Make Fire Even in the Wettest Weather WITHOUT a Match! Friction FIRE!

In this video, I'll show you how to make fire even in the wettest weather WITHOUT a match! KZbin is full of friction fire videos done in optimal weather conditions where everything is dry and easy as pie. Well that ain't gonna happen in a real life wilderness survival situation. You need to know how to start fire, without a lighter or matches, in wet weather. This week we're heading out after an all night rain storm to take on one a huge survival challenge - to gather materials for a bow drill friction fire in wet weather. I'll talk about where to find fire making materials from tender and kindling to bulk fire wood. Then I'll use only my Leatherman P4 to build a friction fire kit.
Don't forget to subscribe to the channel. We're uploading a new video each week that features one of the following topics: archery, bow hunting, bow building, survival skills, bushcraft, self reliance, primitive skills, primitive bows, hunting, camping, fishing, and a lot more!
Surviving Alone by Clay Hayes - amzn.to/3Qqou3l
Big thanks to our partners who help support these videos!
Backpacks - kifaru.net/ (Enter CLAY at checkout for 15% off!)
Archery Gear - www.3riversarchery.com/
Tents & Tarps - seekoutside.com (enter clayhayes5 at checkout for 5% off!)
Binoculars - www.vortexoptics.com
Arrow Shafts - surewoodshafts.com/
Clothing - www.firstlite.com/
You can also connect with me on my other media outlets!
Website: www.twistedstave.com/
Facebook: / clayhayeshunter
Instagram: / clayhayeshunter
Patreon: / clayhayes

[@hanzflackshnack1158]

I really enjoy how systematic and efficient you are without skipping any of the parts we need to see. There’s a fine line between a video being way too long to hold attention and being so short it’s not actually teaching anything. Yours are are perfect. Appreciated.

[@evilneedsputinitsplace]

Yes

[@kawrss31]

carry a bic lighter. invented in 72 and durable as a cockroach AK47 with asian life span and a cats extra 8 lives on top. Its 1 of the last things in modern america that ISNT designed to fail for profit.

[@hanzflackshnack1158]

@@kawrss31 While I agree with what you’re saying (bics are the s***) in my travel bag I have a torch and a can of butane. Wind resistant, starts a fire faster and one can of butane could start fires for a year (if you’re careful)

[@shouldhavenotshouldof2031]

@@kawrss31 Bics are French.

[@guyknipe9307]

Always prepared knowledge of gift😊 thank you

[@sleepyheadz]

Clay lowkey flexing his homerun derby swing with his makeshift cedar bat.

[@SuperheroDon]

Bats lefty, righty on the knife and saw!

[@tshortbull8683]

Not lowkey

[@xXGENDAMAGEXx]

@@SuperheroDon there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being ambidextrous. I’m left handed but at least I’m in my right mind. And ambidextrous all the time.

[@shouldhavenotshouldof2031]

@@xXGENDAMAGEXx Nobody said there was anything wrong with it. How long have you been waiting to crack that gem?

[@AtomicBleach]

Seriously if any one deserves a Leatherman partnership it's this man. I wonder how many P4s were bought just from viewers watching your channel and season in alone.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’d guess a lot!

[@kristywilliams9]

Exactly what I was going to write ✍️ LOL.. absolutely 100%

[@sarahleehooper6973]

Just put one in my cart. lol I never knew these were so tuff or would have gotten one years ago

[@GronnocGames]

Such a key piece of advice when the ember starts. No need to rush. A baby doesn't start to run, let alone walk.

[@eliklappenbach2426]

At first I was like man… a half hour long video of a guy starting a fire, but then I was at the end before I knew it and wanting to watch more!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@greatwhitenorth762]

Really well done! To produce a friction fire with just a knife...and a broken one at that...in those conditions after a hard rain, is impressive. Respect. These teaching vids are valuable and greatly appreciated, thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks 👍

[@brett7086]

Clay, man your depth of knowledge is incredible. Not just knowing how to do each thing but the explanation accompanying everything is so helpful.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks Brett

[@OFCbigduke613]

Easily the best fire bow video out there. Simple easy instructions. And Leatherman and others sell replacement parts for most of their tools FYI

[@Guybrush1993]

Great guide! I'll never forget to bring a lighter ever again.

