Fire by Friction Methods
The way friction fire is used differs widely between modern bushcraft and survival practitioners, indigenous peoples, ritual\ceremonial practitioners, "primitive skills" practitioners etc and the SHFF approach! There is no one way to use fire by friction! There are seemingly endless ways to rub sticks together! On this page I've summarised a few of the main methods - there are many variations of every method as there is always more than one way and the way a method is used may differ between culture, geography and individual etc etc.
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Fire Plough or Stick and Groove
The Fire Plough (Plow/ Stick and Groove) is most likely one of the earliest friction methods attempted by our ancestors, due to technical simplicity i.e. literally rubbing 2 pieces of wood together! It is one of the simpest methods but not the easiest, however it is possible in the UK. It is commonly used throughout Polynesia and Australasia. The Samoans make it look very easy (see video to the left), but they also have the right woods and the knowledge is handed down! Once you have the knowledge, know the technique, have the right materials and have practiced then everything is easy :) The fire plough is also mentioned in the Polynesian Maui legends. Also see these interesting articles on Polynesian fire making: http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2014/08/27/hika-ahi-making-fire/ nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-MarYear-t1-body1-d3.html |
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In June 2020 after many years of experimenting with the fire plough I finally succeeded ad continued to practice and hone my approach. Since then I have been sharing the knowledge and skills I have learnt on this website, YT, FB and Insta.See my Fire Plough UK page for more details on how to use the Fire Plough and links to various videos.
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Hand Drill
The hand drill consists of a long thin spindle, which is rubbed together in the hands to make it spin into a hearth board. The hand drill is the simplest technology wise of the spinning methods. The spinning friction methods are a lot more effective (especially in Northern Hemisphere) as the friction energy is concentrated in one spot. The Hand Drill is seen to be the most difficult of the spinning methods as it relies on just your hands and strength though it is not as difficult as many people think as long as you are willing to put in the time :). The main thing as always is getting the right materials and learning the correct technique, (i.e. knowledge is everything! ) and regular practice. It is one method I have to practice regularly to welcome in an ember, and as soon as I stop practicing then it takes me a while to get back into it again! My favourite combination at the moment is Teasel on Clematis. I also find it the most profound and "spiritual" of all the methods as it is just you and your hands. Used throughout the world by many Indigenous cultures, and mentioned in many fire origin stories
See Hand Drill section for more info on using Hand Drill. People can take turns with the hand drill (like many indigenous tribes) rather than it just being the responsibility of one person.
Here are some interesting reads: Survival Skills of Native California, Fire Making Methods in the American Museum by Walter Hough
The hand drill consists of a long thin spindle, which is rubbed together in the hands to make it spin into a hearth board. The hand drill is the simplest technology wise of the spinning methods. The spinning friction methods are a lot more effective (especially in Northern Hemisphere) as the friction energy is concentrated in one spot. The Hand Drill is seen to be the most difficult of the spinning methods as it relies on just your hands and strength though it is not as difficult as many people think as long as you are willing to put in the time :). The main thing as always is getting the right materials and learning the correct technique, (i.e. knowledge is everything! ) and regular practice. It is one method I have to practice regularly to welcome in an ember, and as soon as I stop practicing then it takes me a while to get back into it again! My favourite combination at the moment is Teasel on Clematis. I also find it the most profound and "spiritual" of all the methods as it is just you and your hands. Used throughout the world by many Indigenous cultures, and mentioned in many fire origin stories
- North American Indigenous peoples primarily used the hand drill as opposed to the bow drill (see here) ; the Bow Drill was used more in the Northern regions e.g. Northern Canada and Alaska.
- The hand drill was also commonly used in South America, Africa and Australia, and it is still used by indigenous tribes today. There is also evidence in China, and is most likely the most widespread technique.
- Though there is no evidence of it's use within Europe, it does work with many native plants.
See Hand Drill section for more info on using Hand Drill. People can take turns with the hand drill (like many indigenous tribes) rather than it just being the responsibility of one person.
Here are some interesting reads: Survival Skills of Native California, Fire Making Methods in the American Museum by Walter Hough
Bow Drill
Perhaps the most widely known and used friction method especially within Northern Hemisphere and modern "Bushcraft and Survival", and the one method alot of people in the UK start learning first. Most likely, a technical advancement of the Hand Drill and it works on a much larger variation of woods than the Hand Drill in just about all environments! There are many variations of the Bow Drill
See Bow Drill section for more info. on using Bow Drill. The Bow Drill can easily be adapted to be used in a team with one person holding the bearing block and another doing the bowing - making it easier for people to learn and being more of a communal method.
