Revealing the Secrets of the Hand Drill FRICTION FIRE!

Nothing says primitive skills quite like a hand drill friction fire. There's just something about the process of making a hand spun fire that conjures up images of primitive man. Once you understand friction fire techniques, it's not all that hard but the process can seem mysterious for those new to primitive survival skills and bushcraft. This video is kind of a hand drill friction fire 101 so to speak. I'll cover material selection for the spindle and fire board, tinder, kindling, etc. I'm using yucca and birch bark in this video. Then we'll get into the nitty gritty of spinning up a coal by hand and growing that coal into flame.
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[@dougbond6007]

Clay that was so funny making a primitive fire and your cell phone goes off 😂😂😂

[@lonestarminer7479]

That was quite funny.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I thought so🤣

[@JAB671]

Two things I appreciate most about this video: 1. Explaining about the dust color - I don't recall having ever heard that, before. 2. The big ass knife. I generally prefer larger knives and, within reason, can do small knife tasks with a big knife better than I can do big knife tasks with a small knife. Even in the kitchen, I am not a professional cook but I can peel potatoes with a large chef knife a lot easier than slice up a large roast or mince a pile of garlic with a small paring knife. It was nice to see someone do some sort of fine 'bushcraft' tasks with a big knife. That is very different than a lot of bushcraft/woodscraft/survival channels. Subbed. Oh, and bonus thing I appreciated - the look on your dog's face. It was like, "I'd die for this human if need be but he sure does some weird things, sometimes."

[@wolverinejordan5976]

JAB671 Lol, absolutely Brother… Same for me cause when I’m getting lost I still take extra coffee & have to minis pack weight somewhere, lol… Plus nothing better then one tool to cover multiple task, I do keep a lil friend in my moccasin boot that basically looks like a tooth with a finger whole it double sided for skinning & the o crap I dropped my blade while being mauled moment, lol… Custom handmedown from my Great Great Great Granddad… Happy trails Brother, may our Father peace & blessing be with you always, Peace…

[@xionix4]

"Why are your hands bleeding?" "Forgot my boot laces." "What?"

[@arnsnicklefritz9634]

Could replace laces with 550 survival parachord

[@whistlingbadger]

😆

[@clayhayeshunter]

😬

[@marcziemann1749]

😂

[@mgeller854]

Real men don’t need to pick themselves up by their boot laces; they make em out of twine or they just bleed.😅

[@carrdoug99]

Excellent instructional video. You explained the really important steps that too many friction fire videos leave out (produce dark brown. Don't go too hard or fast at the beginning, etc.). 👍👍

[@udrinkit]

That's what she said....

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@GIBRALTARHOMES]

I agree! After watching countless friction fire videos, I could see how the successful fires started slow. I also saw that the coal usually ignited after the drill started squeaking in the wood, at which many successful fires, slowed down their pace

[@mgeller854]

I tried to do this with modern tools and was disappointed when I got smoke but no coal ignition, I finally know why! The black dust was already burned appreciate the details! (Literally didn’t matter I was using a power drill to speed it up lol) makes you appreciate the technique.

[@user-zx8du3ik2j]

a man who makes a friction fire on a wet sand river bank is a man who knows he can make a friction fire just about anywhere

[@KillerSmurfy]

Absolutely loving everything you are showing us.

[@BushcraftExplorer]

I watched your video on Bow Making a few months ago and Subbed. I noticed you said you won season 8 of Alone... I quit watching TV back in 2007, never heard of Alone; so my son recently purchased Hulu and after my surgery last Monday I had to stay down and decided to see what was on Hulu - found the Alone series and watched Season 1, 2, and then skipped to 8😄 to see you - great job brother! Thanks for sharing this vid!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Many thanks

[@raducumilea-is2yi]

Nice explanations! About brown dust etc... 👏👏👏

[@roboodonnell3224]

Right on! Thanks for the quality.

[@donrogers7189]

… and I especially appreciated your explaining that THAT was a “Barn Owl”. Before your comment, I wondered how many viewers were thinking, “Boy, he really needs to work on his Humpback Whale call.” (seriously, your call was so spot-on, I was surprised that you weren’t attacked by crows.) Again… Most entertaining.