[@YankeeWoodcraft]

You had tons of dry wood that was easy to harvest underneath all those fallen trees there. I've built fires from scratch while it was pouring rain by getting materials from unorthodox places. Wet cedar and pine branches will burn damp once you have the initial flame going and pine sap is an incredible fire accelerant. Sap saved my butt during a storm in West Virginia once. BTW, I had Leatherman replace my Surge when l sent it in for a simple repair. Same issue. I was stunned when they offered me a complete replacement. Best customer service.

[@AmJusSaiyan]

It's cheaper for Leatherman to simply give you a new one, than it is to pay a technician to fix yours and replace broken parts.

[@AM-dn4lk]

This is one of the best fire starting tutorial out there. Thank you for sharing. I wish the Naked and Afraid participants would be able to look at this tutorial before starting their journey.

[@sh805]

Hello Clay, great video! A tip if you have to betoan with folding knives: Do not unfold the blade completely and do not let it engage in the lock! Fold out the blade only 90°, so the bearing of the blade is less stressed and the blade lock is protected against destruction.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Good tip!

[@farleftsilencelikenazis1021]

Think my boss's letterman may have been a copy? The steel screwdriver twisted under a lot of stress but my swiss army knife did the job. The size of letterman's makes them better but I wish they would master swiss steel quality and strength

[@jamesaritchie1]

If you have to baton anything other than very tiny pieces of wood with a knife you don't have the right gear, you don't know what you're doing, and you shouldn't be in the deep woods at all.

[@ralphparker923]

Why so rude?@@jamesaritchie1

[@stefanmeyers2808]

@@jamesaritchie1 Thanks for your rich reply

[@seanacus8476]

Man, your videos have really stepped up over time. Great audio, editing. Great job man.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad you like them!

[@Truthloveliberty]

@@clayhayeshunter are you doing classes again yet? Would love to take a class on making a quick survival bow, yes, I could watch some KZbin videos but I would like to learn hands-on instead clearly you know what you’re doing

[@bryonguenther6199]

Awesome!

[@OhBoyOhBoy-er5ox]

I oft times wonder how many hundreds of thousands of hectares of precious forest are destroyed by fires that these KZbin show offs probably contributed to with their careless use of fires just to make a "look at me, look at me" YouBoob video.All it takes is a hot fleck of wood floating away unnoticed by these "stars" and then we all lose precious woodlands. Please nor pretending to be special and making these idiotic videos. Thousands of men risk their lives to put these fires out and in the end we all lose..........stop it please.

[@RuffusJY]

Yeah the audio was unreal

[@gigabobus228]

dude this is so amazing. Imagine having access to anything you need, even while camping, but people are just drawn to this type of things, creating a campfire from scratch, making a bow and get some game. Cuz its just how we are used to be. Its just who we are. Mindblowing if you think about it.

[@scott55151]

Great channel! Thanks for your guidance. Also always nice to see when a friction fire tutorial doesn’t cut away with video edits. Kudos

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks for watching!

[@bendover4154]

During the Vietnam War, I was often amazed over how resourceful the indigenous people were. Seemed like they could make anything from nothing. This guy is right up there with them!

[@1stRiggerChick]

Thank you for sharing these skills. I have actually returned a broken leatherman, i took it back to the shop i originally bought it from. A good 4 or 5 years later, and they remembered me, id bought other things over the years, so not a complete stranger to the staff. They sent it off, i received a new leatherman. But, as you said, the old one was gone. Any sentimental attachments had to be abandoned. And the model i received was a newer model, so different in small ways from the one i had had. And of course, a wholly different feel. That original one, was a looser action on all opening and closing than any since. And i missed that. I snapped the cutting blade off. It was being used regularly, mostly pliers, but knives, and occasionally the screw drivers and poking implements... Lifetime warranty on leathermans is legit! From an Australian!

