[Eng] Sometimes less is more...

[Jeff Wagner]

A mullein hand drill spindle, tinder fungus...12 seconds. More time was needed to extinguish this coal than to create it.


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[Buschtrommler]

12 seconds? what kind of muscles do you have??? when i try that my muscles get hotter than the fire i would like to have... the best result i ever had was a bit of smoke... can you explain how someone can do that without being exhausted???? i never managed to get fire that way - but i have a lighter

gruß
buschtrommler

[Jeff Wagner]

Hand drill

There was a time when I too was sure that only Australian Aboriginees working in pairs could accomplish this feat. Now, I know that its relatively easy when using the right materials. You can do this also and its not at all exhausting. This coal was the result of only three passes down the spindle shaft. I can teach you how to do this and you will be the envie of all who see it.

I am not familiar with the things that grow wild in Germany. Look for a long, straight weed having a pithy core and no larger in diameter than your little finger. I used a weed stem called "mullein" here. I have personally seen it growing in Switzerland and France near Lake Geneva. In Britain they use Elder. A pithy core is important.

The genesis of these words from some plants is very interesting...

Mullein in german it's "Königskerze" or "Fackelkraut" (awfull translated "Torch-herb")- and why "Fackelkraut"?- It seems that this word comes from "making fire"
Also "Elder" (Hollunder in german)- ELD is an old word from Gotland (gutnisch) and meens "Fire"- Eld ist also the swedish word for fire today.

Peter

[Jeff Wagner]

This is very interesting. No doubt these some materials were recognised in ancient times for their fire making qualities.

Learning to make fire this way is a new skill for me and I must say its been the most exciting thing I have accomplished in a long. I can make arrow point from stone and bows from trees and this is satisfying. However being able to go into the woods with no tools or equipment at all and be able to make fire give a special sense of accomplishment.

[Buschtrommler]

I can teach you how to do this and you will be the envie of all who see it.

hey jeff, you want to visit germany? you should come to one of our survivalcamps... there you could show us how to do it, in return i'm sure we could teach you other things... well, of course i could try for days to get fire with the right materials, but i don't have enough time beside university and my travels... but perhaps you could explain how it works in detail.

gruß
buschtrommler

[Jeff Wagner]

I accept your kind offer. Perhaps on my next trip to Europe.

[Mac]

Hello Jeff,

please tell me a secret: How you come from the coals to a flame? I tried it several ways, but the only way I did it was with the "duct layer" (I really don't know if this is written right) of the original tinder fungus.

Regards

Mac

[Waldhoschi]

Hi Mac.
You`ve got to try to ignite something wool-like.
It could be some hairs of seeds like dandelion or even cotton.
To practice it, take some tamponwool and put a little piece of glowing tinder-trama on it. Now wrap whole the stuff in birch bark as you would do it with an burrito.
Begin to blow. Slowely but instant you should give life to the tamponwool. After the sice of a wallnut is glowing, begin to blow as stron as you can. In a matter of seconds all the "Burrito" in your hand begins to burn. Beware of flying glow. It could destroy your eyelight. So wear a pair of sunglases or something else while blowing. As well as you should hold all the bark above your head. Otherwise the smoke will release some tears ;)

After you mannaged it with tamponwool or tissues, you can start to try it on natural "wool" (Not Lamp-wool, it will never burn) like thistle and dandelion.

Im going to make a little instructionmovie about it right now
Joe

[Mac]

Hello Joe,

thanks for your introduction. Am I right that it will not work only with birch bark? You will need something that catches the glow and which is big enough to glow for a while. Then you can blow into it and the glow gets warmer and warmer. After a short while the birch bark and the other tinder will be ignited.

Regards

Mac

[Waldhoschi]

Hi!
Well. It actually did last longer than it should... but here it is.

This is an introduction in building a fire-striking-kit and how to start fire with it.

Hope itl help you to work it out. Have fun!
P.S. The movie is in german language.

Build your own firestriker