There are many methods to starting a fire without matches: Flint and Steel, Hand drill, Bowdrill and using a battery. Learning how to start a fire without matches is a must know. You never know when you will be in a survival situation where your life would actually depend on starting a fire from scratch without the help of matches or a lighter.
There are many methods to starting a fire without matches and below we will mention a few.
PS: You must have a tinder bundle ready for every method, so make sure to pack one wherever you go.
Check Camping must haves for beginners here.
Method 1: Flint and steel
Using flint and steel is one of the most primal methods of starting a fire. It is one of the easiest ways to make a fire without the need of lighters or matches. The concept of a flint and steel is to create a spark, catch it and turn it into a flame. You need:
Flint and Steel.
Charcloath.
Steps:
First, take the charcloth (it is usually included in all flint and steel kits) put it next to the flint. Next, keep striking the flint against the steel until you see the charcloth catching sparks. Once the cloth starts giving a tiny glow it means it is enough to start a fire with. Finally, wrap the charcloth in the tinder bundle and start blowing gently until it turns into a flame, and when it does make sure to start feeding it with small kindle and twigs.
Method 2: Hand drill
The hand drill method derives from the bow drill method. Only, instead of making a bow drill you will need to use your hands. In this method you will need:
Fireboard: a flat piece of dry wood.
Spindle: a medium length (24 inches long) piece of wood slightly sharpened at the end.
Steps:
First, start by carving a small hole in the fireboard with a small notch in the end to make it easier to collect the coal. Next, place the board next to a dry piece of bark or leaf and put the spindle in the carved spot in the board and start rubbing your hands back and forth while pressing downward to create heat and dust which will eventually produce a small coal. Keep drilling until smoke starts to arise. Once you stop and it is still smoking then a coal has formed otherwise continue drilling rapidly to reignite the coal. Finally, carefully lift the board and place the coal in a tinder bundle and start blowing gently to help the coal grow into a flame and when it does make sure to start feeding it with small kindle and twigs.
Method 3: Bow and Drill
The bow and drill’s concept is basically the same as in the previous method only you will need to add a few other components. You need:
Fireboard.
Spindle: about 8 inches long.
Bow wood: a slightly curved piece of wood.
Bowstring: a piece of rope or paracord to create a string for the bow.
Socket: it could be a piece of wood, a rock or even a shell that could fit on top of the spindle. Make sure it has a little notch so the spindle wouldn’t get loose while drilling.
Steps:
Similar to the previous method only this time you need to perfectly wrap the spindle tightly in the bowstring. Next, secure the spindle in place and press on it using the socket and start moving the bow back and forth until an amber is formed. Later, slowly transfer the coal to the tinder bundle and blow gently until it turns into a flame.
Method 4: Steel wool and Battery
This method is quite straightforward and should easily work.
You need:
9 Volt Battery.
Steel wool (as fine as you can get).
Steps:
Prepare a tinder bundle and put some steel wool inside it. Next, put the battery directly onto the steel wool and it should immediately create some sparks which will eventually ignite the wool and tinder bundle.
Tell us what you think in the comments. How to start a fire without matches according to you?
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