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Fire is a gift that is often taken for granted… until you NEED it. Fire making without matches or lighters is a skill that has largely been forgotten in modern Western culture. In my quest for self reliance, I have undertaken to learn alternate methods of making a fire. It is my passion.
I have developed “Ken’s five fire catagories” in which all created fires fall. These catagories are: Friction, Percussion, Optical, Electrical, and Chemical. The following fire methods describe how to make fire without matches.
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Friction
Friction methods results from a surface rubbing against a surface, usually by rotational or linear means.
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Percussion
Percussion means that something is being struck. Principally, flint & Steel, ferrocerium rods, and
fire pistons. It’s really related to friction, but usually achieved in an instant. Watch my video using ferrocerium in a empty lighter, and a video using quartz and steel.
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Optical
Optical means that light is focused to a point of intense heat. We are familiar with magnifying lenses, but alternate means can acheive the same effect. Generally there are two ways: concave or parabolic reflective surfaces such as bowls, reflectors, and mirrors; lenses - whether solid or liquid filled.
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Electrical
Electricity is used for ignition by a point of extreme heat. This can be a hot element on tinder, or it can be a spark to ignite a fluid or gas. Watch my video using a microwave oven to create a flame.
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Chemical
The chemical reaction known as exothermia raises the temperature to a point of combustion. this can be immediate, in minutes, or hours. Fumes from chemical reactions can be deadly and should be conducted outdoors.
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August 3rd, 2009 at 8:15 pm
can you explain me why you get a flame in the microwave with this little
curl of plastic you put in the top of the little candle? Because in the movie the fire start as a spark between the two ends of the strange string you put in the top of the candle.
Regards,
Al
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Hi Al…
The “little curl of plastic” is actually a plastic coated piece of wire that is used to secure the end of a bread bag. I can’t technically explain the discharge process, but electricity tends to be attracted to sharp points, like the lightning rods that you see on the top of buildings and tall structures. A paper clip or safety pin can be used in a similar fashion with tinder placed between the two points.