Camping 101: How to Make a Survival Fire Using a Shoelace

One thing that can minimize and even negate the effects of exposure and cold temperatures for extended periods of time is fire. The difference between life and death; the difference between comfort and pain; the difference between a perfect "s'more" and just having a piece of a Hershey bar and a stale marshmallow on a graham cracker is the thing that man has quested for since the dawn of time - Fire. You are about to learn how to create fire quickly and easily using nothing more than a shoelace.

Alright, here is how you do it. First, you are going to need some fine dry tinder. Fine dry tinder can be made from many things like dry grass, moss, or any number of similar natural substances. However, in many situations you will be at a loss to find anything in your natural environment that is even close to being dry. In these instances, it is possible to cut or tear a small patch of your clothing and separate the strands into a bundle of combustible tinder like material.

Next, you are going to need a "spindle block". This is the block or foundation into which your "spindle" will fit and spin. Your "spindle block" should be either long enough, or heavy enough that it will be fairly stable as you spin your "spindle" into it to create friction. So whether it is because of its weight, or because it is easily held in some way your spindle block should be a fairly stable piece of wood for you to work on.

Your spindle will be a long, straight, dowel sort of a stick that should measure about as big around as your little finger and be about 1.5 ft. to 2 ft. long. It should be as straight as possible. You will cut or carve a notch into the spindle block for the spindle to fit into and spin.

With the bottom of your spindle sitting in the notch of your spindle block, the top of the spindle will be held vertically by placing a "palm block" on top of the spindle. The "palm block", as it sounds, should be a block that fits into your palm as best as you can find one that also has a notch cut into it for holding the top of the spindle in place as it spins.

Finally, you are going to find a "bow". Your "bow" would be perfect if it was about 2 ft. to 3 ft. long, very strong, and curved in the shape of, well, of a bow. At this point, you will have removed one of your shoelaces which you will now tie between the two ends of your bow. The key here is that you are going to want the shoelace to have just enough slack so that you will be able to take your spindle and wrap the shoelace around it by simply placing the spindle inside the bow and against the lace and giving it a half turn.

Thus, your setup should be as follows: You should have a stable spindle block sitting on the ground in front of you. Your spindle block will have a notch cut into it where your spindle bottom fit and sits as it spins. Around your spindle bottom you will place the dry tinder material you have gathered or fashioned from your clothing swatch. About half way up your spindle will be wrapped, in one half turn, your shoelace which will be tied between the ends of your bow. Your spindle will be held vertically at the top with a palm block that has a notch cut into it similar to the notch that is cut into the spindle block below.

It is at this point that you will begin to spin your spindle by moving the bow back and forth from one end to the other in a sawing motion. As the bow is slid back and forth, the lace which is wrapped with a half turn around the spindle is caused to slip around the spindle and makes it spin back and forth at a fairly rapid rate of speed, and substantially faster, and more consistently than it would be spun were the fire starter to simply use his bare hands.

Fire is caused by heat, and heat is caused by friction. Friction is caused by the incessant spinning of the spindle within the notch of the spindle block. With continued spinning at as high a rate of speed as possible, there will come a point where you will notice a small amount of smoke. You should pay very close and careful attention to the tinder surrounding the spindle at this time for as soon as you notice the smoke, and of course, even the smallest glow or spark coming from the tinder pile, you will immediately cup your hands around the tinder pile and gently blow into it so as to feed oxygen into, and encourage even the slightest spark or ember that may have been created.

The tinder will have a tendency to erupt into a small flame that will burn fairly quickly. You will want to be prepared with a small supply of combustible material - like shredded paper, or cloth, or dry twigs and kindling wood.

One thing that a camper who would like to be considered a candidate for survival should know is that the wood of the Cedar tree, including Red Woods, etc., is a favorite amongst campers and outdoorsmen for use in starting fire because it's wood will burn regardless of whether it is wet, or dry. In other words it is easy to set ablaze even if it has only just been taken from a living tree.