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GuruBushHippie
MountainMan


Registered: 04/28/11
Posts: 3,434
Loc: USA
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Preferred Fire Building Method
#17053834 - 10/18/12 10:39 AM (12 years, 2 months ago) |
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This is self-explanatory. Describe your favorite method of fire building. Include your preferred structure, tinder, and kindling. State your favorite type of wood to burn if you want to. I'll start it off.
I prefer a mix of the "upside down" method and the tried and true "ti-pi" method.
1) I start with wrist-sized pieces about 1-2' in length laying side by side like a platform on the ground.
2) I then use a knife and the blunt end of a hatchet to split smaller sticks in half along the grain. These pieces are just a little bigger around than my thumb and the halves are laid perpendicular to the bottom layer of logs and should not have space in between them.
3) Atop this second layer of sticks I put a moderate layer of dry tinder. I prefer birch bark, but if there's none around I use dry pine needles or leaves.
4) On top of the tinder layer I scatter kindling, usually about 20 pieces of very small, dry sticks.
5) Finally, atop this whole structure I put a small pile of tinder (preferably birch bark again) and construct a "ti-pi" of kindling over top of it.
When built correctly, once this fire is lit it shouldn't go out until all the wood is burned and is virtually maintenance free once the ti-pi catches. This fire burns and the coals from each layer help ignite the next layer down eventually igniting the large logs on the bottom. This is a condensed fire that burns really bright, very hot, and quite efficiently. Little fuel is turned to ash and is instead converted into valuable heat. It's a great fire for cold-weather camping since it will typically burn all night and remain hot enough to keep you warm without having to wake up every hour to stoke it like you would most fires.
Your turn. GO!
-------------------- Two roads diverged in a wood, and I cut straight through the forest, and that has made all the difference.
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RedSnapper
nuerosonic



Registered: 12/29/10
Posts: 3,107
Loc: Endless marshlands
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Well, it all depends on the size of the fire. Usually partially consists of a half gallon of diesel, a good old used tire ,and a sacrificial virgin..
Just kidding, I carry a couple of pieces of southern yellow pine stump fat wood as a starter and I like to burn madrone when its available cuz it burns really fuckin' hot..
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GuruBushHippie
MountainMan


Registered: 04/28/11
Posts: 3,434
Loc: USA
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Preferred Fire Building Method [Re: RedSnapper]
#17053983 - 10/18/12 11:08 AM (12 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
RedSnapper said: Well, it all depends on the size of the fire. Usually partially consists of a half gallon of diesel, a good old used tire ,and a sacrificial virgin..
Just kidding, I carry a couple of pieces of southern yellow pine stump fat wood as a starter and I like to burn madrone when its available cuz it burns really fuckin' hot.. 
Man I miss fat wood. That stuff is amazing. Growing up in the NC piedmont that stuff was everywhere, but once you get up into the mountains it's exceedingly scarce.
-------------------- Two roads diverged in a wood, and I cut straight through the forest, and that has made all the difference.
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Absent Minded



Registered: 04/13/12
Posts: 3,300
Loc: Way Down South
Last seen: 9 years, 9 months
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Key to success: cedar shavings. Honestly I've not really built many fires. At least recently. All the time back in scouts, but not at all recently. Some kids are masters at it for sure, I remember camp outs where we'd have a blazing fire going inside of 5 minutes if one kid was making it. TP is good if I can get it to fucking stay put, I usually use the lean-to.
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Edited by Absent Minded (10/21/12 12:29 PM)
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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My usual method:
- Build flat base with sticks - Small pyramid of very small kindling/shaved sticks - Top with maya dust if I have it (fatwood). or cotton ball rubbed in vaseline - Build larger pyramid around structure using various sticks starting with the thinnest pieces and moving to the biggest
Takes flame almost instantly, will light in windy/damp conditions, and gives you a roaring fire in minutes
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Absent Minded



Registered: 04/13/12
Posts: 3,300
Loc: Way Down South
Last seen: 9 years, 9 months
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Re: Preferred Fire Building Method [Re: Shroomism]
#17087802 - 10/23/12 06:55 PM (12 years, 2 months ago) |
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interesting. I'll try that out.
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sheekle: fuck peace love and unity
sheekle: death despair and misery
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GuruBushHippie
MountainMan


Registered: 04/28/11
Posts: 3,434
Loc: USA
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Preferred Fire Building Method [Re: Shroomism]
#17111179 - 10/27/12 10:58 AM (12 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Shroomism said: My usual method:
- Build flat base with sticks - Small pyramid of very small kindling/shaved sticks - Top with maya dust if I have it (fatwood). or cotton ball rubbed in vaseline - Build larger pyramid around structure using various sticks starting with the thinnest pieces and moving to the biggest
Takes flame almost instantly, will light in windy/damp conditions, and gives you a roaring fire in minutes
This is my go-to for a survival fire when I don't have much to work with or when the bigger stuff is damp. It's reliable for sure.
-------------------- Two roads diverged in a wood, and I cut straight through the forest, and that has made all the difference.
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Revok
I Am OTD

Registered: 08/29/12
Posts: 10,432
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The secret is in the pine cones...
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GuruBushHippie
MountainMan


Registered: 04/28/11
Posts: 3,434
Loc: USA
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Preferred Fire Building Method [Re: Revok]
#17111203 - 10/27/12 11:03 AM (12 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
KafkasDog said: The secret is in the pine cones...
Yea, but pine cones don't take a small flame very easily. I fin that they're awesome to use when you have a moderate fire going to the point where you're no longer nursing it and it's burning well enough on its own. The strength of the pine cone is that it burns for a good little while and produces a bright flame.
-------------------- Two roads diverged in a wood, and I cut straight through the forest, and that has made all the difference.
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Revok
I Am OTD

