How to Start a Fire by Rubbing Wood Together

Rubbing wood together remains one of the oldest and most difficult methods of starting a fire. The success of your fire depends on the type of wood you use. Softwoods that have been dried remain ideal and include such varieties as cottonwood and juniper. One of the most successful wood-on-wood fire-starting techniques is commonly referred to as the hand drill method. The hand drill method requires a fire board as well as a spindle.

Things You'll Need

  • Camping knife
  • Bark or leaf
  • Tinder bundle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate a piece of softwood that has a flat surface. Hold the softwood in place while cutting a V-shaped notch into its side with your camping knife. Cut a small circular hole at the base of the notch to complete your fire board. Find a stick that has a harder wood type than your fire board.

    • 2

      Make sure your stick measures around two feet in length. Remove the bark from the stick with the blade of your camping knife to complete your fire-starting spindle. Locate a piece of dry bark or a large, dry leaf and place it under the V-shaped notch of your fire board. Gather a tinder bundle and place it to the side for later use.

    • 3

      Construct your tinder bundle using natural materials including dried grass, spruce and pine needles. Lower the tip of your spindle into the circular hole of the fire board. Place the palms of your hands around the top of the wooden spindle. Hold the fire board in place by resting your knee over the opposing end.

    • 4

      Rotate the palms of your hands back and forth while putting downward pressure on the spindle. Move your hands down the spindle quickly to increase the friction of the fire board. Repeat the process until the tip of the spindle glows red. Lift the back edge of your fire board to allow a small ember to fall onto the bark of large leaf.

    • 5

      Blow softly on the ember to help the bark or leaf ignite. Transport the burning material onto your tender bundle. Blow on the tinder bundle to increase the temperature of the flame. Place your ignited tender bundle onto a patch of dry ground. Add small sticks and twigs to increase the size of your fire.