I was unable to acquire the large ball bearings needed to accomplish this feat and so resigned it to my bucket list. However recently I viewed a video that showed the use of a hammer, aluminum foil, a very rusty disc, and a treated cloth used as tinder to recieve the sparks.

In pursing this method I tried striking foil on top of various rusty items without success. I finally contacted my mechanic friend and asked him if he had any scrap brake rotors that were rusty and fortunately was able to acquired some.

At first I tried to strike the rusty flat disc surface with a ball peen hammer using the flat end but had almost no sparks. Then I used the ball peen end and had better results. Then it dawned on me that the teacher demos used 2 ball bearings for a reason that the curved surfaces provided a single point of contact for effective kinetic energy transfer so I chose to strike the “hat” portion of the rotor that had a curved surface and “presto”! Great sparks were achieved.

To capture the sparks I applied a spirit accelerant to a cloth and layed it next to the metal surface that I was striking. When attempting this it is important to exercise caution as the accelerant can be quite volatile so a pair of tongs can be useful to remove the ignited tinder to a safe place and enabling a way to smother it out for additional safety.

So now you know a another method to create a fire that would make MacGyver proud and might be needed in an emergency situation.

The cotton fiber strands run parallel while having compressed “ribs” that create a convenient square shape with a straight edge. Having a straight edge is desirable for a controlled flame.

I modified the can’s lid and bent the edges down to create a small “table” inside the can to press against the wick to hold it in place.

Something else that I found helpful is how to lite the wick. Once a wick is dipped in oil it can be difficult to lite. If the edge can be squeezed to shed excess oil, wood ash or charcoal carbon can be applied as a catalyst to recieve the ignition flame more quickly.

Once lit, I enjoyed the flame for a couple of hours before needing to adjust the wick.

I discuss fire methods using gum wrapper foil that generates enough heat to cause the paper substrate to burst into a flame.

One method that I learned recently uses two AA batteries and staples that can create a red hot point to ignite tinder so I decided to try it.

Apparently prisoners can purchase AA batteries at a commissary for various personal electronics. Staples can be acquired from various printed material.

To begin, one battery is held upright with the second battery Inverted next to it while placed on a metal surface. This creates a circuit in series that produces 3V. In prison, that metal surface might be the top of a sink or toilet. I used an Inverted stainless steel cup.

For convenience I used a rubber band to hold the batteries together. Next, I straightened out one side of each of two staples and used masking tape to mount one on the topside of each battery.

Then I tore off a piece of toilet tissue and placed the jagged edge between the staples so when I rotated the batteries together to touch the ends of the staples they became red hot and ignited the tissue paper.

The masking tape and rubber band are modifications of mine that make this method alot more manageable. The staples get hot to hold but the masking tape helps to buffer the heat while stabilizing them on the battery poles.

It took a little practice to use successfully. I prefer the gum wrapper foil method better but it’s good to know an alternative method when materials might be limited.

I often inspect the huge bin of glass for potential resources. I have recovered soup bowls, floral vases, thick bottom bottles that I use for flint knapping, and recently I spotted a sphere shaped bottle that I removed it’s label and filled it with water to become a solar lens with which to create fire.

In a previous article “Optical Fire Method Using A Vinegar Bottle” my optical fire tool came from a shopping trip, but this glass bottle originally came from a liquor store.

It may not be a practical tool for hiking but a fun part of firecraft and could actually save the day in an emergency. In any case, be aware of possible resources when you travel out and about.

Old downed pine trees are a great source for fatwood that is found where the branch emerges from the trunk and when the outer wood is removed it reveals the darker hardened resin that resides at the core.

As an alternative, many major grocery or big box stores carry fatwood fire starters next to the charcoal and briquettes where barbecue supplies are displayed. This would be a convenient resource for experimentation to gain experience of fatwood properties.

As I pursued experimenting with fatwood for cooking I learned that it is best to be conducted in a wind-free environment. I soon discovered that it needed a thicker/wider piece than shown in the photo. I tried to make a fuzz stick at one end but the material was too brittle and wouldn’t hold a curl, so I took another approach by laying the stick on it’s side, then taking the tip of my knife and plunged down to split the end several times, creating a small fringe. That worked well to lite and sustained the flame while heating up my cup. My cup was hand-held to maintain a constant distance above the flame as the fatwood was consumed and shortened in the process.