[@ronwilliams9884]

👍 Barred owl

[@donrogers7189]

@@ronwilliams9884 yep. That’s what I get for employing captions on videos. Sizable difference between Barred and Barn Owls. Thank You Ron.

[@KiwiBushcraftAndSurvival]

Another excellent video and great tips. I always learn something new from your videos.

[@Anthony_Stewart76]

Another awesome video my man. Thank you and please don’t stop teaching.

[@RyukiTheDragonSlayer]

I don't think he is going to stop any time soon, (Unless I missed a part where he said he would)

[@clayhayeshunter]

More to come!

[@anthonymedina5186]

Great video. I’m in the southwest I find cottonwood or willow are great for friction fires. Keep up with the bush videos.

[@scottlocke3645]

You just added another to my bucket list! Thanks!!

[@donrogers7189]

Mr. Hayes, I appreciate your taking the time to produce these videos as your presentation is on a superior level, far above the VAST majority. I enjoyed the intermission between hand-drill efforts. Your pup’s peripheral vision made it known to him that he was being video recorded, and he wisely put on a face of nonchalantly gazing across the lake while thinking “I need to teach this idiot how to properly play with a stick“. (exceptionally well trained Pup.) The call coming in as you were feverishly trying to close up after brain surgery… I thought that only happened to me. You handled the interruption exceptionally well Sir.( I hope your device landed on a cell phone friendly surface.) Most entertaining as well as informative. Thank you, Clay.

[@terrienhumain6723]

Brilliant!

[@craighoward7716]

Very cool Clay

[@fernandomedeirosduarte9300]

Muito obrigado por dividir o seu conhecimento vou aplicá-los na próxima vez que praticar fogo por fricção. Um grande abraço do Brasil estado do Rio Grande do Sul.

[@jessydoris5937]

I live in northwest florida myself .horseweed stalk for spindle and eastern red cedar bark for tender is a great pair .I'm amazed u where able to get an ember sitting down I'm gonna try the adams needle next .awesome video !!!!

[@Bartek31337]

Awesome ❤

[@Alienshark]

Really cool I need to try

[@larryreily4736]

Thanks for explaining, I knew the hand-drill was possible but not details of the technique. I'll try again soon.

[@robertspangler4237]

Stopping during a friction fire to check your smartphone takes bush crafting to a whole new level 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bottomfeeder12]

I think it’s cool that you’re doing instructional stuff on youtube. Spreading knowledge to us average people. When i watched you win a season of alone…I was so happy for you. The fact that you didn’t play the starvation game. You really worked for it. I’d say out of all the seasons…you and Roland were/ are my favorites. There was always work involved to stay and thrive and it’s being passed on. I’m a huge fan.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Many thanks

[@jamescrews3516]

Clay, I wish you had your own survival/bushcraft classes . I would pay in a freakin heart beat brother. But also would like to say thank so much for showing all of your skills!!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Maybe one day!

[@samanthacampbell6341]

Awesome owl call!

[@thomasherrington5521]

Nice!

[@Dirk_Mcgurk]

absolutely the best explanations of what to do and why. you are the best!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@viking0116]

Omg the bend and snap! Works every time!

[@123osterei]

very good video clay 👋

[@lonestarminer7479]

Nice video. You have a really good owl call. You should make some videos about how to make clay pots.

[@raven_glass]

Your videos are back in my feed!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Good to hear!

[@asdf-bm4df]

Awesome as usual. Perhaps placing abit of sand in the notch might help with friction- and building a pile of tinder ontop of it might help building the heat faster?

[@MrSludov]

Thank you, thank you, thank you Clay.... you are a true treasure.

[@geofflybeck3525]

interesting hobby

[@rexrodecolt]

Good life lessons in this video haha, Many thanks!! :D

[@3passa]

Up in the North, down South, your skills are really surprisingly universal and thorough. That bamboo bow and pressure cooker the other day and now the subtropical friction fire, you really always deliver solid content. Always a joy watching. Take care and keep enjoying your holidays!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks 👍

[@travisbooth3002]

Been looking forward to this 1 for a long time! I thought hand drill might possibly be the only outdoor skill you didn't possess but sure enough you got it too! Keep up the great videos!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thank ya

[@RyukiTheDragonSlayer]

Incredible. You taught me something new, We have an Elderberry tree in our frontyard so I might try this soon.

