Percussion fire is a method of creating fire by striking two hard objects together. The most common method is to strike a piece of flint with a piece of iron pyrites, which produces sparks that can ignite tinder. Other materials that can be used for percussion fire include chert, obsidian, and quartz.
Percussion fire is a relatively simple and effective way to make fire, but it can be difficult to learn. It requires a certain amount of skill and practice to strike the stones in just the right way to produce sparks.
Here are the steps on how to make fire by percussion:
- Gather your materials. You will need two hard stones, tinder, and a fireboard. The tinder is a material that will easily catch fire, such as dry grass, shredded bark, or wood shavings. The fireboard is a piece of wood that will help to create a spark when the stones are struck together.
- Prepare the tinder. Make sure that the tinder is dry and free of moisture. You can do this by spreading it out in the sun or by heating it over a fire.
- Strike the stones together. Hold the two stones in your hands and strike them together with a glancing blow. The goal is to produce a shower of sparks that will ignite the tinder.
- Transfer the sparks to the tinder. Once you have produced sparks, gently blow on them to help them ignite the tinder.
- Feed the fire. Once the tinder is ignited, you will need to feed the fire with small pieces of wood. Continue to feed the fire until it is large enough to sustain itself.
Percussion fire is a valuable skill to have, especially if you are ever in a survival situation. With a little practice, you can learn to make fire by percussion quickly and easily.
Here are some additional tips for making fire by percussion:
- Use a sharp blow when striking the stones. The harder the blow, the more likely you are to produce sparks.
- Hold the stones at a slight angle when striking them. This will help to direct the sparks towards the tinder.
- Use a fireboard that is made of soft wood. Soft wood will produce more sparks than hard wood.
- Keep the tinder dry. Wet tinder will not catch fire.
- Be patient. It may take a few tries to produce a spark that will ignite the tinder.
With a little practice, you will be able to make fire by percussion like a pro!