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Post by paskinner on Apr 7, 2008 8:03:51 GMT -5
Well, this is what I did with my weekend. Always wanted to learn how to start fire with two sticks buy never took the time. Messed with several combinations of materials Saturday and came up with lots of smoke but nary a spark. Finally, yesterday at the neighbors house, we made fire with this piece of pine wood from his barn and a white pine spindle. I would guess that part of the reason it took so long is that nothing here is really dry in the woods and even the slightest dampness messes things up. The half softened braintan for a bowdrill string really holds up well, although we were on the third string before getting fire. This stuff is really addictive.
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Post by Buckskin Billy on Apr 7, 2008 12:29:18 GMT -5
cool got to give that a try myself
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Post by caretaker on Apr 7, 2008 17:36:43 GMT -5
i have started fires that way before. It ain`t easy and your right the platform and tinder has to dry as powder.
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Post by paskinner on Apr 24, 2008 17:45:27 GMT -5
Well, I think I'm getting better at this. Getting coals pretty consistantly now with different fireboards and spindles. So far, I like the popular board and any soft wood spindle best. Smokin'-time to really go at it. There's a coal in there! Cattail fluff is by far the best thing I've found for holding the coal for a long time and smoldering until you blow it into flame. and we have fire.
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Post by fishinmusician on Apr 30, 2008 10:49:07 GMT -5
PA - What's funny about this, is I've been starting to learn this process, too! I use a piece of braintan that I cut off from around the hide where the holes are from frame softening. That's why I don't worry about the edge as much as some others do, because I know I'm gonna cut off that 1/4 inch or so around the whole hide. Most of it I throw away, because it's not strong enough, but the edge on the neck is still fairly strong. I haven't actually started a fire yet, but I will soon. There are some nice little videos on Youtube that demonstrate this. Once I see someone else do it, I know it can be done. Keep us posted on your results!
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Post by paskinner on Apr 30, 2008 13:17:04 GMT -5
PA - What's funny about this, is I've been starting to learn this process, too! I use a piece of braintan that I cut off from around the hide where the holes are from frame softening. That's why I don't worry about the edge as much as some others do, because I know I'm gonna cut off that 1/4 inch or so around the whole hide. Most of it I throw away, because it's not strong enough, but the edge on the neck is still fairly strong. I haven't actually started a fire yet, but I will soon. There are some nice little videos on Youtube that demonstrate this. Once I see someone else do it, I know it can be done. Keep us posted on your results! That's what I use, the edges from the neck on thicker hides. I have some pre-stretched (not really soft) elk peices but they tend to stretch too much and are not as strong as deer neck skin. I've been playing with different spindles, so far the aspen is winning. Aspen fire boards along with the poplar are what I've had the most luck with, along with some kind of pine from boards. We have lots of maple, but it just seems to make lots of smoke and char for me, but no spark. It gives me something different to do while I'm waiting for hides to dry. Now, if I could just master the hand drill....
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Post by paskinner on May 1, 2008 8:25:40 GMT -5
BTW, I'm planning to demo the fire drill for a bunch of school kids tomorrow. I envision spindles flying everywhere and no coals. Prayers needed. ;D
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Post by Buckskin Billy on May 1, 2008 11:47:29 GMT -5
good luck
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Post by livesalone on May 2, 2008 15:06:16 GMT -5
Beaudro, I've only got one fire going so far but that was with a piece of flint and a piece of iron pyrite....I can't keep enough pressure on for the hand-drill. I think I'll be able to get it with the bowdrill, but mine isn't done yet. Will keep you posted. How did today's demo go? Did you burn down the schoolhouse? LOL Lynne
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Post by paskinner on May 2, 2008 18:57:53 GMT -5
Beaudro, How did today's demo go? Did you burn down the schoolhouse? LOL Lynne Well, it was basically a wash-out, due to heavy rain. I should explain that this re-eactment/skills demo thing has been going on for several years, with the exception of last year. It started when my neice told her history teacher that her dad was a re-enactor and the rest is history-she was in seventh or eighth grade then and now has been out of school for a year. The first year it was in the gym, complete with knife and hawk throwing. The next year it moved outside and now it takes place at my brother in laws house. It was raining when the kids showed up and we did a very brief braintan demo for the first batch of kids before moving in the tent for the friction fire. If you look close you can see the deer bone scraper the kids are using in the pic. Meanwhile the rain was getting harder. I got a very small coal on the first try but lost it in the tinder-then the teacher called everyone to get back on the bus-I think he was concerned about lightning and liability issues-you know how paranoid some parents and school boards are today. Although, I'm not sure why the faint chance of lightning was a big deal when we have a blacksmith (super hot fire) kids starting fires with flint and steel, hawk and knife throwing and black powder guns. The whole show lasted about ten minutes this year.
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