Friction Fire Materials

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Gautier

Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
461
Been dabbling with different material combinations, until this storm blew in for the weekend that is, and I had a question I figured I'd ask and see if anyone here had an answer.
So, does anyone have any experience using Joshua Tree(Yucca brevifolia) or Mojave Yucca(Yucca schidigera) for a hand drill spindle, hearth, or both? Kind of hoping that Yucca brevifolia will work on itself, as it's abundant around here, saves the effort of finding two plants, and it's also my favorite cordage source around here.
I was meaning to try it out, but everything is soaked. I'm sure glad we got the rain, certainly needed it, but it's put a dent in my projects. :p Any info would be appreciated.


Gautier
 
I don't know about Joshua Tree in particular, but I have heard that with some trees you can use the same wood for both spindle and board. . . you can even get both from the same branch. I know this probably wasn't particularly helpful, but I'm sure someone will be along with a better answer before too long.
 
No worries. I appreciate the quick response, and if I don't get a definitive yes or no answer that'll be alright too. Just means I'll have to wait a week or two for things to dry out and experiment with the different combinations myself. hehe Figured with a few other primitive types that hang out here I might get lucky though, and they'd have had experience using one or the other.


Gautier
 
The fire-by-friction champ in my Troop when I was a kid in California used yucca flower stems for the drill. I helped him collect some a couple of times.

I can't recall what wood he used for the hearth, but is sorta felt and looked like balsa, but was not balsa. He told me, but I can't recall.

His handpiece was something VERY hard.

He was the disgusting sort who could make a fire with a bow set faster than most who used matches. Zip, zip, zip, smoke, pick up, blow, flames. Very intimidating - especially to a certain sort of adult. Our SM used him to teach in adult training courses. He was gentle. :D

He also collected actual bird's nests in the Fall and Winter to use year-round.
 
Isn't it mojave yucca plant leaves that have tough fibers you can use for cordage?
That would be part of the bow anyway...
 
Where are you located? If you are in the west, you are easily at an advantage to those here with me in the Northeast. Out west, woods have less of a moisture content than we have here. Check out some of the primitive sites out there. There are many great resources that list best woods for bow/hand drills from best to worst. Learn to identify them and go from there.

Kev
 
:thumbup:Yes, I'm out west, western Arizona to be precise. Our Yucca is different than that of Southern California though, in that we mainly have only the two species I mentioned. Not Yucca whipplei like in So. Cal.
Haven't had any problems getting bow drill fires from the various materials around here. Some in under a minute, and one set I made as miniature as possible with a hearth and spindle about the size of a cigarette pack and about a 8 to 10 inch bow. It's the hand drill I've been working with lately though. I've had good luck with Sotol and Agave genus, wanted to try various other materials though.
I have no problem identifying them, just haven't had the time to get out and try all the possible combinations I'd like to and Yucca brevifolia on itself, and Yucca schidigera on itself, or on the above are two combinations I just haven't gotten around to yet.
Thanks for all the feedback guys, if I get a chance to get some dry material before I fly east for the holidays, and anyone is interested in the results I'll try to post them. Maybe I can borrow the wife's camera if the results are favorable. :thumbup:


Gautier
 
I am not sophisticated enough to know "whose" yucca I have growing in my tard here in NE Ohio, but it's the same stuff that grows in Kentucky (That's where I got it.) and it sure looks like the stuff in Southern California that I remember.
 
Might be Yucca filamentosa(occurs in some of the southern states like Kentucky, Albama, etc.) or Yucca rostrata in that region, or maybe even Yucca flaccida(commonly Adam's Needle) I'd have no idea without looking at it.

Edited to add: Sorry about the oversight, yes, Mojave yucca(Yucca schidigera) is a good cordage material(the leaves). Seems most Yucca is though with how long the fibers in the leaves are, I've also made some fairly strong Z-twist cordage(about a 20lb. tensile strength as tested with bowling balls on 3/16th inch diameter) from some of the local palm trees that look like some sort of date palm, maybe Phoenix canariensis. Wish we had dogbane around here, as I've heard it's a prime cordage material in many people's opinions.


Gautier
 
Thanks for the link Mewolf1. I've been lurking there for a while, just haven't gotten a chance to view all the threads yet, and haven't noticed any specific references to Yucca brevifolia or Yucca schidigera, but I'll keep my eye peeled. Thanks again for reminding me of this resource.


Gautier
 
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