Bushcraft Survival Australia - How To Light A Fire Using the Hand Drill

This short presentation is a brief "Instructional How To" video on lighting a fire using the friction method known as the Hand Drill. It details the selection of wood, construction of the set, technique, tinder and fire lay preparation.
The video details a selection of tinder, preparation of fire lay, ignition of fire and how to build a sustainable fire.
This instruction should serve to demonstrate the basics of how to use the equipment and advice on how to make fire proficiently and quickly without matches or a cigarette lighter.
The video is presented by Gordon Dedman, founder of Bushcraft Survival Australia (BSA). Gordon has travelled extensively and completed numerous Survival and Bushcraft Courses worldwide at schools run by Ray Mears, Dave Canterbury, Lofty Wiseman and Bob Cooper.
Gordon is a former member of the Australian Army 1st Commando Regiment and is presently attached to NORFORCE, an Australian Army Reserve Regional Force surveillance unit.
NORFORCE conducts patrols in the remote areas of Northern Australia, working closely with Aboriginal communities.
Please follow all safety procedures when lighting fires outdoors and always adhere to the laws and guidelines set down by your State or country of origin, governing fire lighting.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
BSA (Bushcraft Survival Australia) Disclaimer
The information presented in these videos are given under the provisor that the person/s watching these instructions will practise with caution and care.
BSA is not responsible for how and when you use this material.
Please note that some activities related to bushcraft survival can be dangerous if performed without proper care and attention to detail.
Please note that in many situations it is not permissible to light fires in National Parks. Please adhere to fire regulations and restrictions in your local area before lighting a fire.

[@dansummerfield9390]

Great video, I have been making fire with a bow drill and wanted to try the hand drill method but wasn't sure what timber was preferred for the drill. I'm near Townsville so these materials are just perfect, they are everywhere. Thanks

[@BuckMckawtheotherone]

Credits: 'trumpet by Gordon Dedman', nice touch, great sound. Beautiful video, very detailed instructions. Thanks Gordo.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks for the comments and I appreciate your support. Thanks for watching.

[@moogybannahilstopaflingon6803]

Absolute gold. Great trumpet too...!

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks for your positive feedback and your support.

[@sovereignaussie8627]

highly professional and skilful, awesome

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks so much for the comments, i'm glad you like the video's. We have some more that are being edited at the moment and should be on line within the next week.

[@kanora582]

Perfect. Great explanation of every step

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thank you, I’m glad you liked it and appreciate the feedback.

[@NomadicWoodsman]

Awesome video. love it. Very well explained. Platforms work great especially in snow or wet mud. Thanks !

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks, for the positive feedback. I try to explain things clearly so that nothing is missed. Thats what teaching i all about.

[@NomadicWoodsman]

:)

[@DavidCanterbury]

Great Job Mate!

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

+wildernessoutfitters Thanks mate for the comment!

[@franckalcidi2109]

+wildernessoutfitters : The great man has spoken! :)

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks Dave, your comments mean a lot. Gordo

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks Dave, your comments mean a lot. Gordo

[@phrayzar]

It's interesting to me to see how short your hand movements are when drilling. I do the same thing. It's a thing that I learned to do over time. Better control and less hand damage than going over your finger joints. Not saying its the only way, as I've seen indigenous guys use a long pass on a very thin drill with seeming ease. The long drill is also a thing that comes in time, I've noticed. I tend to use Xanthroea in my area but have tried other timbers including Hibiscus. Similar action on both i think. Cheers, Frazer.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks Frazer. I'll respond in person ASAP.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Hi Frazer, My technique on hand drill I guess has evolved, not deliberately but naturally from practise. Some woods require more downward pressure and I find I use longer strokes for these woods compared to lighter woods. Thanks for your support. More videos on their way soon.

[@JBOutdoorsAndMore]

hope all is well just seen that you haven't uploaded anything recently keep up the good work another great video my friend

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks heaps, I really appreciate the comments and feedback. More video's on their way very soon.

[@MTwoodsrunner]

Well done Gordon, great display of skills amigo!...woods

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thank you for the positive feedback…much appreciated.

[@lakirbs8927]

i cant wait to see your video on the colection process of this hand drill and hearth.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Will aim to do a video of the collection process for hand drill in the near future.

[@lakirbs8927]

I live in FNQ, found the plant (turns out its everywhere here) and managed to make a set myself and have created several coals with hand drill method.Thanks so much for the information on this plant. Only ever used grass tree stem before. This is awesome! ATB

[@ThemisKoutras]

again fantastic video glad i watched it thanks mate keep em coming

[@lisamchutchison6572]

Hi Gordon. Great video and channel on bushcraft in Australia. I was wondering if in future videos it would be great if you could get some close ups of how you do your notching and the underside of your base. You mentioned you bevel it to increase air flow (makes sense!). I would love to see it! Keep up the good work!

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Hi Lisa, thank you for the positive feedback. I have had a couple of questions relating to the same thing so when i have time i will try and do a short video on that specifically. Alternatively i will at least take some shots and do a short snippet which i will place on my Facebook and Instagram page. Generally speaking, all I'm doing is taking of the underside corners of the notch so that instead of it being a 90 degree corner on the bottom, its 45 degrees…just enough to let a little air in. A notch that is too small (narrow) will also inhibit air flow.

[@James_Bowie]

Great video, but at @ -- I'd say that the first point is to know whether or not you are permitted to light a fire. Even in an emergency, the possibility of starting a bush fire needs to be factored in. 👍

[@isaacraizis]

more.

[@PAULNAT]

Good job, I love practicing friction fire. Just subbed, where a bouts in Oz are you located.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

+Paul Smith Thanks for the comment. Working out of Darwin, NT and Nambucca Heads, a coastal holiday town set on a headland at the mouth of the Nambucca River, roughly 5 hours north of Sydney.

[@SurvivalAussie]

Great video Gordo :-)

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks Kev.

[@intensecutn]

Great video mate. Thank you. A couple of questions if you don't mind. Are you using the same wood for both the drill and the board? Do you know of any other common suitable wood other than the grass tree that occur in Victoria for the hand drill method? Subscribed to your channel, thanks again mate.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks. Both woods should ideally be the same so that they consume each other at the same rate and to give you the best chance of success. Other than grass tree other suitable woods are: Hibiscus and Lantana. Thanks for watching

[@feng2123]

Good

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks, will have more video's soon as time permits

[@seanreynolds7369]

When choosing materials to use, what qualities should you look for?

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Ideally dry dead standing wood but hand drills are better picked green, straightened and left to dry. Quality of wood needs to be light. Hibiscus tiliaceus is a great hand drill wood. The general test around the world for suitable friction fire woods is the thumbnail test. If you can dint the wood with your thumbnail then it might be a good candidate. Generally speaking, many weed stalks make good hand drills but not all, you need to experiment. Thanks for the question and thanks for watching.

[@ACDCRD]

i can never find good straight wood.. have any suggestions? ps i live in Central Florida

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

You can always use a small section of a wood that works (not sure what is in your area but something light and balsa like e.g. Willow) and attach it to another section of straight wood (any wood) of similar thickness using a simple dowel joint then lash it together. Alternatively you can also fire straighten a section of bent wood.

[@garryn123]

separates man from beasts

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Yes I would say that man's ability to make fire from scratch is probably what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom.

[@melissabalas2174]

CRIKEY