Being able to start a fire is essential for surviving outdoors. If by chance you drop matches in the river while camping or lose your lighter along the way, you must be able to manage yourself, lighting a fire with what nature makes available to you or with common objects useful to create friction. Learn how to light a fire without the need for lighters or matches.
Steps
Method 1 of 6: Method 1: Get started
Step 1. Learn how to make a fire bait and have it ready
For each of the methods below, you will need wood to feed the fire and keep it alive.
Step 2. Collect some dry wood
To create a friction and maintain the flame, you will need to use extremely dry wood.
Method 2 of 6: Method 2: Create a Spark using a Battery and a Metal Ball
Step 1. Make a bundle of deadwood and other material that can catch fire easily
You can use leaves, dry grass, sticks and bark. This beam will be used to take hold of the flame once the spark is created.
Step 2. Find a rectangular stack with the two poles visible on one side
Any voltage is fine but the 9 volt ones will be faster
Step 3. Take a pan scourer and rub it on the poles of the pile
The thinner the straw, the better the result.
Step 4. Continue to create friction by rubbing the scourer on the stacks
In this way, current is created between the steel fibers which heat up and ignite.
Another way is to take a 9 volt battery and a metal paper clip and rub it against the poles at the same time to create a spark. The process is similar to turning on light bulbs and toasters
Step 5. Gently blow on the wool as it begins to glow
This will help the flame grow.
Step 6. Once the scourer shines brightly, quickly transfer it to the wood while continuing to blow gently until the wood catches fire
Step 7. Add bigger and bigger pieces of wood to build your bonfire once the beam is lit and enjoy your fire
Method 3 of 6: Method 3: Light a Fire with Flint and Steel
Step 1. Build a bundle out of dry material
Step 2. Take a flint stone (sparkling) and hold it between thumb and forefinger
Make sure there are 4, 6 cm away from the socket.
Step 3. Hold a piece of charred cotton between your thumb and stone
These are small squares that have been turned into fuel. If you don't have any on hand, you can also use balsa mushrooms.
Step 4. Take the back of a steel striker or knife (whichever you have) and quickly rub it against the flint
Continue until a spark forms.
Step 5. Capture the spark with the charred cotton and continue until it becomes embers
The carbonized cotton is made to keep the sparkle without catching fire.
Step 6. Transfer the lit cotton to the wood and blow gently to induce the flames
Step 7. Start adding larger pieces of wood to fuel the fire
Method 4 of 6: Method 4: Use a Magnifying Glass
Step 1. Check that there is enough sun to apply this method
Usually the sun must be direct and not blocked by clouds in order to use a lens.
- If you don't have a magnifying glass with you, you can use glasses and binocular lenses.
- Wet the lenses, it helps to create a more intense and concentrated beam.
Step 2. Build the usual bundle of dry material
Step 3. Tilt the lenses towards the sun until they create a small circle of focused light on the beam
You will likely need to hold the lenses at different angles to create the most concentrated beam possible.
Step 4. Keep the lenses still until smoke begins to come out of the wood and then a flame
Blow lightly on the beam to stimulate the flame.
Step 5. Start adding larger pieces of dry wood to feed the fire
Method 5 of 6: Method 5: Light a Fire with a Hand Drill
Step 1. Build a bundle with dry plant elements
Make sure it is material that can ignite easily.
Step 2. Find a piece of wood to use as a base for your hand drill
You will drill on this piece to create a clutch.
Step 3. Use a knife or any sharp object to cut out a small V-shaped notch in the center of the base
Make sure the notch is large enough to hold the stick that will act as a drill.
Step 4. Place small pieces of bark around
The bark will be used to capture some embers that will form from the friction.
Step 5. Take your stick / drill which should be about 5cm thin and place it in the V-notch in the center of the base to be drilled
Step 6. Hold it between two palms and start rotating it
Remember to push it down firmly as you make this back and forth motion.
Step 7. Continue rotating the drill between your hands pushing one hand forward and then the other hand until a light ember forms at the base
Step 8. Transfer the live embers to a piece of bark
You should have placed more near the base for this purpose.
Step 9. Put the bark with the embers on the beam
Keep blowing gently to transfer the embers and create a flame.
Step 10. Add larger pieces of wood to keep the fire alive
Remember that this method takes some time to work as well as a good deal of physical and mental determination.
Method 6 of 6: Method 6: Using a Drill Bow
Step 1. Always do the usual bundle
Use whatever dry material you can gather.
Step 2. Find an object to use as a hollow such as a stone or a very thick piece of wood
The notch will serve to put pressure on the drill.
Step 3. Find a long, flexible piece of wood that is as long as your arm
Better if with a slight curve. It will act as the bow handle.
Step 4. Make the bow string using a strong, abrasive material that can withstand a lot of friction
You will need a lanyard, thick cord, or a strip of unbleached leather.
Step 5. Tie the string under tension to each end of the arc
If there are no knots in which to anchor it naturally, carve them so that the string holds steady.
Step 6. Find a piece of wood to use as a base for your bow-drill and carve a V-shaped notch
Step 7. Place your nest under the V-shaped notch
The wood must be immediately close to the base of the drill in order to induce flames without problems.
Step 8. Roll the string around the drill stick once
Make sure the stick is in the center to have enough space to create a back and forth motion.
Step 9. Place one end of the drill in the V-notch and place the notch over it
Hold it with your non-dominant hand.
Step 10. Begin to spin the bow quickly back and forth while holding the curved part with your dominant hand
By doing so, the drill will spin and create heat at the base.
Step 11. Continue drilling back and forth until you have created some embers on the base
Make sure you have the wood nearby.
Step 12. Collect the embers made from a piece of wood and pour it over the beam
Alternatively, drop the embers from the base directly onto the beam.
Step 13. Blow on the nest by adding larger pieces of wood to create a fire
Advice
- Feeding a spark until it turns into a flame is the hardest thing to start a fire. Blow softly.
- Black poplar, juniper, aspen, willow, cedar, cypress and hazel are ideal materials for creating bases, arches and drills.
- You should also be able to put out, warn that there is a fire and / or quench a fire before trying to light one.
- Make sure the wood is extremely dry before applying a method that creates friction.
- The hand drill is the most primitive and difficult method but it requires the least materials of all.
- If you don't have any type of sun lens, you can also fill a balloon with water and spray until it forms a small funnel or lens-shaped drop.
Warnings
- Always remember to be careful of the fire.
- Be sure to put out the fire by using water or by covering it with sand or debris before you leave.
- Watch out for sparks and embers that can fly away as you drag.
