This is one of those forgotten skills that everybody should have. The ability to start a fire without using matches or a lighter. Here are some tried and tested techniques that can be fun to try

The Friction Technique.
We all know that rubbing things together makes them warm up and if you have ever watched any of the excellent Ray Mears Bushcraft TV series you will have seen Ray use a variety of friction based techniques. But be warned, the friction based technique can be enormously hard work. But making fire this way can be enormously satisfying.

Basically, you need two pieces of wood, one to act as the fireboard and the other as the spindle. It is important that the wood is completely bone dry. As for all of these firemaking techniques you will need to make a tinder nest using bone dry grass, wood shaving and other easily flammable material.

Cut a V shaped notch in your fireboard and place some bark under the notch to catch the smouldering ember. Carve another little indentation into your board at the point of the V for the tip of your spindle. You can spin your spindle, which should be about two feet long, using a bow made with string and a bent piece of bendy wood. By wrapping the bow string around the spindle and putting light pressure on the end you can make the spindle spin really fast, creating a lot of friction. Hopefully you will soon see wisps of smoke coming from your fireboard. Once you see a glowing ember push this onto a piece of bark and transfer to your tinder nest. Then gently blow onto your tinder nest to turn the embers into fire.

Using Fire Sticks
In days of old people would often carry a piece of high carbon steel and flint to make fire. The flint would be used to strike the steel, creating a spark. These days you can find excellent firesteels in many bushcraft supply stores consisting of a high carbon steel rod and hardened steel striker. Its also possibel to use the steel blade of a knife.
As for all the other techniques, you will need a dry tinder nest for your spark, but this method will not wear you out like the friction based method.

Using the Sun
We’ve all used magnifying glasses to scorch things as children. This is another well known and effective way to create fire, but you’ll need some sunshine for this to work. However, we don’t all carry magnifying glasses with us wherever we go. You might have a pair of spectacles that you could use, or even a condom filled with water.

Using Electricity
This is a great way to demontrate the power and danger of electricity. For this one you will need a battery and some steel wool. The best batteries for this are the 9v variety. Rubbing the battery contacts on the wire wool will make it heat up and begin to burn. Transfer your burning steel wool to your dry tinder nest and blow to ingnite. Hey presto, fire!

These techniques are great to try when you are next on a family camping trip. Why not include a few fire-making tools with your camping equipment and let your children have a go. But be sure to take plenty of warm outdoor clothing because you might be a little chilly without a fire.

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