Ivan
Guide
The latest issue of National Geographic Magazine shows the fire thong method in use. Anyone else think that thong was too short and thin to actually work? I have done it using a strip of rattan which was much longer.
Fire Thong in NG
- Thread starter Ivan
- Start date
Fire Thong!!! So thats how you rid yourself of crack hair.
crunksknunk
Scout
It doesn't look too short or thin to me. Hard to believe he can grip it like that without slicing his hands, though. Those people are extremely good at what they do.
pat_t
Scout
And I thought my toenails looked bad.
According to the image text he used a strip of bamboo. I have some bamboo. I'll have to see if it could work.
National Geographic Magazine - Papua New Guinea's Cave People - Photo Gallery
National Geographic Magazine - Papua New Guinea's Cave People - Photo Gallery
joboo
Scout
Dave from Bullhead
Tracker
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Yeah....not a good thread title 
but an interesting idea !
but an interesting idea !
Ivan
Guide
Ya, I have read bamboo is also used. I tried making a strap of bamboo. Too risky. I was afraid I’d slice a finger off, as Crunksknunk suggests. I had success with a rattan strip which I cut from a coiled basket I bought. This has gotta be the most difficult friction fire method.
Today, I tried a piece of Bamboo I'd used as a fire saw, but it was too stiff as a flexible strap. It'd break when I tried to bend it. Definitely a material that wouldn't work well as an undergarment, ha ha. I have a different species of Bamboo I'll try tomorrow. To be clear, to make a fire with, ha ha.
Here's some instructions on the method.
Survival Fire Making - Friction Fire with Fire Thong - YouTube
Survival Fire Making - Friction Fire with Fire Thong - YouTube
cbo
Guide
like the claws of an eagle
Ivan
Guide
The strip in the National Geographic article photo does not look like bamboo to me. Maybe they just call it that. Some plants are called false-bamboo. I have heard that a species of Cordyline is also used. I once tried a strip from a palm frond and seemed to get close to getting a coal. I’ll try that again with a better working wood for the hearth. It would be neat to do this method using local materials.