Fire by Friction
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By Dudley Winn SmithFire by Rubbing Sticks (31). "I have experimented in fire-making for several years and am delighted to do a special scout Good Turn by describing my method, which differs very little from the one described in the Boy Scout Handbook for Boys. The author has asked me to tell you how I established the records, so I'll do my best. The illustration below is from an exact duplicate of the rubbing stick set that I used. "A few minutes before the start of the contest in Kansas City, I prepared a fire-pit by rubbing it with a drill just as I would in actually making a fire. Then I laid aside my apparatus, taking care that nothing came in contact with either the charred end of the drill or the fire-pit. Next I worked a small handful of absolutely dry red cedar bark tinder into a thick round pad and placed it directly under the fire pit of my American elm board. When the starter said 'Go' I drew my bow back and forth with long complete strokes. In about three seconds a little pile of smoking black charcoal issued from the pit. Then I stopped rubbing, picked up both the board and the tinder and blew directly onto the smoking pile, which immediately turned into a red ember. In 7.2 seconds after I drew the first stroke the tinder burst into flame. Luckily for me the three timers all agreed. "The suggestions below are given in hopes that they will help you make fire rapidly. I worked a long time before I was able to produce a blaze in less than a minute. Do not get discouraged if you fail at first ; keep trying and you are sure to succeed. The Bow. "I find a long bow by far the best. Mine is twenty-nine inches long and has a three inch bend. The easiest way to secure the thong so that it can be adjusted quickly is to drill two holes in the end of the bow, as illustrated. When using the bow, hold the board very firmly with your foot, or you, will never get a spark. When you stop bowing, do not let the drill fly, but lift it out of the pit. The Drill-Socket. "A very hard substance must be inserted in the drill-socket to prevent excessive friction. I use the glass knob of a coffee percolator top. The pressure on the drill socket must be increased gradually. The Fire-Pit. "When a new fire-hole is made, the pit should be drilled before the notch is cut. The end of the drill should be pointed only for starting a new hole; after that it should always be kept round. While bowing the spindle must be held exactly perpendicular to the board. A 'U' shaped notch is better than a 'V.' A spark can be produced more easily by putting a little sand in the pit. Woods for Fire by Friction. "Of the common woods of the United States I have found American elm decidedly the best for both the board and the drill. Since establishing my record I have discovered that yucca (a wood found on the desert) is even better than elm. I have repeatedly produced an ember yucca by two complete strokes of the bow.
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Last modified: October 15, 2016.