Do you think that you can build a fire using a fire by friction set made by yourself? If you answered YES to the this question, you are already 50% done with the building of your fire by friction. It is a fun challenge to any scout and the following tips should make it easier for you, especially if you believe you can build a fire by friction set.

This fire-by-friction set was last used in 1971. (The bow is not displayed)
When last used it was capable of creating an ember in 40 seconds.
Click on image to see a larger picture.

Finding the Right Wood

Your first step is to find the best wood for your spindle and your fireboard.  Generally, you should make these two parts of your set from the same type of wood (if for some reason this is not possible, make sure that the spindle is a harder wood than the fireboard).  Good choices for your spindle and fireboard are:

• Red Elm (Slippery Elm)
• Cedar - one of the best choices
• Basswood
• Walnut
• Blue Beech
• Cottonwood
• Yucca - one of the best choices
• Cypress
• Tamarack

For your thunderhead you'll want to use a pine or hemlock knot.  The trick is to get a piece of wood from the fir family that has a lot of resin that will help lubricate the thunderhead.

Drying your Wood

For this to work, your wood must be bone dry.  If your wood is not dry, you will need to dry it out.  On a hot summer day, you can put the spindle and fireboard on the dashboard of a car and let the sun dry it out.  If the weather is not cooperating, you can wrap your floorboard and spindle in aluminum foil and place it on a charcoal fire for s short time to dry.  Be careful though - if you leave it too long, it will burn. 

The Spindle

The spindle should be straight wood and preferably from the center of the log. A good height for your spindle is to 12 to 15 inches with a diameter of 3/4 of an inch. With a sharp hand axe, shave the corners down, so as to make your spindle eight sided. Leave the edges sharp, so that they will bite into the thong or rope of your bow. Sharpen both ends, with the top end being a little more pointed than the bottom end.

The Fireboard

Next, split a piece of wood about 3/4 of inch thick for the fireboard. Your fireboard must have a flat surface so it does not rock when placed on the ground. The length of your fireboard should be 18 to 24 inches long. The holes in your fireboard should be 3/4 of an inch from the edge. Make sure the hole is far enough from the edge to prevent breaking. To start the holes in your fireboard, use the sharp corner of a hand axe or a lock blade knife.  

The Thunderhead

Your thunderhead should be made of a hard wood that has been taken from a log or branch. It should fit in the hand well and should be comfortable to the user. Start the hole in your thunderhead the same way you did in your fireboard.

The Bow

The last part of your set is the bow. The bow should be about the length of your arm, or perhaps a little longer. It will work best if it is slightly flexible and has a slight curve. Unless your bow has a fork at the end(s), you will need to put notches or holes in your bow to keep the thong or rope from slipping. So, make sure your bow is thick enough. Do not forget to leave room for a handle. The thong or rope, which is used to turn the spindle on the fireboard, should be made of good quality rawhide or rope. Cherry sap may be used on the thong or rope to give the spindle a non-slipping surface.

Tinder

A bird nest without feathers or mud is the best tinder. Dry grapevine, sassafras, and the inner bark or cottonwood or aspen can be used, but should be shredded and made into a nest. Many people like dry grass which is easy to find, but make sure it is very, very dry! Dry grass also smokes a great deal. Seton suggested using a wad of fine, soft, very dry, dead grass mixed with shredded cedar bark, birch bark, or even cedar wood scraped into a soft mass.  If you can find a meadow mouse's nest, it will also work nicely. Make sure your nest has a place to put your spark.

Lubricants

Before you start, collect some jewelweed, sassafras leaves, or sap that you can put between the top of the spindle and the thunderhead.  If you lubricate the top of your spindle well it will turn without as much friction at the top and create more friction at the bottom.

Preparation

Before you start, decide which end of the spindle will be the top.   Mark the top of you spindle with the edge of a piece of charcoal or a pencil so that you know which end is the top.  This is very important, because you never want the top of the spindle to touch the fireboard.  The top end will be lubricated and if the lubricant gets on the fireboard, it will also lubricate the bottom of your spindle and prevent you from being able to start a spark.  It is also a good idea not to touch the bottom end, because the oil from your hands will lubricate it.

Now it is time to burn the holes in your thunderhead and fireboard. Many methods can be used, but the most effective way has proven to be the type where the left foot is placed on the fireboard, the thunderhead is held under the knee of the left leg, and the bow is pumped with the right arm. If you are left-handed, you hold the fireboard with the right foot, the thunderhead is in the right hand, and you pump the bow with your left arm.  

After you have burned the hole(s) into the fireboard, use a hand saw or a bow saw, and cut a narrow notch into the fireboard, so that the point of the V is at the center of the hole. The notch should go farther underneath the hole than it does on top so that the spark does not get caught. Use a knife to shave the rough edges, but remember not to make the notch too big. The edges of the notch need to be as smooth as possible so that the powder and spark will drop down below the fireboard.

Now you are ready to get a spark. Put some jewelweed, sassafras leaves, or other natural lubricant inside the thunderhead. Tighten your bow before you start to pump, and tighten it again when necessary. Pump the bow in the manner described earlier. Take long, even strokes. Pressure is very important, so force as much weight as possible on to the thunderhead. Keep a good rhythm. A popular method is the 20-20-20. First take 20 long strokes to establish a good rhythm. Then, increase the speed for 20 strokes while adding a little pressure and maintaining long strokes. Finally, put on as much pressure as possible while going as fast as possible. If you can do this for another at least another 20 strokes, you probably will have a spark. Make sure you have something underneath your fireboard to catch your "goofers" dust and your spark. Aluminum foil works well for this. Keep all your goofers dust in a 35mm film canister or something similar, as you will use it to build up your spark. Do not stop when smoke starts appearing. Add pressure and a little bit more speed. Even if you think you have a spark, keep pumping. When you feel like stopping, don't. If, after you stop pumping, smoke appears, you have a spark.

What to Do with the Spark

Once a spark is obtained, fan it with a knife blade. Catch your breath, and get your nest ready. You should not be in a hurry. After the spark has been built up with the goofers dust you have saved up, cut it in half and place it into the middle of your nest with your knife blade. Enclose the spark with the nest, but do not smother it. Hold up the nest as if you were praying to something in the sky, and whisper to that beautiful spark. If you blow too hard, you will blow it out. As the spark gets larger and more abundant, blow a little harder. Soon the tinder will burst into flames, but do not drop the nest. Instead, place it down into the fire lay that you have built. If the first half of your spark does not light the tinder, use the other half that remains from when you cut the spark, and place it in the birds' nest again. Build up your fire. Do not get excited and use your set for firewood!