[@OutdoorEnthusist]

Clay, I think you did an outstanding job in this video.

[@joshuarumsey2302]

This is exceedingly difficult. I have tried and failed. I tip my hat to you!

[@wdinarte]

Man, I have seen so many people trying this get frustrated and to be honest in a survival situation this can just make you cry 😅 you are one good teacher and lot of little details you just pass out can take us to the winner spot. One thing I will fail for sure is identifying the trees you mentioned, I can’t recognize a mago tree from avocado tree if they don’t have fruits 😂 I am being sarcastic here but not too far away from reality 😅

[@clayhayeshunter]

It just takes some time and attention to get to know the species around you

[@nyccollin]

It’s always been Hass Avocado now. Most people remember HAAS. Mandela Effect.

[@idjtoal]

@@nyccollin Great reminder. Portrait of Dorian Gray, Proctor & Gamble, Fruit Loops, Dolly had braces, et cetera.

[@lyndaniel3369]

You have the best instructions! I really admire your strength---what a work-out just to get the means to start a fire! I would need to build some muscles first. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your wonderful video!

[@andreasranderer6879]

How calm and step by step he did. Thats the way to go. Always.

[@jek__]

Up here in the pacific north west the native americans used to use cedar root as cordage. It grows very long and thin, it's a great source of natural fiber that was used for basically anything, baskets made of that material survive to today. It's possible if you harvest it at the right time and know what to look for that that cedar can provide you with cordage as well

[@clayhayeshunter]

Good tip

[@johnsmith-de9wv]

that was absolutely epic!!!

[@yellowdog762jb]

Felix Imlar suggests batoning w the blade of the Swiss Army Knife only open half way to save the pivot pin. Perhaps that would also be the best way to baton w a Leatherman if it becomes necessary?

[@stangtrax]

Subscribed, all my life I naturally sweat a lot. When I watch you lean over working the bow I'm thinking in my head I need to lean far enough over because I guarantee I will have sweat pouring off my nose and chin. I also live in the SE. Thanks for this video.

[@user-id7ut4yf2g]

Wonderful teacher, great filming, thx so much!

[@lukaswijers4825]

Awesome video Clay! Stoked to try this out later this weekend.

[@rkimberly985]

You can get tinder from "Duff" under trees, where the ground is somewhat dry. The dry duff is under the leaf litter, pine straw, and such, etc. The top will be wet or damp but under neath it will be bone dry!.

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

If it was anyone else I'd say they were bullshitting. You though, I trust. Well done sir! Love watching your channel explode! if anyone deserves it, you do. Just remember where you came from =)

[@PhilippTimokhin]

10:27 Hey @LeathermanToolGroup, help out Mr. Hayes here! Really learning a lot from you Clay, thank you!

[@asmith7876]

I have one of the very first Leatherman tools, made in the US. It can’t be replaced since the parts aren’t available. I have another that is engraved, gift from my wife. It needs some tools replaced on it, they’ll send back your repaired piece rather than a full replacement I’m pretty sure.

[@ryanthornhill5472]

Perfect example of what not to do to get a fire going in a dire situation. Never expend more energy than you need to. This is definitely a last resort. Great last resort video.

[@forester057]

Did you win a season of Alone Mr. expert? Clay did. WTF do you know. Annoying reply guys.

[@ultragator724]

I just came to comment on how awesome the thumbnail looks

[@herbsmith6871]

Pretty sure you can order replacement blades directly from Leatherman. Very cool! Thanks for sharing my friend 🤠

[@jetobey5656]

I have been a woodsman for 65 of my 77 years. YOU are impressing me !!

[@jamesaritchie1]

The best tip I ever received was, "Learn how to build a fire under any circumstances and any situations, but do your best to never, ever get into one of those situations." I can't even imagine a situation where I would be in the deep woods without proper fire starting items, including Esbit tabs. I have the distributed so I'd have to lose my backpack and my belt and my pants before I'd be out. If that were the case, I wouldn't have a knife, either.

