Rock on Rock Firemaking

[Rick]

I ran across a decent article on making sparks just using rocks. I thought I would share it.

http://www.outdoorwonders.com/2stone.htm

[FVR]

There are some here who don't believe that rock on rock will start a fire. I've made sparks with two rocks, if it sparks, it can make a fire. Ya just have to catch the spark.

Wow, an article that justifies my beliefs. Hmmmmm.

[Rick]

I doubt primitive man used his RAT knife and fire steel. Rocks were the only things he had. I'll bet a rock fight in a cave at night was a sight to behold. I'll bet the sparks really flew. (I sleigh myself sometimes!)

[Nativedude]

"There are some here who don't believe that rock on rock will start a fire. I've made sparks with two rocks, if it sparks, it can make a fire. Ya just have to catch the spark. . ."

Yeah, FVR is right, rock-on-rock definitely works to start fire! ;)

[benhurjun]

Hi guys. We call them living rocks - the rocks that spark. Making them spark is easy, catching the sparks is another story. And you have to surround yourself with the driest tinder you can find while rubbing those rocks. Be armed with tons of patience and persistence. It can be annoyingly frustrating.

[Pan]

Cant find iron pyrite here (though i do have a chunk of it from a trip to the mountains, bought it in a rock shoppe) . I wonder if a chunk of iron ore would work?

[Rick]

Quartz and Pentlandite work as do Marcasite and Flint. Iron Pyrite against itself.
Pentlandite is an Iron Nickel Sulfide so I do not know why iron ore wouldn't work (although I haven't tried it). Look for Hematite or even Magnetite. Hematite is mostly iron.

[Nichov]

OK, so I've heard rocks for spark and I've heard bow drills and hand drills.

Now I've tried hand drills before and never gotten more than a small puff of smoke.

I always wanted to try a bow drill but I was never able to produce a good bow string. In fact, everytime I see someone using a bow-drill their string is carry-in. Does anyone know some good stuff for bow strings in northeastern USA?

What wood is the best for the drill?

[crashdive123]

Nichov - when you get that small puff of smoke, that's when you are starting to make a coal that you can transfer to your tinder bundle. Here are a couple of vids that explain and show it better than I can. The first is using nothing but what you find in the wilderness. The second does a good job on how to construct your pieces.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDcKsiOZ3Ho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMoZBwLWTNM

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

Quartz and Pentlandite work as do Marcasite and Flint. Iron Pyrite against itself.
Pentlandite is an Iron Nickel Sulfide so I do not know why iron ore wouldn't work (although I haven't tried it). Look for Hematite or even Magnetite. Hematite is mostly iron.

Hematite does work it gives good Sparks

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

OK, so I've heard rocks for spark and I've heard bow drills and hand drills.

Now I've tried hand drills before and never gotten more than a small puff of smoke.

I always wanted to try a bow drill but I was never able to produce a good bow string. In fact, everytime I see someone using a bow-drill their string is carry-in. Does anyone know some good stuff for bow strings in northeastern USA?

What wood is the best for the drill?
I use Pounded Ash or White oak to make my strings. I twist 3 slender strands,then braid them togather

[Gray Wolf]

OK, so I've heard rocks for spark and I've heard bow drills and hand drills.

Now I've tried hand drills before and never gotten more than a small puff of smoke.

I always wanted to try a bow drill but I was never able to produce a good bow string. In fact, everytime I see someone using a bow-drill their string is carry-in. Does anyone know some good stuff for bow strings in northeastern USA?

What wood is the best for the drill?

Nichov,
I'm sure if your in the wilderness and you want to make a bow drill, you have boots on. I have used my boot laces many times. Is that considered carry-in?
but here is a link to a video that Mac made that may help.

Making Bark Cordage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXW95Ux-4GE

Here is another link that may help too.
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/showthread.php?t=501&highlight=making+cordage&page=1

[Nichov]

Thanks guys! Great answers!