With my hut completed, next I needed fire
With my hut completed, next I needed fire

For fire sticks I used a fast growing softwood (Abroma mollis)
For fire sticks I used a fast growing softwood (Abroma mollis)

The spindle and baseboard came from the same branch
The spindle and baseboard came from the same branch

Scrapping bark off with a stone flake
Scrapping bark off with a stone flake

The sticks were left to dry on a sunny rock to dry out
The sticks were left to dry on a sunny rock to dry out

Candle nut leaves were used for tinder
Candle nut leaves were used for tinder

Drilling holes in the baseboard with a stone blade
Drilling holes in the baseboard with a stone blade

Carving a notch from the hole to let the hot wood powder (punk) to fall out
Carving a notch from the hole to let the hot wood powder (punk) to fall out

The base board is placed on the tinder with a stick separating them so more air can get to the punk
The base board is placed on the tinder with a stick separating them so more air can get to the punk

The spindle is put in place and spun between the hands
The spindle is put in place and spun between the hands

Use speed, not force to avoid blisters
Use speed, not force to avoid blisters

Smoke is a good sign
Smoke is a good sign

Stop when the punk smokes by itself
Stop when the punk smokes by itself

Gently blow the smoking to make it glow and ignite the tinder
Gently blow the smoking to make it glow and ignite the tinder

Cover the tinder with small dry twigs (kindling)
Cover the tinder with small dry twigs (kindling)

While I had a fire going I made a small pot to test the clay from the doorstep of the hut
While I had a fire going I made a small pot to test the clay from the doorstep of the hut

This was dried next to the fire
This was dried next to the fire

It was placed amongst the coals and a fire was built over top
It was placed amongst the coals and a fire was built over top

A simple campfire can reach temperatures hot enough to fire clay
A simple campfire can reach temperatures hot enough to fire clay

If the pot glows at least red hot it will not turn back to clay when wet
If the pot glows at least red hot it will not turn back to clay when wet

The crudely made pot shows that clay from the hut site can indeed be used to make pottery
The crudely made pot shows that clay from the hut site can indeed be used to make pottery

Fire sticks are the simplest method for making fire from scratch. The parts are minimal, easy to make and portable. Keep them in your hut out of the weather. This method can be difficult to learn but with it you can make fire just about anywhere.
Fire sticks are the simplest method for making fire from scratch. The parts are minimal, easy to make and portable. Keep them in your hut out of the weather. This method can be difficult to learn but with it you can make fire just about anywhere.