Seven ways to light a fire without a match

I believe most of you have seen movies/TV series like Castaway, Survivor and Lost. You might even be a fervent fan of some/all of them. On that note, perhaps you are interested in picking up an important survivor skill as well -- making a fire. Field & Stream has an illustrated guide to 7 ways of making a fire without a match. Here is an example of the pump fire drill method:

The Iroquois invented this ingenious pump drill, which uses a flywheel to generate friction. The crossbar and flywheel are made of hardwood; the spindle and fireboard are made from softwoods (as in the hand drill).

Step One Bore a hole in the center of a rounded piece of hardwood and force the spindle in so that it fits tightly. Select wood for the crossbar and bore a larger hole that will slide freely on the spindle.

Step Two Attach the crossbar to the top of the spindle with a leather thong or sturdy shoelace.

Step Three Wind up the flywheel so that the thong twists around the spindle, then press down. The momentum will rewind the crossbar in the opposite direction. Repeat until friction creates a glowing ember.

Link & Image: Field & Stream
Tags: Fire | Make Fire | Survivor Skill | Skill