxima vez que praticar fogo por fricção. Um grande abraço do Brasil estado do Rio Grande do Sul.

[jamescrews]

Clay, I wish you had your own survival/bushcraft classes . I would pay in a freakin heart beat brother. But also would like to say thank so much for showing all of your skills!!

[donrogers]

Mr. Hayes, I appreciate your taking the time to produce these videos as your presentation is on a superior level, far above the VAST majority. I enjoyed the intermission between hand-drill efforts. Your pup’s peripheral vision made it known to him that he was being video recorded, and he wisely put on a face of nonchalantly gazing across the lake while thinking “I need to teach this idiot how to properly play with a stick“. (exceptionally well trained Pup.)
The call coming in as you were feverishly trying to close up after brain surgery… I thought that only happened to me. You handled the interruption exceptionally well Sir.( I hope your device landed on a cell phone friendly surface.)
Most entertaining as well as informative. Thank you, Clay.

[raducumilea-isyi]

Nice explanations! About brown dust etc... 👏👏👏

[markhaywood]

Friction Fire in winter West Coast New Zealand, Recipe Below
1.Bic Lighter
2. 1 litre 91 octane Petrol
3. 2 Litres diesel fuel- mix items 2&3 together and apply to Tinder bundle gathereted previously.
4. One vaseline soaked cotton bud- ignite this first with lighter - chuck this at tuinder bundle once alight.
5. Friction is achieved by running away from the "O" for Awesome fire you just maid.
Cheers from the actual deep South.