[@Level3Readiness]

Great video, Ive been eyeing materials for this and thinking its about time to give it a go, thanks for the instructional!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Go for it!

[@BushcraftTexas]

Respect man, I’ve tried hand drill over and over, have yet to get one going. Bow drill on my adventures or ash / board friction are my goto.

[@joehaefeker1755]

Blackwater River is a nice place to go!

[@hoangthidinh96]

Xin chào mình đến từ Việt Nam

[@felipeescamilla3092]

Awesome 👌, great job,love your videos.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thank you so much 😀

[@brianeaton3734]

Great job. I used to live down that way… Gulf Breeze. Humidity and heat can be oppressive… the shirt has to come off once that sun pops out.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Definitely!

[@user-xx5bf5if5j]

Another technique I’ve tried is a rope, cord or even a boot string to do a bow drill. Use a rock to push down on the drill. Saves on the hands, and I think you get a little more speed. Works for me.

[@wjstewdog]

Very impressive. I glad no gators went after the lab

[@wolverinejordan5976]

Clay Awesome video, love how you point out everything… may Father peace & blessings be on you & yours always, Peace ❤️‍🔥✝️🌈🕊️🇮🇱🙏🙏🙏

[@didjhopkins4135]

Nice one mate! Thanks heaps for the tips, cant wait to get into it. I finally found decent wood down here and got a bow drill to work. The chocolate dust is key, that's for sure! cheers, Clay.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Have fun!

[@mmiller73]

Clay is the best bushcrafter on KZbin!

[@CR055130W]

Great video, thank you!! I would like to add something: I've done a lot of hand drill friction fires in Austria and one thing that improved my outcome by a lot was by using a kneeling position, similar to the bow drill. You can fix the hearth board with your foot and still work the spindle. The main advantage over a sitting position is that you can use your body weight to easily get pressure onto the hearthboard and that without using and axhausing your arms! Feel free to try it out and thank me later =))

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks for sharing!

[@dougbond6007]

A couple of things to remember Hayes has been doing this for awhile and he's damn good at it don't wait until you need this knowledge practice any time you possibly can on the back porch back yard practice don't get discouraged if you fail first few times this does work also if you don't have experience with knifes use a small belt knife or a pocket knife cutting your hand or finger just makes things worse don't be cockey be safe

[@BEARivrman81356]

Love the content Clay. Have made hundreds and hundreds of hand drill coals but alas I don’t have the calluses or the stamina anymore… I always found yucca hearth and spindle to be too soft even though the native peoples used it !

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’s always worked well for me.

[@paulaherron7712]

Cedar has grown up into such a good dog ❤

[@tonystimac1314]

That’s perfect timing.😂 Thanks for the video.

[@clayhayeshunter]

You bet!

[@micheloff-grid4248]

Very good job ..living in the forest of BC 55 latitude in your CONTRY always that big noise from the highway do you ear it may be not Thank you for the good teaching

[@Slick.443]

A guy from UK kicked ass like in February 4 to 5 inches of snow with a hand drill method in dead of winter . He used Burdock as spindle and heart board was cotton wood , burdock stalk is a natural waterproof material but you have to use free floating hand because you can not get a long piece but you can add a extension to it . He warmed the set 4 to 5 times before he started a coal and after he demonstrated he took the set and tromped into the snow gave it a little time pulled the set out blowed the set free fom snow and did the same thing before and Wala !!!... this guy is so confident there's not if he is going to get a coal it's going to happen . I used his technique and it works I live in Montana and the winters can be nasty , what I have learned from a hand drill is for beginners is to use a catail stalk for all beginners so they will know from NO pressure to warm the set and to apply enough pressure to make a coal . So the moral to hand drill is NO pressure to pressure but just enough pressure to make a coal that will break off into the duff . But any technique that starts a fire is good one to keep on practicing in any type of weather so you will have your confident that's theres NO dought it's going to happen . One more note your goal is to make the coal on the first run because the more you fail the more chances you won't succeed because your hand will receive a beating , so good LUCK your LUCK will turn into success everytime where you own the FIRE 🔥.

