Bringing a glowing ember to flame

[Aussiepom]

I had my first attempt at fire by bow drill last weekend and I was well chuffed with myself when, after about half an hour of false starts, I managed to produce a glowing ember. Thinking that I was almost home and hosed, I then fell at the last fence, 'cos I couldn't get the thing to ignite the cotton wool that I was using as tinder.

I think, with hindsight, that I may have been too gentle with it, and that I might have been successful if I had been more aggressive with my blowing on the ember. Does anyone have any good general advice on bringing a glowing ember to flame?

 

[Wayland]

I usually use a bit of flax or hemp tow to get my flame.

they have natural oils in that seem to help ignition and work very well.

Over here you can get hemp sold as "plumbers tow" at a good hardware store.

 

[BOD]

There should be lots of dry fibrous material in most Aussie gardens and it is probably better to get used to natural tinders as soon as possible.

A tampon is better than cotton wool balls if you are city bound.

 

[scanker]

A big ball of dry grass works well. I'm still practising - nowhere near expert but I see it as two stages (1 producing the ember, 2 blowing the ember to flame), both of which need practice. Blowing an ember to flame is still a hard job sometimes if you're knackered and sweaty from the bow drill.

 

[BOD]

You could swing your arm around frantically to save your breath or flop your wrist from side to side

It provides 21% oxygen as opposed to the moist Nitrox 16 that comes out of your lungs

Still its more satisfying to say that you blew it my way.

 

[Chris G]

May I suggest watching this chap;
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=y1mp_M0O1rk

Chris

 

[spiritofold]

Cedar bark if you can get it. Strip it down and roughen it so it becomes fiberous....

 

[Bernie Garland]

I use this and make a little nest place in ember, make into a little ball,hold up and gently blow,it never fails

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/90g-Nesting-Material-Animal-Fur-Vegetable-Nest-Bird_W0QQitemZ350088888411QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item350088888411&_trkparms=72%3A1301|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Bernie

 

[bushcraftbob]

I've practised bowdrill loads lately and I've found ingniting cotton wall to be harder than igniting a dry ball of buffed up grass! Don't know why.

 

[Bernie Garland]

I've practised bowdrill loads lately and I've found ingniting cotton wall to be harder than igniting a dry ball of buffed up grass! Don't know why.

Hi Bob in the nesting material theres loads of jute and sisal really thinned out thats why it catches a treat,it save's messing about cutting and thinning out

Bernie

 

[Bernie Garland]

Forgot to add i place my ember in charcloth it make's the job a lot easier

Bernie

 

[Joonsy]

cotton wool seems to react differently to natural materials, i find it's best to place ember in cotton wool and just leave it for a short while before blowing, the ember will grow and cotton wool will turn a yellowish colour, when it turns colour you can then blow as normal, if you blow too soon the ember will die on you, it's surprising just how long you can leave it before you start blowing, in natural stuff like dry grass/leaves you can blow immediately on placing ember and it's quicker to flame but with cotton wool you have to wait for ember to grow, also don't compress it too tight but too loose is also no good, just reasonably compact, the key is patience and letting ember grow without blowing too soon and watch for it turning yellowish in colour, then blow building up from gentle to blowing hard when smoking profusely.

 

[WoodWildling]

Personally, i try not to puff on an ember too much because your breath is so full of moisture. I just place it in a little nest of roughed up grass/hay etc... and do a couple of big blows then swing it around a bit in the air. also, dont squash the ember by holding the grassy bundle too tightly

 

[Aussiepom]

Thanks for the tips guys. Looks like 'natural' is the way to go from now on, although, even if I do master the technique, I think I'll still keep some cotton wool and a ferro rod with me as a back up.

 

[rich59]

Personally, i try not to puff on an ember too much because your breath is so full of moisture. I just place it in a little nest of roughed up grass/hay etc... and do a couple of big blows then swing it around a bit in the air. also, dont squash the ember by holding the grassy bundle too tightly

I've been thinking (dangerous occupation!) about the science of blowing onto an ember. Conclusion? Well I would suggest that there is no problem blowing on an ember as long as your breath is not visible (as in cold damp weather) As long as the water vapour stays as vapour then it is probably no more harmful than the nitrogen content of the air.

 

[Gray]

I agree with Bernie, charcloth seems to glow at a higher temperature than other materials and I find it easier to stick a bit in the tinder.

 

[Ozhaggishead]

Have a go with a bit of the bark from the paperbark tree bark,There I think there should be a few of them around Mudgee what kind of wood are you using mate?I never had much luck with natives trees