NewsDoober
05-29-2008, 12:34 AM
http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4skyball.jpg?w=400&h=300 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4skyball.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4rawice.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4rawice.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4cube.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4cube.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4oct.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4oct.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4blob.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4blob.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4rfsph.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4rfsph.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4tube.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4tube.jpg)
Now for the magic!
By taking a tube, and rubbing it over the surface of the rough sphere, we start to cut/polish away at any irregularities.
As Nelson pointed out, with this technique, “you can’t go wrong.”* If you use a true random motion in the polishing, then you have no choice but to make a perfect sphere!
http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4tube2.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4tube2.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4polish.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4polish.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4meas.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4meas.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4tech.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4tech.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4fire2.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4fire2.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4cedar.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4cedar.jpg)
The biggest problem with ice lenses so far has been the ability to make a lens that has a tight enough focal point to light tinder.* There was always the trade-off between the quality of the lens and the size of the lens.* To compound this problem, if we needed to make a big lens, then we needed a big piece of ice.* As described in the first fire-by-ice articles, getting clear ice isn’t very easy.
With this tube-polishing technique a number of new avenues have been opened:
1) We only need a small piece of clear ice - which is much easier to find and/or create.* In the above photos, where the smallest sphere was made, the starting point was something that looked a lot like an icicle.* Very often, icicles are perfectly clear - and they’re easy-pickin in the winter.* The icicles are already in an almost cylindrical shape - so much of the work is already done!* An icicle provides: clear material, a hand-hold, is partially preformed, and is on display.* Wow, what a starting point!
2) Since this tube-polishing technique guarantees a perfect sphere - we have removed much of the skill element to this technique.* The better the original roughed-out sphere, the less polishing* required.* A very poor original sphere will still end up being perfect, one just needs to polish longer.
There is still exploration that can go into sources for the tube.* A longer tube is nice, since it is easy to hold.* I also tried various sized “rings” and they also worked well.* One could also use a sheet of material with a circular hole in it.* Other natural materials might include: coconut shells, sea shells, nut shells etc.
The cutting edge on the tools can also be optimized.* Maybe a serrated edge for the rough polishing, and then the hook-edge/burnish for the final polish.* In a survival situation, one could use cans, jars, lids, pieces of pipe, rings, bracelets etc. - wildwoodsurvival (http://wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/ice/rb/rbfirefromice4d.html)
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Now for the magic!
By taking a tube, and rubbing it over the surface of the rough sphere, we start to cut/polish away at any irregularities.
As Nelson pointed out, with this technique, “you can’t go wrong.”* If you use a true random motion in the polishing, then you have no choice but to make a perfect sphere!
http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4tube2.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4tube2.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4polish.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4polish.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4meas.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4meas.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4tech.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4tech.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4fire2.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4fire2.jpg)http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4cedar.jpg?w=300&h=225 (http://xenophilius.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sb4cedar.jpg)
The biggest problem with ice lenses so far has been the ability to make a lens that has a tight enough focal point to light tinder.* There was always the trade-off between the quality of the lens and the size of the lens.* To compound this problem, if we needed to make a big lens, then we needed a big piece of ice.* As described in the first fire-by-ice articles, getting clear ice isn’t very easy.
With this tube-polishing technique a number of new avenues have been opened:
1) We only need a small piece of clear ice - which is much easier to find and/or create.* In the above photos, where the smallest sphere was made, the starting point was something that looked a lot like an icicle.* Very often, icicles are perfectly clear - and they’re easy-pickin in the winter.* The icicles are already in an almost cylindrical shape - so much of the work is already done!* An icicle provides: clear material, a hand-hold, is partially preformed, and is on display.* Wow, what a starting point!
2) Since this tube-polishing technique guarantees a perfect sphere - we have removed much of the skill element to this technique.* The better the original roughed-out sphere, the less polishing* required.* A very poor original sphere will still end up being perfect, one just needs to polish longer.
There is still exploration that can go into sources for the tube.* A longer tube is nice, since it is easy to hold.* I also tried various sized “rings” and they also worked well.* One could also use a sheet of material with a circular hole in it.* Other natural materials might include: coconut shells, sea shells, nut shells etc.
The cutting edge on the tools can also be optimized.* Maybe a serrated edge for the rough polishing, and then the hook-edge/burnish for the final polish.* In a survival situation, one could use cans, jars, lids, pieces of pipe, rings, bracelets etc. - wildwoodsurvival (http://wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/ice/rb/rbfirefromice4d.html)
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