How to make a fire at your camping trip but without lighters or matches?

Question

I am going on a camping trip this winter. I want to know how to make a nice warm fire. Its supost to be windy but only a little. Anyways your know and tell me how to do it. If you know any important things to bring just incase it might not work. Lastly it needs to be big i am bring my whole Boy scout troop. # of people maxammum 40 minumun my family 3.

Answer 1

In an emergency, it is a good survival technique to know how to start a fire using many different methods.


FLINT AND STEEL METHOD

Many campers, hikers and outdoorsmen carry flint and steel as part of their basic equipment. Flint is a very hard rock, dark colored and with very sharp edges. It can often be found in the wilderness areas but if you cannot find flint, other hard stones may also bring enough spark to start a fire. You can test them by striking them on a piece of steel.



To start your fire you will first want to separate the steel into a small nest. Lint from a clothes dryer will also work. This nesting area is what will catch the spark. With some very gentle blowing from you at the base of the smoldering area, a spark can ignite a flame. Gradually add small tinder to your fire to build it up into a strong fire.


MAGNIFYING GLASS

If the sun is shinning brightly a magnifying glass or even a thick pair of eye glass lenses can start a fire. By adjusting the glass to redirect the sunlight to focus directly on your nest of tinder you can start a fire in the same method as described above.


CEDAR BARK AND YUCCA STEM

This method of starting a fire without matches is known as the hand-drill method and is without a doubt the most difficult option described. When an outdoorsman becomes proficient in this method however, it can be one of the fastest ways to create a fire.


The cedar bark will act as your nest shaped spark catcher. Make sure your material is very dry and removed from any windy weather conditions.


You will also need a straight and strong yucca stem found often in the Western United States and other desert locations. Break your stem into two pieces. You will need to use the straightest part of the yucca stem for the "drill". You can use a knife or sharp rock to slightly sharpen the end. Next prepare the second half of the stem to create your "block". Make a small hole and cut a notch in the side. The notch is where the ashes will fall to create your ember. Place the two ends together and and rub them rapidly while applying downward pressure. Continue this process until it starts to fit together well. This step is done to get the block and drill working smoothly together.


Use a small piece of bark or leaf to place under the block where the notch is to catch the ash where the ember will be created. This item will help to re-locate the ember to the previously made nest.


At this point, you will continue the hand-drilling process until the ashes have collected into an ember and it is glowing. Spitting on your hands for lubrication will make this process easier before you begin. You will need to keep the movements rapid and the pressure forceful to expect results. Don't get discouraged. When you are first learning this process you can expect blisters and disappointment is common. You can however make a good ember and after placing it in the nest and gently blow on it as instructed in the other methods, will build a successful fire.

Answer 2

The magnifying glass will work but try to find the largest glass that is feasible for this. The squarish 4inx5in ones that some people use to read are much better than the 1in circular ones that are on key chains and such. Also, you will need direct sunlight without clouds so you will have to find a large clearing usually during the middle of the day. Also, make sure the tinder is out of the wind and as dry as possible. Be patient as it can take minutes for the beam to heat the tinder up to a flame. Bottom line:this is probably only going to work during the middle hours of a clear day with dry tinder and little wind.

Just a piece of flint will create a spark against steel but the spark may not burn for the fraction of a second until it hits the tinder so mant stores have a thin piece of flint attached to a larger piece of magnesium. Shave some of the magnesium onto the tinder and then use the flint and some steel (like a pocket knife) to make the sparks ignite the magnesium which will start the tinder. The magnesium burns at about 5000 degrees so it will light in rain, snow, at night etc.

Increase the size of the fire by adding steadily larger sticks then logs.

Answer 3

Hello Jhony:

If you are near a BSA Scoutstore, they carry a flint-n-steel kit as well as the Hotspark kit, and the Fire By friction kit. You will want to practice quite a bit, before performing in front of a group.

Things to remember; fire needs three things: air, heat & fuel. The fire starter should be small, fine material. You can use hair, milkweed silk, cotton, cattail silk, fine shavings of wood, dry fine grass, or other fine fibers. Some like to use the lint from the dryer as starter. If you do, try to avoid lint from synthetic blends.

If you have a copy of the BSA Field book, there are other tips on types of fires to build for different applications, and the Wilderness Survival merit badge book also has fire building information.

Keep on Scoutin'

Answer 4

Don't make the fire bigger than it has to be - Bon fires seem cool but they are not conservation minded.
Do bring dry kindling and dryer lint. That's right dryer lint! Leave a baggie on the dryer so the rest of the family can add to it. When it is full, stick it in your backpack. Strike your flint over the lint and you'll get a fire going quickly.

Answer 5

Most camping supply stores have the whole natural fire starting kit. It ussally includes some flint, and some type of fine material to use as kindling. They run around 10 Bucks

Answer 6

Sunlight concentrated through a magnifying glass on dried tree litter, shredded paper or whatever will also get a fire going.

Have fun! :-D

Answer 7

rub 2 sticks together over dead grass