Perhaps the most widely known and used friction method especially within Northern Hemisphere and modern "Bushcraft and Survival", and the one method alot of people in the UK start learning first. Most likely, a technical advancement of the Hand Drill and it works on a much larger variation of woods than the Hand Drill in just about all environments! There are many variations of the Bow Drill
- It is "believed" that the bow drill was widely used within ancient Britain and throughout the Northern Hemisphere, though there is no archaeological evidence of this.
- There is evidence that the Ancient Egyptians used the bow drill and apparently they tied the cord to the drill (you can also wrap the cord multiple times instead) - this solves the slipping drill issue. The Egyptian bow drill is quite a stylised bow.
See Bow Drill section for more info. on using Bow Drill. The Bow Drill can easily be adapted to be used in a team with one person holding the bearing block and another doing the bowing - making it easier for people to learn and being more of a communal method.
Inuit Mouth Drill
The Inuits used the bow drill with a mouthpiece to decorate ivory - this freed a hand to manipulate the ivory whilst drilling. The Inuits typically used ivory and bone for the bows and skin\sinew for the cord. I am not convinced that they used the Mouth Drill for fire - the only pictures I have seen are of carving.
Me being me I did have to have a go at the the Mouth Drill and successfully coaxed an ember and I did make the below video but I must say I don't find it pleasant at all and won't be doing it again! See this blog post and below YouTube video.
The Inuits used the bow drill with a mouthpiece to decorate ivory - this freed a hand to manipulate the ivory whilst drilling. The Inuits typically used ivory and bone for the bows and skin\sinew for the cord. I am not convinced that they used the Mouth Drill for fire - the only pictures I have seen are of carving.
Me being me I did have to have a go at the the Mouth Drill and successfully coaxed an ember and I did make the below video but I must say I don't find it pleasant at all and won't be doing it again! See this blog post and below YouTube video.
Strap Drill
The strap drill is when a piece of cord is pulled to and fro without a bow. This is usually used by a few people - drill like the Vedic Fire Churn or Celtic Fire Churn (see below.) Or you could use a mouth hold like the Inuit Mouth Drill (see picture) and use both hands to pull on the cord as your mouth is holding the bearing block.
I find strap drills do work well. (As above I do question the use of the Inuit strap drill for fire making - see this blog post.)
The strap drill is when a piece of cord is pulled to and fro without a bow. This is usually used by a few people - drill like the Vedic Fire Churn or Celtic Fire Churn (see below.) Or you could use a mouth hold like the Inuit Mouth Drill (see picture) and use both hands to pull on the cord as your mouth is holding the bearing block.
I find strap drills do work well. (As above I do question the use of the Inuit strap drill for fire making - see this blog post.)
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Pump Drill
The pump drill was apparently used by the Iroquois amongst others. The Pump Drill - viewed as a further refinement of the Hand Drill and Bow Drill, however there is no reason why it couldn't have predated the Bow Drill and can be found in many cultures. This is still used in woodworking today for drilling holes. I had fun making and experimenting with the Pump Drill but I find it a bit too easy and mechanical! There are different variations\sizes of the Pump Drill and I've also seen a Spinning Top type version of it. |
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The pump drill consists of a wooden spindle attached to a disc of wood or stone or clay (fly wheel.) A cross bar with a bigger hole goes onto the spindle above the flywheel with cord attached at each end which also attaches to the top of the spindle. The flywheel is wound up to wrap the cord around the spindle. The cross bar is then pumped up and down which makes the spindle spin into the hearth board. The weight of the flywheel produces momentum to keep the drill spinning. This method is supposed to create an ember much easily and quickly than the other methods. It was also used for drilling holes. A different wood\stone attachment can be added to the end of the spindle. See the video.
Fire Saw
The Fire Saw consists of one piece of wood being sawn across another. The Bamboo Fire Saw is used throughout Asia and I'm guessing this has been used for thousands of years. One piece of bamboo is sawed across another which has a small hole drilled through where the dust gathers and forms into an ember.
The Fire Saw consists of one piece of wood being sawn across another. The Bamboo Fire Saw is used throughout Asia and I'm guessing this has been used for thousands of years. One piece of bamboo is sawed across another which has a small hole drilled through where the dust gathers and forms into an ember.
- Australian Aborigines commonly used the fire saw (and still do today) and they also use the hand drill and bow drill. The Fire saw seemed to have been the prevalent method where bamboo could be found (e.g. throughout Asia.) It is commonly used in the Philippines.
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In 2021, I successfully coaxed an ember using UK Native Lime on Lime (Tilia) fire saw.