[@williamboyd776]

Thanks for your time Clay. Stay blessed

[@haroldbleemel8537]

If you let Leatherman know about it's sentimental value, they'll repair it and send it back to you vs. replacing it. Great video!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Right on

[@abcstardust]

Great video! Wet conditions can be very intimidating. Your video really shows the way to make the fire a person needs!! Thank you!

[@sayjindefender]

How satisfying it must be to have the ability and self confidence to be able to save your bacon or someone else’s, if the situation ever called for it! Super!

[@LarryLaird-eb8rp]

This is the best example of fire starting I've ever witnessed, wonderful video and it's something useful that I can use. Thanks for sharing this with us all 😊

[@denisbelair8988]

Clay I think at Cabela's they had the spare blades for your Leatherman check it out

[@tomwheeler9244]

NEVER underestimate a leatherman! Live this channel! Noticed some "strange" tree structures in the video..I won't ask but I want to..😉

[@sheilam4964]

Thx for sharing.

[@jaisrita1212]

Wow, perfect video. I have heard others mention your name in their survival videos and now I can see why. Thanks for sharing your skill and knowledge with us.

[@kalrandom7387]

Wow, so many things done halfway right.

[@visnuexe]

Nice to see the bushcraft via primitive fire making appear from the humid climes such as Florida! Down my way i m8ght find some Eucalyptus or Maleleuca for good nest and kindling, if not some cabbage palm to work with. Nice leatherman work, there too! Glad to see you up and f8lming!

[@mikelychock0310]

Really great video, Clay. You illustrated how one doesn’t need all the tools and the perfect wood, shaped bow still set. Well done!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mannihh5274]

Another helpful video of yours - thanks for showing ! Allow for some remarks a) never baton with a folding knife in a fully opened position, just open it to 90° and never baton on the tip of the blade, it's the weakest point - cut some wedges from smaller stuff first and only use the blade to start a split, then go on with the wedges (watch the videos from Felix Immler, the Victorinox-guy). b) don't exaggerate - 100% is maximum, there is nothing beyond it (like 150% humidity) c) Paracord is not the best cordage to use, because it's slippery and stretchy. Boot-laces are usually made from polyester of equal strenght, less stretchy and better grip, so replacing them with paracord is ridiculous. The only reason why paracord is so prominent relates to the first 'Survival Handbook', issued to WWII fighter and bomber pilots/crews, which always had their parachutes with them , so nobody would add a tarp or other cordage to their 'Survival Kit' d) Another method with the hearthboard is to make a second divet side-by-side instead of a notch and connect the two divets. The dust collects in the second divet, no need for something underneath the board.

[@AmJusSaiyan]

This convinced me to upgrade my leatherman multitool. I have the Wingman, and it does not have a handsaw. Am going to get the P4.

[@kieronstump]

Perfectly explain,s the fundamentals and minimal tools needed for friction fire. Where there’s a will there’s a way. Leatherman after the video you just made using their tool, should repair, my first Leatherman came with a guarantee they would repair or replace, and send you their newest model !

[@BBQDad463]

Thank you for this video. You offer an excellent example of the importance of knowing the natural materials available and how to use them. Subscribed.

[@clayhayeshunter]

You're very welcome!

[@kevinstrade2752]

This guy knows his stuff

[@forgedinfire8137]

That was an excellent step by step demonstration. Appreciate you

[@MA_theone]

Great to watch, thank you! A lot of passion noticable in this video! 👍

[@joshm8661]

I've always wanted to give this a shot and now that you've shared your knowledge with us i have more understanding of what to do when trying to do it. I appreciate you sharing with us.

[@clayhayeshunter]

No problem

[@richardgoff6739]

I really appreciate the perseverance of this effort. Great video.

