Uploaded March 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
I purposely worked with less than ideal tools and freshly found on-the-spot materials. I even went to a location I've never been to before. So, I wasn't familiar with the specific area. Although, much of Florida's wooded areas usually have the same wood choices. So, I pretty much knew there'd be Pine, Oak, and Saw Palmetto as it's just about everywhere throughout the state.
I was successful on my 3rd attempt. The 1st attempt was with Live Oak, the fireboard broke. The 2nd attempt I drilled through the fireboard. The spindle was kinda skinny, but I figured I'd give it a try since Oak is hard and dense. I didn't see any other dead Oak branches in the area so I went with Long-leaf Yellow Pine on my 3rd and successful attempt. I was hoping to be successful with Oak using a poor blade option. Oh, and knap-able rocks aren't easy to find in Florida (as a possible primitive cutting tool).
I was kinda crude on purpose. I wanted to be able to be successful when everything's not necessary ideal or properly prep'd (such as the tinder bundle). I could have easily grabbed some Palm Hair (aka Monkey Fur), taken more time to make more scrapings, or pulverized the pine needles to make for a more fibrous tinder bundle. That, and working with freshly found unproven materials often involves some guesswork. All part of the experience. The only things missing are the stress and/ or time pressure of having to be successful and possibly spend the night in the woods without a fire (if it were for real). It would be an unplanned inconvenience with a fire, it would totally suck without it.
I purposely worked with less than ideal tools and freshly found on-the-spot materials. I even went to a location I've never been to before. So, I wasn't familiar with the specific area. Although, much of Florida's wooded areas usually have the same wood choices. So, I pretty much knew there'd be Pine, Oak, and Saw Palmetto as it's just about everywhere throughout the state.
I was successful on my 3rd attempt. The 1st attempt was with Live Oak, the fireboard broke. The 2nd attempt I drilled through the fireboard. The spindle was kinda skinny, but I figured I'd give it a try since Oak is hard and dense. I didn't see any other dead Oak branches in the area so I went with Long-leaf Yellow Pine on my 3rd and successful attempt. I was hoping to be successful with Oak using a poor blade option. Oh, and knap-able rocks aren't easy to find in Florida (as a possible primitive cutting tool).
I was kinda crude on purpose. I wanted to be able to be successful when everything's not necessary ideal or properly prep'd (such as the tinder bundle). I could have easily grabbed some Palm Hair (aka Monkey Fur), taken more time to make more scrapings, or pulverized the pine needles to make for a more fibrous tinder bundle. That, and working with freshly found unproven materials often involves some guesswork. All part of the experience. The only things missing are the stress and/ or time pressure of having to be successful and possibly spend the night in the woods without a fire (if it were for real). It would be an unplanned inconvenience with a fire, it would totally suck without it.
