Learning Friction Fire Starting | Making Pump/Cord Drill Fire Starter | Cotton Roll Fire Starting

The goal is to learn to make a friction fire starter with items from my go bag, and things found naturally. A couple of methods are tried with varying degrees of success. In the end, fire is started with friction - finally! :)

The initial strategy is to make a cord/pump drill fire starter from natural materials. Bank Line is used for the cord. Aspen seemed to work the best. Yucca was also tried for the spindle.

The second strategy is to use the cotton roll or Rudiger Roll method to make a fire. This is tried using the rolling surfaces of a) two 2x4's, b) a log against a stump, and c) a rock against a stump. The all wood materials work to create a smoking ember. I was unable to make an ember with the rock on the stump as the rolling surfaces.

Special thanks to David West for his recent video on the cotton roll fire starting method. His demonstration literally saved the day by giving me another option for making friction fire.

PRODUCTS USED IN THIS VIDEO
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FIRE STARTING REFERENCES

DAVID WEST

PRIMITIVE TECHNOLOGY
From John Plant's "Primitive Technology" Blog

CORPORALS CORNER

CAMERA GEAR

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[LiveByItHD]

You are one determined girl, I would have stopped long ago and used a match.  Great to know techniques but I hope I never loose my overland rig with matches and lighters in it. :)

[enriquecastellon]

Those are some mad necessary skills weather we ever need in our life time or not in this uncertain world we live in.

Chris, You need to do a video on tenacity! Too many people now days quit. You didn't give up. As always I really like your attention to detail. As the old saying goes The Devil is in The Details.

[ProjectBasecamp]

Kudos on sticking with it! I definitely would have given up!

[garyminick]

I learned friction fire about 5 or 6 years ago . It took me 2 months to get the bow drll fire and i still have trouble on occasion because some of the wood I use was perfect for the first use but a week later it was too deteriorated to make the black dust. If you keep learning and don't get frustrated with your learning its a great ride on your road of accomplishment. Stay with it and learn something every time.

[nascar]

It helps to have survival skills. We made them someday. I pray not though. Thanks

[billbertrand]

As all ways really enjoy your shows T Y NOW GET ANOTHER CUP OF COFFEE