fire from bamboo

[grumit]

hi all i tried lighting a fire today by friction using bamboo without
success and was wondering if any of you have tried it and had any
success and if you have any tip's that may help cheer's
paul :-?

[Stew]

I haven't tried it myself but just curious what bamboo you were using/where it was from?
I've not seen any that I would have thought big enough in this country before.

[grumit]

the one's i was using are about 2" around i get load's of smoke
but no ash :-?

[ChrisKavanaugh]

I'm horribly out of practice with friction firemaking, but I have a few ideas. One of the subtle points of firemaking is the amount of friction. It takes just so much to create powder. If you maintain that constant you will just make more. A slight decrease,or (depending on materials) increase will give you the critical combustion point. It's a subtle skill not dissimilar to sharpening a scandi grind, feeling the wire form and removing it instead of grind,grind,grind. It's like riding a bicycle. One day everything comes together and your riding. There is a myth of the noble indian producing fire under horrid conditions within a few minutes. Yes,I've seen some masters produce fire when my matches failed. I've even managed it in critical conditions a few times. But, the historical record is full of anecdotal accounts when the indeginous people themselves couldn't get a fire going. So, hang in there. If you get totally flustered, pour petrol on the offending log and torch the miserable creature. Then go out and get a nicer bit of bamboo and try again.

[Stuart]

Feathers is a good person to ask about using bamboo for fire by friction
I recently watched him using a bamboo hand drill set

FEATHERS STOP LURKING AND ANSWER THIS MANS QUESTION :-D

[Rob]

Yeah Feathers, I saw your set at the outdoor and adventure show :-D

Mel is going to Kew Gardens tomorrow, and is on the lookout for some bamboo for the bowyer - with a bit of luck there might be a bit to practice friction firelighting with too :-)

[bushwacker bob]

larger diameter bamboo poles can be purchased for huge prices at B&Q. if you want living bamboo,then ask a friend for a small clump from their plant as they are expensive from commercial growers as a plant takes 4 years to be saleable.