I used 2 pieces of wood which I inserted 2 wood pegs to keep them separated, I stuffed willowherb within the gap and tied it together with cord. I then rubbed it up and down on top of the lime blade and the dust collected in the gap on top of the willowherb and the ember formed. The willowherb acted as an ember extender too! It does take quite a bit of experimentation to get it to work, but the fire saw can work in the UK! Again this was just a bit of "fun" and not a method I use much |
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See this video on my way of trying to use the fire saw:
Fire Thong
The Fire Thong is used in Papa New Guinea (amongst other places) - a piece of rattan is pulled one way then the other underneath a piece of wood which has a hole all the way through . The ember forms within the hole. This is now the only main friction method that I haven't successfully coaxed an ember with (there is no rattan in the UK.)
The Fire Thong is used in Papa New Guinea (amongst other places) - a piece of rattan is pulled one way then the other underneath a piece of wood which has a hole all the way through . The ember forms within the hole. This is now the only main friction method that I haven't successfully coaxed an ember with (there is no rattan in the UK.)
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Fire Roll
Another method is called the Fire Roll and also Rudiger Roll, credited to the German survivalist Rudiger Nehberg, and apparently this was first used by World War II prisoners to ignite their cigarettes. There are many YouTube videos of people using various materials for the Fire Roll. The basic concept is to roll cotton wool or dry plant fibres with ash between two flat planks of wood or stones using pressure and speed, and after time this causes friction and the fibres start to smoulder and produce an ember. I have successfully used nettle cordage as fire roll material. There is no evidence of other cultures using fire roll but who knows it could have been used long before Rudiger. |
Fire Churns
In 2016, I discovered what have been described as fire churns used for ritually welcoming in fire, which involve many people. I have so far come across two variations,
In 2016, I discovered what have been described as fire churns used for ritually welcoming in fire, which involve many people. I have so far come across two variations,
- The European Fire Churns and Slavic Fire Gates. See the Fire Churn page under Methods for more information. They apparently go back to at least the 7th century when the church banned them! They were used at times of distress or at auspicious times of the year (such as Beltane and Samhain and Kupula Nght) to ritually welcome in a new pure fire.
- The Vedic Fire Churn as shown in the photo below right, to ritually welcome Lord Agni within the Vedic strand of Hinduism . See the Vedic Fire Churn section for more info.
One of my reconstructions of a Force Fire churn, at the Erti Suli 2018 festival. It worked beautifully well.
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A "Fire Gate" being used in Russia (2017)
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The Vedic Fire Churn or Agni Manthan / Arani Manthani
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Other methods
There are many variations of frictons methods and lots of people enjoy experimenting with slight variations of these methods. There is ALWAYS more than ONE way!!!
There are some (including me!) who have FUN trying friction methods in unusual ways e.g. using household objects, books as hearth boards, pencils, chop sticks etc etc
Check out @wur_thaz_smoke , @nwprimate and @dalemgumino on Instagram
Check out my Arm Bow Drill and Foot Fire Drill posts :)
Also check out Phyredojo.com who has spent many years experimenting with various variations of the friction methods and has his OWN unique approach different to any other I have seen.
A couple of alternative methods :
Fire Brace - see this demo by @wur_thaz_smoke - see www.instagram.com/tv/CIcLxWXhjSM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link. Also see my blogpost on the fire brace here
Fire Screw - by @dalemgumino - see https://www.instagram.com/p/CIhYt-apKr7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link - an ingenious creation crafted by Dalem Gumino from Bali.
Cordless Bow Drill! whatever next :) again by @dalemgumino - https://www.instagram.com/p/CPInnl2Jkyg/
Some interesting "theoretic" slavic methods can be seen here. I don't think many of these would work!
There are many variations of frictons methods and lots of people enjoy experimenting with slight variations of these methods. There is ALWAYS more than ONE way!!!
There are some (including me!) who have FUN trying friction methods in unusual ways e.g. using household objects, books as hearth boards, pencils, chop sticks etc etc
Check out @wur_thaz_smoke , @nwprimate and @dalemgumino on Instagram
Check out my Arm Bow Drill and Foot Fire Drill posts :)
Also check out Phyredojo.com who has spent many years experimenting with various variations of the friction methods and has his OWN unique approach different to any other I have seen.
A couple of alternative methods :
Fire Brace - see this demo by @wur_thaz_smoke - see www.instagram.com/tv/CIcLxWXhjSM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link. Also see my blogpost on the fire brace here
Fire Screw - by @dalemgumino - see https://www.instagram.com/p/CIhYt-apKr7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link - an ingenious creation crafted by Dalem Gumino from Bali.
Cordless Bow Drill! whatever next :) again by @dalemgumino - https://www.instagram.com/p/CPInnl2Jkyg/
Some interesting "theoretic" slavic methods can be seen here. I don't think many of these would work!