If you've tried getting a friction fire going in the past without much success, you may benefit from a few pointers from someone who's done this a million times. This prepper knows what he's talking about and we can take away quite a few tips from his example. For that, check out the video below.

Usually, when you imagine a bow drill, you probably think of a slightly flexible stick being used as the bow. After all, it is called a bow.

But if you think about it, a flexible bow will mean that it flexes exactly when it's not supposed to, resulting in a friction stick that pops out of its groove and therefore a failed attempt at getting a fire going.

This is one of the most important tidbits of information from this video. So next time you're trying to get a fire going, whether in a survival situation or just to show off, make sure that bow stick is stout and sturdy.