[@christopherj.morris6664]

Absolutely amazing Clay

[@matanner9081]

Thank you for showing each step and w calmly you go when you've got the coal. It's easy to get too exited there and break the coal; and again when you get the fire going in your hand. It's easy to get that heat spike in your hand and drop the bundle. Thank you!

[@romeur8709]

Video muito pratico e instrutivo.. parabéns pelo conteúdo.

[@MrViniciusMachado]

Excellent class! Doing fire is really an art.

[@randyl8330]

Thanks for your teaching, Clay.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Welcome!

[@bendover4154]

This video came up randomly in the background on my TV and I thought... "great, another idiot that's going to use the word "tactical" too much & waste my time." Then he caught my attention with using paracord for boot laces. Genius! Silly me, I didn't expect to learn anything new. For many that may seem like an obvious solution to the never-ending problem of finding the right replacement laces. And yes, it's so obvious, I should have thought of it myself... but I didn't. Still in shock, I stopped what I was doing & watched the entire video. As it turned out... I'm the idiot, not the guy in the video! Just about every point he made was something new I hadn't considered before. I hope it never comes in handy but I won't forget if I need it. This video reminded me of a lesson from my childhood... boiling water over a fire, in a paper cup! Yes, it works. Just consider the science. Paper burns at 451 degrees F, while water boils (at sea level) at 212 degrees if I remember correctly. The water prevents the paper from reaching temperature above the boiling point so the paper cup will survive until the water boils away. If asked, I would have come up with the right answer but again, I hadn't thought of it before. For example, if searching for something to boil water in, I'd overlook a paper cup forever & keep searching for something else. Bottom line, I subscribed to this channel because this guy is awesome!

[@cylinderize]

Very nice. I am going to put together a Go Bag, and for those Rainy Fire making days, I plan to bring along one of those plastic Twisty pencil sharpener things, strip off the wet bark from some twigs, then use the sharpener to produce the Tinder. What do you think?

[@DustyGoatHomestead]

I appreciate the vid...Im in Florida and seen this done many different places but never with what we have naturally (wood) in Florida. Thanks best vid ive seen on a fire bow.

[@parjau4554]

Excellent! Often, when people use this method, they don't show all the steps clearly but that was done extremely well here!

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

I was stationed at ft Lewis in WA state it rains all the time. I had to teach soldiers how to make dry kindling and get under a canopy to get fire started . Great video

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@kenhuckins8106]

Out of all the KZbin channels I follow, you take the most time reading and replying to the comments. Tnx's, much appreciated .

[@clayhayeshunter]

I try

[@MrDanielh3410]

Brilliant mate... Cheers!

[@chrisholladay]

Thanks Clay, I always thought friction fires were too complicated for me to pull off but this video made it very digestible and easy to understand. Gonna give this a try next camping trip!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad it helped!

[@forester057]

Lesson learned. Lighter needed in every pocket. That’s tough.

[@stacyclark5910]

Very good job of teaching & demonstrating!

[@stevenkeil7869]

You make it look easy, that's for sure!!! Choosing the wood you use and getting to know what materials are more flammable is important. This makes me wana try to start a friction fire!!!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Go for it

[@ricktimmons458]

I like to empress scouts and other hikers with this too. I pick a true wet day as you did and collect small stuff as i hike all day long, a twig here and there. Find some board and spindle stuff from the ground or better in a tree. as you did on this video - make it in your head and then a practical show and tell. Have you tried out a compression fire maker?

[@charlesmontgomery3004]

Awesome video Clay. I always struggle with friction fires. But gonna try it your way. Thanks for the tutorial brother.

[@clayhayeshunter]

have faith!

[@markspangler8573]

Good practical info. Thanks,

[@Addy-ft4ps]

That's amazing!

[@barnetts9812]

Great video. I always thought needing a mix of hard wood (maple, oak) and evergreen (cedar, pine).

