so I went out at around 3:30 to use my fire bow again and see if I can improve my spindle some.

my spindle was fairly "makeshift" as I made it in only a few minutes on Friday before I left my house.

My spindle was fairly irregular so I had problems with the spindle slipping, because the top was large so it would seem as tight as it could go, than when it moved to the bottom, it was too loose.
I would have to hold the line very tight to compensate.

well, probably around my tenth try I got quite a bit of smoke (I had gotten this much before though) but when I pulled the spindle away smoke was coming from my pile of dust!
I had an ember!

I quickly reached in my bag of tinder and grabbed the mix of dry dead grass, cattail fuzz, and cedar bark and figured it would be a piece of cake from here on out...
well I was wayyyy off!

I did everything I could, but the ember would just spread, and blacken and burn away the tinder, than I would loose the backing (I had it piled with tinder behind the ember so I can hold it and support the bundle when I blew on it) and the (now huge) burning ember would just blow all over the place with nothing on top of it to burn.

well, this went ON AND ON for maybe 5-10 minutes before I ran inside (now I had a TON of huge burning embers, so I wasn't worrying about them going out) and grabbed dryer lint...
well, this wasn't any better.
so I rearranged my original bundle and went at it... I had inhaled so much smoke and got it in my eyes that my throat was starting to burn.
I saw my sister at the door with her camera phone (she got a great pic of the fire igniting) and a few more puffs and I had a burst of flames!

awesome stuff.
my adrenaline was pumping like crazy and I didn't even realize the burn on my leg the spindle left me with.
I was basically running around in a panic the whole time.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

anyways...
thanks for all the help you guys have offered me!

I ended up with tinder everywhere, as you can see.

some of these don't show the smoke very well, but there was smoke EVERYWHERE!
my whole body smells like smoke and my eyes and throat burn (I'll be OK right?)
but I feel very accomplished.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

MESSY MESSY!


it's tipped upside down, but heres my tinder bindle. (one of them. there were ones that didn't get burning, like I said)

wow...
those pics are just AWFUL.
they seem too big?
but I was too excited to even think straight when I took them, so... it makes sense.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

heres the pic my sister snapped.



I was using a big leaf as support for the back, as most of my tinder was too hot and burnt up.

Cool EMF. Congrats on the FIRE <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Great job bro, I've gotta get out and do that soon now, I tried and failed last year !!!!

That's awesome EMF!

I love that story,but I laughed a bit as I grabbed my lighter to prompt my cigar. Great lighter...made by Brunton..called the Firestorm.
Lights in 85m.p.h. winds,waterproof,fits on a ring or rides unnoticed in a pocket. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
Great to know how to make a spindle fire,but at my age I like the convince of a jet flame that I know will light every time. It's like the Scrap Yard of lighters. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" />
I have lit many fires and grills with mine and never jumped around with joy for the fact I created fire. I think I should try your method and see if I can still do the "Happy Dance" when necessary! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Very well done sir! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Peace.

Cedar bark is usually very reliable stuff for getting a flame. Did you mash it up at all? It works best if you roll it between your hands, kind of pulverize it into fuzz. Can't really tell from your pictures, they're, uh... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Congrats on getting your first flame though! Now that you know you can do it, your progress will be swifter. From here on its about refining your technique to accomplish the feat with less effort.

And ignore Prince of Peace. The point isn't to get fire at any cost (if it is, just add kerosene: instant inferno) but rather to get fire using only one's own strength and skill. Much more thrilling to bring forth the blaze with ingenuity and a few sticks than it is to flick a lighter. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Very cool EMF, well done

lol
PoP... that sounds like one heck of a lighter!
but yeah, don't think I would get as much satisfaction from it though.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

momaw: the pictures are pretty embarrassing.
if they weren't sized so weird they wouldn't be that bad.
I did not mash the bark...
probably should have.
thanks.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

well.
I just went out and within 15 mins. (I had to change the string on my bow) I had an ember.

it went out since I didn't have tinder prepared, but in another 5 mins. I had fire!

I'm getting good.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hehe. Is it moving toward winter in your parts? Try it in the dark and cold some time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I actually have tried it while VERY dehydrated, with muscles cramping, in cold windy weather (my fingertips were stinging) and it was actually pretty cool.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

but yes, I do need more practice.

Congrats! I still need to try that method.

I remember how excited I was when I made my first fire with the firesteel, but now that's to easy (I could try again now since it's damp out). Bow drill is next!