Registered: 08/29/12
Posts: 10,432
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Most of my fire building is done in camp setting, where there are fire pits of some sort available. I like to lay down a bed of kindling (i.e. loose brush, leaves, smaller wood chips) underneahe some pine cones, around which I build I pyre of larger and larger wood/logs, until desired size is reached... I find the pine cones act as an excellent accelerant, particularly as I enjoy the accomplishment of a one touch fire.
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stanski
Stranger
Registered: 07/14/11
Posts: 299
Last seen: 3 years, 2 months
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Re: Preferred Fire Building Method [Re: Revok]
#17128501 - 10/30/12 01:45 AM (12 years, 2 months ago) |
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Its important to have a seat for the ember and a "birds nest" type tinder bundle that can take a spark and ignite, then layer around it with progressively larger layers. You can throw on bigger stuff once you get it going, but there is no need to start out with anything larger than your thumbs diameter unless you have an excessive amount of matches. Practicing how to make a good fire every time with just one match is a good idea though imo, its a nice skill to know how to do and I'm really glad i spent the time to understand the relationship between the seat of where a spark/flame goes in a tinder bundle (either in the structure or removeable).
Making a bow drill is also good fun and really lets you impress your friends if you get good at it.
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GuruBushHippie
MountainMan


Registered: 04/28/11
Posts: 3,434
Loc: USA
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Preferred Fire Building Method [Re: stanski]
#17129527 - 10/30/12 09:36 AM (12 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
stanski said: Its important to have a seat for the ember and a "birds nest" type tinder bundle that can take a spark and ignite, then layer around it with progressively larger layers. You can throw on bigger stuff once you get it going, but there is no need to start out with anything larger than your thumbs diameter unless you have an excessive amount of matches. Practicing how to make a good fire every time with just one match is a good idea though imo, its a nice skill to know how to do and I'm really glad i spent the time to understand the relationship between the seat of where a spark/flame goes in a tinder bundle (either in the structure or removeable).
Making a bow drill is also good fun and really lets you impress your friends if you get good at it.
Yea i consider even a one-match fire to be easy compared to primitive fire starting skills. Man are those tough to do though. The fire plow will wear you out fast
-------------------- Two roads diverged in a wood, and I cut straight through the forest, and that has made all the difference.
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brokentv


Registered: 03/02/12
Posts: 2,417
Last seen: 7 years, 8 months
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I have always found the tipi method to work best for me. But for starting it, my friend taught me the bow technique which is nice because the hand method destroys your palms.
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GuruBushHippie
MountainMan


Registered: 04/28/11
Posts: 3,434
Loc: USA
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Preferred Fire Building Method [Re: brokentv]
#17135366 - 10/31/12 07:57 AM (12 years, 2 months ago) |
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The only problem with a bow drill is that without string the system can't work. It's just good to know the most primitive methods.
-------------------- Two roads diverged in a wood, and I cut straight through the forest, and that has made all the difference.
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Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!


Registered: 01/22/03
Posts: 193,665
Loc: Pvt. Pubfag NutSuck
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use a shoelace for a string or understand what plants are fibrous enough to use
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GuruBushHippie
MountainMan


Registered: 04/28/11
Posts: 3,434
Loc: USA
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Preferred Fire Building Method [Re: Prisoner#1]
#17139080 - 10/31/12 08:24 PM (12 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Prisoner#1 said: use a shoelace for a string or understand what plants are fibrous enough to use
Pris, you know i'm enough of a wook to go barefooted as much as possible As far as plants fibrous enough to withstand the rigors of a bowdrill string? Perhaps you could tell me In all seriousness, I don't know of a single vine or fibrous plant capable of the job. At least not in my area. I'm sure a rainforest or swampy environment would provide something of benefit though.
-------------------- Two roads diverged in a wood, and I cut straight through the forest, and that has made all the difference.
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encryptor


Registered: 05/15/03
Posts: 1,192
Last seen: 4 days, 9 hours
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take lint from the dryer and stuff it into a paper egg cup (the paper eggs tray eggs are sold in). Then cut out the cups and stuff in backpack. maybe clue a paper cap over the cups so they are self contained. quick and easy fire starter that can save your life!
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GuruBushHippie
MountainMan


Registered: 04/28/11
Posts: 3,434
Loc: USA
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Preferred Fire Building Method [Re: encryptor]
#17239249 - 11/18/12 06:53 AM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
encryptor said: take lint from the dryer and stuff it into a paper egg cup (the paper eggs tray eggs are sold in). Then cut out the cups and stuff in backpack. maybe clue a paper cap over the cups so they are self contained. quick and easy fire starter that can save your life!
Thanks for reminding me! My scoutmaster always carried those little guys. He would dip them in wax to water proof them.
-------------------- Two roads diverged in a wood, and I cut straight through the forest, and that has made all the difference.
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Absent Minded



Registered: 04/13/12
Posts: 3,300
Loc: Way Down South
Last seen: 9 years, 9 months
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Re: Preferred Fire Building Method [Re: encryptor]
#17239863 - 11/18/12 10:47 AM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
encryptor said: take lint from the dryer and stuff it into a paper egg cup (the paper eggs tray eggs are sold in). Then cut out the cups and stuff in backpack. maybe clue a paper cap over the cups so they are self contained. quick and easy fire starter that can save your life!
good stuff. I remember those from campouts.
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sheekle: fuck peace love and unity
sheekle: death despair and misery
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cpw1971
Mr

Registered: 10/07/06
Posts: 5,615
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My favorite method is with body chemistry with a hot woman.
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