Having a go at making fire using the hand drill method.

Ive been playing about again and this time I tried making fire using the hand drill method.

I used rattan as the hearth and bamboo as the drill and this combo works really well together.

I have to say it was hard work and left me sweating like a good en,I found it harder than the bamboo fire saw method thats for sure.

Now using bamboo which is a grass and rattan which is a vine is all well and good if you live in the rain forest but not much use here in the UK so my next task when it comes to the hand drill is to find a suitable drill and hearth from woods found locally and give this a try with those,Im sure it will be much harder than using bamboo and rattan.

Also I did this inside and would imagine that it will be much harder in the damp UK climate.

 

What the damp UK climate LOL

 

I didn't realize that bamboo and ratan were that common in UK...They probably grow all over the island!...

 

Haa haa your a funny guy Bane

 

Sorry...couldn't resist...

 

Thanks

 

here's a tip that takes 90% of the effort out of using a fire drill:

Put a slot in the top end of the drill large enough to accept a piece of bootlace.

Tie your thumbs together with a bootlace, giving them about 3" of separation.

Fit your bootlace thumbcuffs into the slot of the drill, and start spinning it in the usual manner.

Ta-Dah: Your hands will stay at the top of the drill, and you won't have to do the usual run-down-and-recover routine as you spin the drill.

Plus you can get more friction by loading up on the thumbcuffs a little bit.

Coal time with this method (on a dry day) is 15-30 seconds.

And it's MUCH easier.

There is also no reason you can't make the thumbcuffs integral with the drill, also, if you carry a ready-made set.

Just drill a small hole across the diameter of the firedrill and slip a 6" circle of bootlace into the hole. Knot each side of the loop so it can't slide out of the hole.

Then just stick your thumbs into the loops, and start twirling away....

 

Nice work Sticks. I have a fresh blister from practice last night.

 

sorry for the very late response bro but ive been very busy moving home.
thanks for checking this post out and I hope those blisters have healed.

 

some very good tips there,thanks.

 

I've never had any luck with this method but would love to have it in my bag of tricks. What woods are compatable for friction fire? I suspect that's my problem.

 

Hi there,

Where would one find rattan? I am also hoping to give this method a try.

George