How Can I Start A Fire By Rubbing Two Sticks Together?

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Explore Stack Internal How can I start a fire by rubbing two sticks together? Ask Question Asked 13 years, 11 months ago Modified 8 years ago Viewed 79k times 29

When trying to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together, what does one need to consider? I am assuming I can't just grab any two sticks and start rubbing...

• Should they be dead or green?
• Hard wood or soft wood?
• Is spinning or scraping more efficient?

• survival
• fire-starting

Share Improve this question Follow edited Dec 10, 2017 at 3:23 Charlie Brumbaugh 69.7k3939 gold badges233233 silver badges446446 bronze badges asked Jan 25, 2012 at 4:01 Lost 19.1k1111 gold badges6868 silver badges126126 bronze badges 1

• 1 Best way, if using the traditional method, will be the Bow-Drill method. I have done this method many times and youtube has a lot of good video how-tos. Once you get the basic set up down, using the proper wood for both the dill and board you will have a new skill and the confidence of knowing you don't need matches, lighter, or flint. Only tip I can give is... Don't use dead/rotting wood. You may want to let your bow & drill cure for a bit if take from fresh live trees. But There is enough wood around to be able to pick up and start practicing right away. Just have patience. Happy Trails GeistvonPA – GeistvonPA 2014-09-07 01:00:05 +00:00 Commented Sep 7, 2014 at 1:00

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4 Answers 4

Sorted by: Reset to default Highest score (default) Date modified (newest first) Date created (oldest first) 35

There are many, many ways to make a fire. Some require more skill, while others depend on carefully prepared equipment.

The closest thing to "rubbing two sticks together" is the hand-drill. You will need a fireboard (a small cedar board is good) and a thin, straight stick. A knife is good, too. This takes a lot of practice. Hand callouses help. YouTube has many videos: Fire Plow (YouTube).

Even further on the skill end of the scale is the fire plow. Basically you push a stick along a groove in a board. I've heard that native people of the Pacific Northwest would walk up to a cedar tree, cut groove in the side of the tree, and plow up a coal right there. Again, see YouTube: Fire Plow (YouTube).

Successful friction fires requires both good equipment and good technique. If you are just starting out, and you won't know if your failures are caused by equipment or technique. This can make learning very difficult. One fix is to buy a good set from an expert. Learn to make fires with it, then make your own kit.

Making any fire requires multiple skills, which you apply in a sequence. A friction method will produce a tiny coal. Once you've mastered that, you still need to be able to make the coal in to a flame (with tinder). Once your tinder is going, you need to light the kindling. Usually you'll add progressively larger fuel to grow the fire for your purposes. Then you need to know how to put the fire out safely.

Each of these stages is its own set of skills to learn. Each is contextual (type of wood available, season, weather, etc.).

Wet weather is especially challenging, so start learning when it's not raining. However, watch out for your dry season, when runaway fires are particularly risky. Check with your fire department for burn bans.

There is no mastery of fire-making. Sometimes, when you're sure that you're doing everything right, you still can't get a good fire going. Consider it a spiritual practice.

Share Improve this answer Follow edited Apr 13, 2017 at 12:48 CommunityBot 1 answered Jan 25, 2012 at 5:28 Jay Bazuzi 2,45911 gold badge1818 silver badges2323 bronze badges Add a comment | 20

I suggest using a bow drill. It's a little tricky to start, but once you get the hang of it you can get pretty good at it.

For wood selections, you generally want to stick with the following:

1. Obviously Dry.
2. You should be able to press into the wood. If you can't at all then it's too hard.
3. However, if you can make a fingertip-sized depression then it's too soft.
4. Make sure there isn't any sap in the wood.

Types of wood to look for are sycamore, willow, and dogwood.

Here's a good site with step-by-step instructions for constructing a bow drill set.

natureskills.com

EDIT A tip I learned from a buddy: put sap on the end of the spindle that is not doing the drilling. That way it doesn't make a fire in your hand piece.

Share Improve this answer Follow edited Jan 25, 2012 at 18:46 Kevin 5,34844 gold badges3434 silver badges5050 bronze badges answered Jan 25, 2012 at 4:29 Justin Self 3,26511 gold badge2828 silver badges2828 bronze badges 1

• 3 An alternative to putting sap on the spindle is to pack a waxy leaf (e.g. holly) into the hole on the bearing block. RichardAtHome – RichardAtHome 2012-10-17 12:10:11 +00:00 Commented Oct 17, 2012 at 12:10

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I have successfully made friction fires before, and it is possible. That said, it is not easy. I would reccomend leaning the bow drill. Use basswood, western red/eastern white cedars, poplar or cottonwood, among others. It is easier than other methods, but still requires a lot of practice. When I was learning the hand drill, I practiced EVERY DAY before I got my first ember. Practice often!

Share Improve this answer Follow answered Aug 1, 2013 at 2:59 Scout in training 6111 silver badge11 bronze badge Add a comment | -9

You can't. Bring a lighter and matches :)

I've seen so-called fire starting "experts" who say they can start a fire with sticks using a spindle or bow, but it almost never works in real life. They usually have a board with special notches or holes (which you won't find in the woods) and special wood. If you're in a survival situation where you need to make fire, these methods are usually too complicated, require too many specific things you won't find in nature, and very time consuming to assemble and use.

Just pack a few lighters and keep them on you at all times.

Share Improve this answer Follow answered Jan 25, 2012 at 19:06 Hartley Brody 3,6612222 silver badges2525 bronze badges 10

• 12 Hm, that's strange. I suppose all the times I have seen people do it in a real life situation, I must have been hallucinating. Of course you need to know what you are doing, but frankly, if you cannot chop a straight piece of wood and cut a notch in it with a knife, what in the ... are you doing in wilderness? Jan Hlavacek – Jan Hlavacek 2012-01-25 22:37:57 +00:00 Commented Jan 25, 2012 at 22:37
• 9 I am down-voting this answer for the following reasons: --The original question did not say this was an emergency survival situation, but only asked for techniques. --Though perhaps difficult, it is possible, so "You can't" is just wrong. --"Bring a lighter" is not very constructive, nor germane to the question. Lost – Lost 2012-01-26 02:43:33 +00:00 Commented Jan 26, 2012 at 2:43
• 2 I admit my answer is a bit cheeky. But if a friend came to me asking how to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together, this is what I'd tell them. It's one of those "woah, I can't believe he did that!" novelty camping tricks, not something that should actually be relied on. Hartley Brody – Hartley Brody 2012-01-26 04:16:37 +00:00 Commented Jan 26, 2012 at 4:16
• 9 I do not agree with that. I know number of people who can do it reliably, in bad weather, rain, snow, etc. If you know what you are doing, you can rely on it just as much as you can rely on matches or lighters. there are obviously different camping styles, some people like to bring all sorts of modern tools and equipment, others prefer to "stay closer to nature", and for those, making fire in a way that people used for 100's of years may be of great value. Jan Hlavacek – Jan Hlavacek 2012-01-26 14:15:15 +00:00 Commented Jan 26, 2012 at 14:15
• 2 I taught my two eldest kids to do it, first just using hands,then a bow. It is hard work, and I'd expect them to always have a flint, but it is good to know you can do it in an emergency. Rory Alsop – Rory Alsop ♦ 2013-01-23 18:23:11 +00:00 Commented Jan 23, 2013 at 18:23

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