[@Sammasambuddha]

Stillness in the air. Nature stares you down. Resist or conform. Fire burns. Water pours. Life beco ! RING RING ! Are we ever truly free?

[@WolffOutdoors]

Learned how to do this a few weeks ago, I was very proud of myself.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Congrats

[@fishmaniachannel]

👌

[@JayCWhiteCloud]

Great video Clay...This is one of the hardest skill sets I've ever had to teach and very frustrating for many beginners. Something I started to do years ago to "help" students with this method and to build their rhythm is employing a "thong pull" which is a traditional rod drill method in several indigenous cultures. I like to teach this first for several reasons. One, success comes a wee bit faster without the blisters (or not so bad of ones), and two, it teaches the..." moon style"...of performing this method (don't ask me why "moon" as I've never gotten a definitive reply.) The moon method does not have you moving your hands down the rod (where most blisters come from!!!) but rather a rotational "half moon" motion only mostly at the top of the friction rod. With the addition of the thongs, you get more downward thrust and also the feel of having your hands in one spot on the rod rather than moving them downward. Additional insights you may like to explore is to use a "bit style" rod common with some cultures. This is a much larger spindle rod (puts physics to work for faster friction in rotational axial "D1N1/D2=N2") that allows for a better "feel" in the hand, with a smaller rod socketed into the base. The main rod can be any species of plant and even be padded with leather. This becomes part of a "fire kit" for this style of friction fire. The "bit" is any species known to produce good dust that carries and incubates the coal. Priming the coal pit/nest in your fire board is also very helpful to students. This is any fine flammable dust that can be collected like grinding the birch bark in your hands with a few pebbles to act as grinding mortars. Love the videos as always...KILL...the cell phone Brother...I still don't have or carry those bloody things around with me and certainly not in the bush...LMAO!!!...just because they have a habit of going off like that at the worst times...To each their own addiction to tech, I suppose...As always,, looking forward to the next one and the day you call to build a timber frame...

[@clayhayeshunter]

Excellent suggestions, I’ll look into those methods.

[@udrinkit]

Great video. It's nice that you put your bundle within arms reach.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thank you!

[@tysonleopard8702]

damn this man could get it

[@JuliaJulia007]

Almost at 500k !!!

[@clayhayeshunter]

👊

[@sherryblanton2029]

Saved water filtration and fire starting With Backup!

[@scottnyc6572]

Nothing worse than the phone ringing while on your way to starting a friction fire 😂..Awesome video thanks.

[@yestervue4697]

Kudos, almost 60yr old "hillbilly" here grew up in the Ozarks. We used to hand toss fish from the shallows, gut, place them between clay patties, and cook them in fires we'd start like this to avoid having to go home to eat!

[@Johnhanddrill]

❤ lol I think I said some stuff very similar. Cool bro. Nice camera work

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks for watching

[@user-zx8du3ik2j]

back when I was still a kid we made bow string from Yaka leave fibers, we`d smack the leaves with a stick over a log bruising and crushing the soft tissue and then leave it in some water for a bit so it would sort of decay off, then we`d take out the strands and make rope - the last bow I made with that string broke, the bow not the rope.

[@cdogallen7143]

What a beast! Hand drill friction fires are not fun

[@jasonhoff9611]

Great video. For some reason, false assumptions on my part, I always thought the spindle and board had to be different woods. Thanks for clearing that up

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jasonhoff9611]

@@clayhayeshunter you mentioned elderberry as good material. Green, semi-dry or dry? For the spindle and board. I assume dry, but I was wrong last time.

[@dcntralizedmind2754]

The barn owl call was most impressive 😂

[@whistlingbadger]

The look on your dog's face when you did that owl call. 😆😆 I need to learn to do this. My family stopped at a BLM visitor center in Utah a couple years ago. We were the only people there, and when I asked the guy if I could examine the Paiute bow on display, he kind of perked up. We started talking bow making and primitive tech, and before long he pulled out a yucca fireboard and drill, showed us how to do it, and let us give it a try, right there on a piece of cardboard he laid down on the carpet of the visitor center. He actually got a coal going very quickly when demonstrating it to us; my daughter and I were both able to get it smoking, but by then the guy's coworker was giving him dirty looks and he decided maybe he should knock it off.