The cook-time is limited but a small packet of instant coffee added or just hot water can be very satisfying. One negative side effect is that the resin is very smokey and coats the bottom of the vessel that you cook in.

Although plastic bottles or even plastic bags can be modified as a funnel, perhaps the only resource available might be a beer bottle, not something that can be fashioned with a scissors or a knife.

Years ago I wrote an article entitled
“Popping Off Bottle Bottoms By Hand” that includes a link to a video demonstrating the process.

While preparing a bottle to illustrate the photo for this article I had difficulty at first popping out the bottle’s bottom so I reviewed my own instruction video that resulted in success.

Practicing this technique now will prepare you in the event a bottle is your only resource for a funnel in an emergency situation.

At one point he dispatched a thief and hoped to use his shoes but alas they were too small.
His bare feet led to major pain and injury during this ordeal.

This shoe scene took place on an unfinished floor of the Nakatomi Plaza Building that had a power saw available. He could have cut out the top of the toe area on the shoes that would in effect have converted them into sandles, allowing room for his toes and would have been a game changer in his fight against his foes.

In emergency situations where shoes are lost or left behind and alternate shoes can be found that are too small, this modification can be achieved by using a knife, hatchet, or saw.

The photo illustrates how I was able to put my 10 and a half shoe size foot into a modified 8 size shoe. I used a utility knife. It works.

Footwear like this can make a huge difference in comfort and safety in an emergency situation.

You may have seen an experiment at school or perhaps a demo on social media of an empty 5 gallon jug with a small amount of alcohol or acetone poured into it. When the jug is layed on it’s side and rotated, the alcohol is spread thin, thus causing it to vaporize. When a match is dropped into it, a hellasious flame erupts in the cavernous vessel. By modifying this vaporization process you can create a small scale manageable lighter.

You can take a glass or jar and pour a small amount of alcohol or acetone into the bottom. Then, you can take a paper towel or tissue and fold it into a strip and line the lower portion inside the glass. The paper will act as a wick and draw up the flammable fuel that will begin to vaporize it, thus enabling it to be ignited by the empty peiso lighters spark.

Be aware that the flame will be sudden and large. You can place an intermediate tinder above it to capture the flame to transfer it to a prepared tinder pile to ignite briquettes or campfire. Please exercise caution when exercising this method.

The large yellow lantern shown in the photo is actually spring wound and has two different power-out ports. The red radio/light saw us through the 1968 Loma Prieta 6.9 magnitude earthquake. It was a comfort to be informed of the surrounding events.

The others shown have been collected at yard sales and as I awaited the utility power to be restored I began to re-familiarize myself with them.

Although some of the lights could be lit while cranking, not all batteries held a charge and need to be replaced. These would require special rechargeables that once the batteries are accessed, their particular replacements can be found online.

For those that offered cell phone charging, a few minutes of cranking did not raise the percent of charge in my phone. Perhaps replacement batteries could make a difference.

The newer devices combine hand crank, solar panel, antenna, flashlight, radio (AM FM and Weather bands), headphone, power, and USB ports,

These are helpful tools and worth acquiring in preparation for emergencies and should be maintained and accessible when needed.

There are a variety of materials that are often recommended to create a makeshift water filter. Typically a funnel of some type may be lined with cloth such as a bandana then layered with charcoal, fine sand, then coarse sand or pebbles.

Charcoal is an excellent element for fine filtering needed for potable water. Short of that element it may suffice to filter out debris or turbidity. That’s where a cattail filter may fill the need.

If a 2 liter soda bottle is available it can be cut about 1/2″ below the cone area creating a funnel that can be Inverted and fit inside the cylindrical body. The flower head of a cattail can be inserted into the bottle neck. Water is poured into the funnel on top and will pass through the flower head and drip below.

It is a slow process and for me took a couple hours to complete. You could plan your activities to coordinate with the filter time. I would suggest that the resulting water to be boiled before consumption.