Friction Fire

Fire Building Fundamentals with Charlie Serra

Kettle Falls, WA

Forget the click of a plastic lighter or the "cheat code" of a blowtorch. There is a deep, primal satisfaction in conjuring heat from nothing but wood, sweat, and friction. This intensive afternoon workshop strips fire-making down to its essential elements, teaching you how to turn the landscape into a reliable source of warmth and light.

Whether you're a seasoned backpacker looking to level up your bushcraft or a curious soul wanting to connect with ancestral skills, this class moves beyond "survival" and into the realm of true craftsmanship.

What You’ll Learn

• The Bow Drill Mechanics: Learn the "big four" of friction fire: the hearth board, the spindle, the handhold, and the bow. We’ll cover wood selection and the specific body mechanics required to turn smoke into coal.

• Tinder & Bird’s Nests: A coal is a baby; the tinder bundle is the cradle. You’ll learn to identify, harvest, and process natural fibers into highly flammable "bird's nests" that take a spark and run with it.

• Beyond the Bow: We’ll explore "Flint and Steel" techniques and the proper use of a ferrocerium rod—tools that don't run out of fuel or fail when wet.

• Starting fires in challenging conditions with matches or lighters.