A hand drill is the most basic friction fire method, and also the most difficult. Many a camper has thrown down his sticks in frustration and walked off to mend his blisters after failing to make a fire this way. But with much persistence and some hardy hands, it can be done. You only need two things:

• Fireboard – A flat piece of dry, dead softwood, preferably about half an inch thick. 
• Spindle – An 18 to 24-inch stick, ideally about the width of a finger and as straight as possible, sharpened slightly at one end.

A knife will also come in handy. Use it to cut a V-shaped notch in your fireboard, and make a small indentation adjacent to the notch where the end of the spindle will rest. This notch will collect any hot dust and embers that form. 

To get started, place a piece of bark under the fireboard that you will use to catch the ember. Place the sharpened end of the spindle into the indentation, and use your hands to start rolling the spindle rapidly. As you rub your hands back and forth, you should also allow them to roll down the spindle repeatedly, which will increase the pressure and create more friction (i.e. more heat).

It will take time – probably quite a lot of time – before you start to see smoke or embers. Once you do, use the piece of bark to transfer the glowing ember to a nest of tinder, and begin nurturing your fire. 

Method 2: Fire Bow

The fire bow is a more advanced variation of the hand drill method. If you have the necessary materials, using a fire bow can start a fire more quickly, and will be less taxing on your hands. In addition to the fireboard and spindle mentioned in the previous method, you’ll need a few more items: 

• Bow wood – The ideal piece of wood to make a fire bow should be about the length of your arm, sturdy but a bit flexible with a slight curve.
• Bow string – Almost any type of cord or thick string will work, including a shoelace. Paracord is ideal. 
• Top piece/socket – This is to hold the top of the spindle while you use the bow to rotate it rapidly. Look for a piece of stone, hardwood, shell, or bone that fits comfortably in your hand and has an indentation that can securely hug the top of the spindle. 

First, fashion a bow using the bow wood and string; the string should be taut, but not so tight that you cannot wrap it around the spindle. Set up your fireboard and spindle as you would for a hand drill (the spindle can be a bit shorter and thicker; about 12 inches long and an inch thick).