How Do You Light A Fire Without Matches?
Fortunately, there are several methods to start a fire which do not include these modern conveniences. They are batteries and steel wool, a magnifying glass, flint and steel, and the ever popular rubbing two sticks together. Before you do any of this however, you must build your fire correctly. When you gather wood you want to start with small twigs, leaves, and other easily burnable materials called kindling. This will be what you want to light. And on top of which you will place your tinder which should be no bigger around than your thumb. After that you will place the logs which will be the fuel used to keep your fire burning for hours. During each step be sure you leave room for air, the other ingredient necessary to produce the proper chemical reactions.
Good, the pit is cleared and now you’ve got it built. The hard part in this case will be actually getting it going. If you have batteries and steel wool you are lucky in the extreme as this method is even user than matches. Make sure the scouring pad has not been treated with any sort of cleaning agent and stretch it out just enough so that air can get between the strands. Rub the steel wool on both ends of the battery and quickly drop it into the fire. The downside is that the batteries are generally ruined in the process.
Every Elementary School science student has done the experiment where you take a magnifying glass over a piece of paper and use sunlight to set the paper ablaze. It works but a steady hand is needed to keep the lens over the area to cause it to become the correct temperature. The downside is that it works only when it is sunny or some other source of light strong enough is present. At least as long as you have the lens, you can use it continuously.
Flint and steel is a method that was the method of choice for starting fires for centuries. If you have ever tried the friction method, you would soon find out why. The key to getting it going is to have fire starters dry enough to catch flame easily. Leaves are readily available in most areas of the world. If for some reason you took dryer lint on you on this trip, you will want to use that instead. Flint and steel is reusable but only for so many times because the flint eventually wears out, but most sets are good for several hundred uses.
If no other methods are available and you have a great deal of determination you can always use the friction method which involves rubbing two sticks together. I’ve seen many people try this. Even the bow and string method, but even the most eager to do it produced no more than smoke. Then again, you’ll probably have enough time while waiting for the rescuers to find you.
Like any other pieces of information like this, it is the sort of thing one hopes they never have to use, but it is better to know it and not need it than to need it and not know it. The determined individual or the show off might use these on his or her next camping trip. If so, just remember to bring along the hot dogs and the marshmallows.
