Starting a fire the old fashion way..... how cool !!!!!

[~TABASCO~]

I've always wanted to experience starting a fire with just two pieces of wood. You read about it, and you know it can be done, but I wanted to do it... It was kinda on my bucket list. Recently I've been poking around for pointers, Etc. Yesterday I was at Home Depot picking something up for the wife and remembered the wood I wanted to try.. I grabbed a small plank of Cedar for about $1 and left.. Last night I whittled down a little drill, off the side of the board I bought and fashioned the plank like I had seen... OK, today at lunch I messed with it for a few minutes. The very first time I tried it I got a 'coal' & smoke... wow, that was cool.. I burned up a piece of paper and burned my finger.. After that I got some dried grass and tried it a few more times... After my 3-4th try I had a monster coal and dumped it into my 'nest' of grass... Puffed at it a little and it burst into flames.. I had this in a metal box here at the shop. Walked out side and put it all out with a water hose....
That was some good satisfaction starting it with two pieces of wood and some grass... I'm going to practice more but I now know what it really takes to start one out in the boon docks if I get stuck with no fire starter..... Good stuff ! ::008::
The bow was strung with a short piece of prerecord. From start to finish I had a fire in less than ten minutes. I wanna go do it again... ::025::

 

[HoebSTer]

that is great work. Living in the PNW, I want to try starting one out in a wet woods while it is raining. Then when I get frustrated and pissed off, get out some gasoline and finish it off. No, it would be neat to start one when wet, when I am not under the stress of being stranded someplace.

 

[howie ronic]

I saw a youtube video where they took an unused (self disclaimer) tampon that was pulled apart in a shredded manner. It was an amazing fire starter similar to Jaxon's technique. Don't know if it would work in the Northwet this time of year. I would tend to employ Jeff's technique. Napalm at a minimum.

 

[snakebitten]

This has the makings of a great thread. Both for entertainment and legit learning.

Having said that, I am very unlikely to be without a Bic lighter or 2. Ever!
And if I'm actually planning to be off the grid, I probably have a Jet-bowl available too.

I'm not worried about making a fire. I'm more concerned with dinner.
So I'll get the fire going. You guys gotta go find something to cook.

 

[Karson]

I think people would be surprised how difficult it can be to make a fire - even when you have a lighter.

It's definitely a skill.

The wetter and colder it is, the more you may need a fire, and the harder it is to make one.

I practice (occasionally) and it never ceases to amaze me how much harder it is to do when conditions are not perfect.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Very true. I just keep practicing. Fire will save your a$$...

 

[snakebitten]

I think people would be surprised how difficult it can be to make a fire - even when you have a lighter.

It's definitely a skill.

The wetter and colder it is, the more you may need a fire, and the harder it is to make one.

I practice (occasionally) and it never ceases to amaze me how much harder it is to do when conditions are not perfect.

Now you are changing the rules just so I can't have it easy.

OK. Now it's wet. I'll for SURE need a Bic. (And a Tampax)

 

[patrickg450]

Not trying to be a douche (pun) but I thought only BMW rider carried tampons.

 

[snakebitten]

These are off-road Tampons. Completely different critter.

 

[tomatocity]

I like the challenge Jaxon has taken on and fire starting will be something to learn but... after the last camping trip I decided to find an alternative to starting a fire in the wet. UST WetFire Firestarting Tinder http://www.reveresupply.com/2013_ust_site/Root/2_wetfire_tinder.html was my choice. These cubes will ignite in water. I bought a box of 12 for me and a riding / camping friend. Now I see this product stores for 5 years. I suggest you buy a box, keep a few, and sell / trade / gift the others. Replenish as needed.

 

[AVGeek]

An old Jeeper trick is to use Cheetos as tinder....

 

[RIVA]

An old Jeeper trick is to use Cheetos as tinder....

Or you can use everyone's favourite flushing agent namely "Kerosene" ::020::

 

[UrbanADV]

But the final drive doesn't hold very much.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Cotton balls saturated with Vaseline tucked away in a film canister/med bottle. Still need a good sparker... or a stick. Jaxon! Try the cotton ball trick with your stick, let us know. Prolly won't light directly, dry tinder-coal-soaked cotton ball... I've been meaning to try my magnesium striker on the soaked cotton ball.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Cotton balls saturated with Vaseline tucked away in a film canister/med bottle. Still need a good sparker... or a stick. Jaxon! Try the cotton ball trick with your stick, let us know. Prolly won't light directly, dry tinder-coal-soaked cotton ball... I've been meaning to try my magnesium striker on the soaked cotton ball.

A good hot wood coal should start the cotton ball.. Ill try it.. Also, in our back backing clinic they said if you do the cotton balls with Vaseline and then cover them with olive they say you get two more minute burn time...... Have not tried that yet.....

The magnesium striker will start the cotton balls...

 

[SuperJimbo]

All this pyromania, gotta love it! >

 

[Downtown]

I have done the bits of wood start a few times, as described and like castaway. Bought the magnesium striker, but, have not completed that test yet. Funny, trying to teach the younger set the fine art of fire building and they go right to the propellant with lighters. Get them inside without a duralog and they are lost.

 

[maddog5150]

Very cool Tabasco! I too have always wanted to try it. Watched lots of you tube videos and such, but never tried hands on....

 

[snakebitten]

I'm a weenie.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Very cool Tabasco! I too have always wanted to try it. Watched lots of you tube videos and such, but never tried hands on....

Go to home depot and grab a cedar board and have them cut it down.. You can get about 8-10 pieces for about $2.00.... Then you have tons of wood... There are two things I didn't know at first and now I do (and im certainly no expert)... I needed to push down harder and pull the bow a bit faster to get a bigger coal.............. second, the coal is fragile and will burn very hot for 'about' a minute or so... The 'nest' needs to be very dry and flammable... Weather its dried grass or cedar bark, Etc... I took the grass and roughed it up into fine fibers, and but the big chunks off to the side... After I got a good fat hot coal I dumped it into my next and gave'er a puff, it popped right up into flames....... was really cool..... Give it a try ::008::