[@clayhayeshunter]

You started speaking his language!

[@jamescooper2618]

let this be a lesson to all of the self proclaimed survival experts out there. Yes, you can do bushcraft and survival tasks with a large Bowie knife.

[@CrossRootedForge]

(Ring, Ring) "Hey, this is Dominos delivery. We can't seem to find your location? "

[@clayhayeshunter]

Turn right by the cypress tree. Down three stumps!

[@CrossRootedForge]

@clayhayeshunter "Went by one too many gators, I'm turning around and paddling back your way. You did order the pork sausage hand tossed, correct?"

[@booshwaa2]

I've never been able to get the hand drill fire. I gave up and blamed it on the Florida humidity. I'm confident in the bow drill fire. But always seemed like my shoulders would catch fire right at the end for the hand drill fire. Maybe I should give the hand drill fire another try. Sense you went and made the video in FL. I don't have that excuse anymore.

[@clayhayeshunter]

If you sit your fire board and spindle in the sun for a few hours, it’ll help dry them out.

[@user-hh3cz1km6h]

Good thing to learn. Do you use a firebow, too?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Sometimes

[@mattisvoodoo]

Can you please explain the principle with the notches and what kind of shapes you're making there for the contact points? Thanks

[@iridios6127]

Black dust is fine, work well.

[@jjones2582]

If you fail, that is fine because it means you have room for improvement. There's nothing quite as fine as having room for improvement.

[@KCsniper79]

🤙🏼 🔥 🇺🇸

[@lorinelsonfischer9995]

I'm sure you've explained another videos, but this is my first time finding you. Where did you obtain this knowledge originally grandparents? Father? Trial and error? I had to guess, it would be all the above huh?

[@EokaBeamer69]

Have you ever been in a place where you couldn't find natural fibres to make some sort of bow string from?

[@mab0852]

2nd the comment on using a finger thong for beginners. This is one of those 100 practice runs skills. If you don't get some confidence built with early success, most folks give up and quit. I still use a thong if it's been a while and my hands are out of shape. It also makes a good training aid to learn the floating hands technique.

[@brittlanders351]

In the PNW you have to wait until about August before trying friction fire.

[@clayhayeshunter]

That helps!

[@nathanielcook2386]

"Well thats poor timing " 😂😂

[@NICEFINENEWROBOT]

You'll find yucca everywhere.

[@davideylerYT]

I've done this. Let me tell you, it's thrilling to finally see some smoke but you will be 100% out of breath lol!

[@philippeberube7586]

How do you keep wooden arrows from warping?

[@michaelmcgraw4888]

12:53 Cedar’s slobber makes it look like he ate a jellyfish.

[@clayhayeshunter]

🤣

[@dawnfirephotography]

lol primitive man interrupted by phone call. Perfect.

[@dawnfirephotography]

Very helpful video

[@clayhayeshunter]

😜

[@Helleuphoria]

I made my first bow drill fire a couple years back and thought it was great i could tick it off my bucket list to create a friction fire. I think hand drills are behind my ability though, they look too difficult

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’s more challenging but you could do it with the right materials.

[@wiggqbrre523]

It would have ben so epic if you had answered the call 12:00 and said " I HAVE MADE FIRE" (Tom Hanks)

[@joehaefeker1755]

Im originally from Northwest Florida and recognize those river banks😂

[@nlm121184]

What knife are you using?

[@clayhayeshunter]

The Marshall from Montana Knife Company

[@anthonylacorte5811]

I clicked to watch the video it said it was posted 12 seconds ago 😂

[@clayhayeshunter]

😎

[@monsterhog1118]

I remember watching your channel many years ago back when you could afford shirts 😂

[@clayhayeshunter]

90 degrees and 80% humidity saves on the shirt usage😜

[@monsterhog1118]

@@clayhayeshunter just messing with ya buddy

[@martinrhoads6168]

Does fresh cut human hair work as tinder?

[@ri_k6229]

Bic lighter...good for 1200 lights. Lot easier.

[@OPSTuT]

Man , that wedding ring doesn’t cause issue with our finger ?

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’s silicon