[@CHAMELEON111]

Hi nice tips dry wood hunting in wet conditions , one day may be needed when your in this situation.. cheers Scott

[@SuperheroDon]

Great video. Thank you

[@visutor]

Clay: Thank you for the many crafts you share with all of us. A gentleman like yourself should be imparting his knowledge at a community collage, a place wear I have met some of the finest, most dedicated instructors around As to that Leatherman tool, for as long as you've had it, it's part of your 'flesh' a good commercial welder will service it with your personal improvements to what ever extent you desire. I have an old (33yrs) Victorinox locking blade, a local welder made some improvements that will allowed me to extend its life for many more years to come. To your fine health and many more years of instructing 😉💪👍

[@LeathermanToolGroup]

Awesome video! We'll get a new multi-tool sent your way shortly ;)

[@clayhayeshunter]

Can't wait!

[@anonymouslegion4928]

That’s really great of you to stand behind your tools

[@memathews]

👍 Leatherman, nice to see a hometown Portland company show suck solid support for their products.

[@forester057]

Should move out of Portland if you haven’t already to a business friendly town that wants you.

[@buzzrandy714]

Oh my you are the man with the plan Impressive

[@morganheberling]

My dad who was the ultimate campers last survivalist was very adamant about always having are you killing all your work and all your toys Smallwood orangewood all ready to go so you get your car going quickly and efficiently you're on point man and make me miss him thank you

[@richardvila3]

Outstanding

[@jenky1044]

You did a great job. When you said the wettest weather, I thought you meant while it was raining out. It can be done while raining, but you have to be under a large tree or canopy.

[@shannondavis1106]

Great to see some videos from this part of the country. There are a lot of videos out there but it helps see materials used from here in NWF

[@clayhayeshunter]

Very true!

[@TheMansfieldlad]

I've practiced bushcraft on and off for many years now (UK) . I'm new to your videos and have to say they are excellent and really show the reality. It's great to see the whole thing and the fact you don't use many tools is exactly my way of thinking. I had to learn with the shitest cheap tools and not many of them, it made me much better at the job and when I finally could afford a decent knife, axe and saw I was so much better at everything that it's now almost effortless

[@clayhayeshunter]

There’s so much to learn by using less than stellar gear!

[@LinusCyrilBrown]

Awesome video dude, thanks so much!

[@morganheberling]

Thank you brother learned a lot today and fortunately I live in the Mojave desert or so I have plenty of dried tender however I am not proficient friction fires and I feel as though I can actually go out and produce one now and I'm actually going to work on it so when I need to do it I can I know a couple guys out here who grew up here and that's kind of like a ridah patches thing is to be able to make a freaking fire anyway good job on the video

[@armoris66]

There's something very primal and satisfying about watching a MAN build a fire from scratch. Every MAN should know this as a passage into adulthood. 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 SUBBED!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Many thanks

[@LXT43]

Very satisfying watching someone else do it just not yourself. Right?

[@alanlangshaw318]

What I have learned from your video is having to know ,the tree types and the woods from them,cheers.

[@MegaMagicbeans]

You have that same endless joy of being outside and sharing like Ray Mears from the UK.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’ve always enjoyed Ray’s stuff.

[@andersjonsson7218]

Strange that in your language you can so easily explain how to make a fire, so that I, who is not a native English speaker, get a full insight into how to practice this. It is knowledge and pedagogy at a high level Thanks!

[@MrAmerican97]

I've watched your other videos and appearance on Alone describing your Leatherman Free P4 and they made me sure it was what I wanted. I got the last one at my local outfitter a couple weeks ago, and it has been a godsend. I just wanted to let you know that you're basically a celebrity up here in the PNW-- only about an hour from your claim!

[@clayhayeshunter]

You love that P4!

[@frankgeimer5952]

Great video Clay! That should teach a lot of people on how to make a fire without a lighter.

[@archibaldtuttle8481]

The folks at Leatherman can repair the damaged tool locks. Mail it in or take a chance and just order the parts and DIY. There are youtubes for that.

[@thijsclaassen2178]

Leatherman also replaces just the blade if you want to keep te same multitool. I did just that with my Leatherman wave! Great work out there!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Good to know!

[@jlm1965]

Amazing!!