Has anyone every used a fire plough? It is mentioned in the gem SAS survival guide. It is a board with a grove, you run a stick along the grove.<br>Also, could you make a firedrill or plough, and just use is to make tinder? and then use a spark to ignite when you need it?

I've been taught the plough method. It is a lot easier than other methods for many people. Tom Hank's SURVIVOR featured one. Friction devices do not create tinder. What you are creating is the initial ember, or ignition source. Think of it as the matchhead. Fine tinder is then ignited with the ember. Tinder is something you keep an eye out for during travel, gathering before immediate need.

I do keep one eye 'half open' for tinder, I see a fluffy seed head, but it is too waxy, I see punk, but its damp etc.

The "castaways" on the first season of Survivor tried unsuccessfully to generate a fire using the fire plough (among other methods). It was clear from that, that some of them, at least, had read up on the subject, but apparently none of them had actually practiced it, so they couldn't get it to work when they needed to. <br>It was kind of a sobering lesson, that just reading the book and/or knowing the theory isn't enough.

I like the Bow Drill better.