How do you make a fire in the wild?

Question

Assuming you have no lighter or matches how do you make a fire, and other than rubbing sticks together

Answer 1

I have used the magnifying glass on a swiss army knife to make one.

I always carry a couple lighters and a sealed container of matches though.

Answer 2

I'm sure there are other ways, but as an Eagle Scout, I'll list everything off the top of my head that I can say I have personally done.

1. Use a pair of glasses to angle the light of the sun into a fine point onto some form of kindling (can also be done with a magnifying glass).

2. Touch a small amount of steel wool to the contact points of a 9 volt battery and you will get a small flame or sparks, which you can ignite kindling with.

3. Strike flint and steel together over kindling. I found this the hardest if you don't have a little flint and steel kit, but if you do have one it works fantastically. I've noticed some folks say this doesn't work, but you have to be using the right ingredients. That's why this is semi-impractical if you don't carry a flint/steel kit (very small though, almost easier to carry than mathches in a water proof container or a lighter).

4. Polish the bottom of a regular soda can until it is reflective (be careful, as the aluminum is somewhat toxic) and use that to angle light onto kindling, similar to like you did with the glasses. I think the best known way of this is by polishing it with chocolate, but so long as you can get it reflective, it doesn't matter.

5. Rubbing wood together to make friction. I know you said other than this method, but in a pinch, you don't know that you will have the necessary tools for the other methods. Despite Tom Hanks not being able to get it done with by the bow method, it really does work. So does the method he ended up with as well. Again, I notice people mention this doesn't work. The problem, especially with the bow method, is not building up enough friction for a sustained period of time. A lot of people I've seen also forget the kindling on your bottom piece. You'll be hard pressed to light the base on fire just by friction if you don't have any kindling.

Don't say something doesn't work just because you can't get it to work. Some things just take more patience and practice than you may have though necessary.

For kindling, if you happen to be or are travelling with a hairy chested man, the lint that collects in his belly button makes an excellent kindling. Or, check your pockets for lint too. All it is is dryer lint, so don't be grossed out just b/c it came from a navel.

Personally, rather in the woods or not, I always carry my knife and a little steel and flint kit that I keep on my key chain. Matches and lighters are nice, but the kit doesn't need fuel (i.e. it can't run out) and it doesn't matter if it gets wet. Obviously I carry several methods into the woods with me, along with a little firestarter that I learned where you roll up 2-3" wide strips of newspaper into about 0.5-1" diameter logs, soak in parafin wax, tie off with some string, and then stick in the freezer.

Oh, and I've heard tell of starting a fire by firing a firearm into your kindling, and even seen it happen on TV (Man vs. Wild or else Survivor Man). I've never tried it, and here's why. For one, it is dangerous to the fire starter. For another, like all of these methods, it takes more than just one quick attempt: it takes patience. Unfortunately, if you rely on this as your only method, you'll likely run out of shells before you get your fire going. In a survival situations, those shells have a better use.

Answer 3

Glasses can serve as a magnify glass to concentrate sun beams enough to begin a fire. Even a cheapie plastic magnify glass purchased at the 5 n 10 or out of a Cracker Jacks box will work.

Rubbing sticks together has NEVER worked for me and I think it is a myth created by Hollywood. Same as with striking rocks together. The tiny spark is hardly hot enough to ignite anything without an accelerant.

Best suggestion, if you're going to be in the woods, be prepared. Some First Aid kits already come with a small magnify glass and tweezers to help remove splinters and stickers. These will double to built a fire in an emergency. Or just throw in a box of strike anywhere, waterproof matches you can get at any sporting goods store.

Best.

H

Answer 4

If you are worried you will need primitive fire methods, then I would suggest a fire-strike lighter with flint and carry it in a Hudson Bay tinder box with glass burning lense in the lid.

You can set up a firestarter kit for as little as 25 bucks and that is by buying it from "trackofthewolf.com". Practice with this and you'd be surprised how fast you can light a fire. Record for doing this is something like 30 seconds for flame.

Have your dry tinder and small twigs ready before you start striking flint. Chert or flint is available all over the USA and world in general. Best place to find it will be in a creek bed that runs through limestone cliffs. Chert is the most common "flint". Having a striker made of the proper tempered steel is almost a necessity. Having said that,an old used file will do if you use the smooth edge, not the file edge.

Play with this and see how easy it is to do. Then learn how the knap that same flint to keep a sharp edge on it for future use.

Answer 5

People who know how to light a fire without matches never go out without their matches.

Rubbing sticks together is very difficult and usually takes over an hour. Unless you have done it, I highly doubt you will be able to.
A magnifying glass or glasses will focus the suns energy and can ignite some dry tinder.
Flint and steel (a knife) with create a spark. You will need flash paper or some steel wool to keep the spark. Again very difficult.

Like I said, those of us who know how to do it never leave home without a match because we know how hard it is to create fire and how essential fire can be in an emergency situation.

I suggest you always carry a lighter or matches in a water tight container when going out into nature.

Answer 6

if your planning to go in the wild take a lighter but since you don't have one you can hit 2 river rocks together or use a magnesium flint stick using a knife scrape off some magnesium on to leaves or cattail fluff and using the flint make a spark when using cattails break open the top part and get the white fluff out of it and that stuff goes up in flames in a matter of seconds. just remember to keep the fire going using little twiggs and use bigger and bigger logs as your fire gets stronger.

Answer 7

You fuxed might as well keep on walking i never go to the wild without a lighter

Answer 8

Got a 9-volt battery and steel wool? Touch the wool to the terminals, and you get some lovely sparks...