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How to Make a Fire by Rubbing Two Sticks Together!

Nov 8, 2012 05:50 PM

Nov 8, 2012 07:30 PM

Fire-making process using a stick and kindling.

Here's a survival technique for making a fire with the most basic of resources—assuming you can find two sticks to rub together!

With a little creative license, let's imagine you're cast away on a deserted island with little hope of rescue.

Man standing on a beach looking at the ocean.

In a situation like this, being able to start a fire may be critical to your survival. Fire will allow you to;

Cook food
Purify water
Keep warm
Fend off predators
Make smoke signals
Fashions tools
Make char cloth
...and more

Flames consuming wooden materials in a campfire setting.

Along with making shelter and finding a source of drinking water, building a fire should be one of your top priorities.

But here's the problem—you don't have any modern fire-starting equipment. All you have are the clothes on your back.

The good news is that as long as you can find a piece of soft dry wood, you can try this primitive fire-making technique I learned from the Samoans.

Hands using a stick to create friction on the ground, likely demonstrating a fire-starting technique.

Using a sharp rock, you'll need to fashion a plowing stick from the same piece of wood so that it's about 1/4" thick and long enough to wrap both hands around. The tip should be formed so that it contacts the base at a 45º angle. If the base is round, you'll also need to scrape it down to a flat surface about 8" long.

Person using a tool to carve or shape wood on the ground.

Person using hand tools on wooden material in soil.

You'll also need to get a tinder bundle ready. If you have access to a dried out coconut husk like this, use it, because it's easy to use and it's full of fibers that will burst into flames.

A person squatting on the ground, examining the soil surrounded by foliage.

Hands holding a fibrous coconut root system.

You can sit on the back end of the base to hold it steady, and then grip the plow with both hands and push back and forth. Most of the work should be in the upper body, so keep your arms relatively straight and push with your shoulders.

When a fine wood dust begins to accumulate, continue faster and with slightly more pressure, focusing on building up a neat little pile.

When the pile is smoking on its own, that means you've got an ember burning, and it's ready to be transferred to your tinder bundle.

A person starting a fire by friction using a wooden stick on the ground.

Person using a piece of wood to create friction for fire-making in an outdoor setting.

Hand preparing natural kindling to start a fire.

Hold the ember loosely in the bundle, balancing the amount of air it's receiving, with the tinder it touches. Fuel, oxygen, and heat are the three components required to get a flame, so this part takes practice, and patience. Blowing gently into the bundle can help speed the process. When enough heat builds, you can waive the bundle around to get more air, or blow forcefully to ignite the flame!

Person demonstrating traditional fire-starting techniques using natural materials.

Fire burning on a bundle of leaves and roots.

Now you can sit back, relax, and hope for a speedy rescue.

Campfire with cooking pots and a stick on the ground.

Now you know how to make a fire by rubbing sticks together.

If you liked this project, perhaps you'll like some of my others. Check them out at thekingofrandom.com.

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