Hi Nick. I can only really echo what others have said. It's so important to show the successes and other issues as well. It makes things real and believable. Your style of presentation is informative and engaging. Thank you and I will check out your other videos. I wish you well.
what a nice, sympatic and also science-loaded tutorial, thank you so much. loved those side-infos like smoke at ~200°C,.. will do this with kids next birthday party. so also your inspiration ignited ;-)
Absolutely Awesome! Bow drill is a skill I'm continuing to try to master. 10:05 "And to wrap this up fundamentally, don't leave home without one of these guys"...holds up a lighter. There is no more reliable way to start a fire than with a fire and butane burns at around 2205C/4000F degrees. I've tested Bic lighters thousands of times at over 14,000 feet above see level in Colorado and they produce flame as reliably as anywhere. The spark can be used to light fires even if the lighter is wet and out of gas.
Took me ages to get this to work. My mate Stu from four crows bushcraft talked me through and taking your time saving ALL your powder. It was amazing when I got it!
Brilliant, great explanation. Ive never tried fire by friction before, as i normally keep lots of firesteels in different bags depending if im out walking or Canoe wild camping. But after watching your explanation, i would give it a try next time im out on one of my Canoe trips this year. Thanks for sharing those skills. Regards Geordie
Thanks Nick - once again an outstanding “real” video with step by step and visible pointers on how to do it. Too many times I see a quick bit of furious bowing and then hey presto we’re off... . I collected some dry standing ivy last weekend and followed your set up for the hearth board and drill and will be trying it this weekend. This vid is perfect timing. Cheers.
@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 It worked like a dream! “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail” was the main lesson I got from your vid. So I spent the time getting everything right and ready. Particularly useful were: 1. Kindling and nest prep, 2. Keeping everything off the ground - ‘twas pretty damp yesterday! 3. Position of feet and kneeling to ensure good bow movement, 4. “Warming up” the wood to gentle smoking, then a specific push hard down and 20 good strokes, 5. Allowing the ember to settle and get going, and 6. A decent ember catcher, in my case a flat piece of birch bark. It took first time (which is a first!) - don’t know whether it was the use of ivy, which seemed to get v hot v quickly and/or application of the techniques, prob both. I do use a steel bearing block (doubles as a steel for my flint) and that worked well too - it didn’t get hot (spit) or wear the drill point. All in all great work and very satisfying, all down to your excellent tips. Cheers. Pics of the details here if you’re interested. imgur.com/gallery/yRlTeX6
I bet many a bow drill has been smashed across a knee in sheer frustation over time! The calorie hunt in days gone by must have been huge, we are so lucky now. Great tips Nick and really satisfying to see, fire seems to be magic when you create it without a lighter or matches, simple pleasures eh? . Thank you for sharing. All best.
Really enjoying the Videos. I'm in Atlantic Canada, we have similar challenges as far as changeable weather goes. As a bonus, fire-starting skills are really well tested and finely honed by camping in the woods during a Canadian Winter.
The main thing I do differently to you, is that I try not to blow on the nest until the last few seconds (I just gently wave the nest back and forth) that way you don't introduce additional moisture from your breath into the equation. I don't know how much difference it makes really, but you definitely don't get as light-headed!
Fascinating stuff. I do remember seeing one of Ray Mears' shows where he visited a Pacific Island where the inhabitants had completely lost the knowledge of creating a fire from scratch. Ray used a fire bow to show them how. Have you ever tried the 'fire plough' method? That always seems to be far harder work than the fire bow, and requires very hard, bone-dry wood, to work.
All that, and you 'ad a bleedin' lighter on you all along?! Only joking. Always need a plan B. Very good tips. Didn't know about the colour of the smoke detail. Good work as ever!
Hey :) it'd be worth linking this video in your prior bow drill videos description box, just had to scroll through your posted videos to the 6months ago mark. Petty request but making it easier to find your content and self-linking will benefit you aswell! Keep it up love the videos
Hi mate. I’ve be tried so many times and only achieved the flame once 😂. Fortunately I had my daughter with me and she was mind blown 🤯. I find my embers are quite fibrous almost like charred splinters.
@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 I will buy some kiln dry wood to practice on. See if by that eliminates the fibrous dust. Thanks for replying mate I appreciate it 👍🏻
I just cant find a video on finding the right wood for the spindle and board. I dunno how you started the burnhole in the boards, did you carve it a bit or spindle burn it into the wood
Imagine you’re going on Naked and Afraid. What is the one item you’d take and what would you hope your partner turned up with? Edit... Apart from a cracking set of jugs of course - that’s a given!
Hi Nick. I can only really echo what others have said. It's so important to show the successes and other issues as well. It makes things real and believable. Your style of presentation is informative and engaging. Thank you and I will check out your other videos. I wish you well.
Great Tips! I love seeing the failures as well as it keeps it real and shows some of the pitfalls that many of us will face. Thanks for sharing
Another excellent video Nick, well explained. Cheers!
what a nice, sympatic and also science-loaded tutorial, thank you so much. loved those side-infos like smoke at ~200°C,.. will do this with kids next birthday party. so also your inspiration ignited ;-)
Absolutely Awesome! Bow drill is a skill I'm continuing to try to master. 10:05 "And to wrap this up fundamentally, don't leave home without one of these guys"...holds up a lighter. There is no more reliable way to start a fire than with a fire and butane burns at around 2205C/4000F degrees. I've tested Bic lighters thousands of times at over 14,000 feet above see level in Colorado and they produce flame as reliably as anywhere. The spark can be used to light fires even if the lighter is wet and out of gas.
had a go at this years ago as a child with my uncle, i'll go out and give it a go soon - always worth being prepared :)
Very good demo Nick. Nice to see all the process clearly with no hocus-pocus bushcraft dark art stuff.
Many thanks Nick, I really enjoyed watching this. I'm going to have a go, but really hope I never need to use it for real!
It's my birthday today and my brother has bought me a bow drill kit so I will be giving this a try! Thanks for the helpful vid🙂
Great lesson. Thanks Nick
Took me ages to get this to work. My mate Stu from four crows bushcraft talked me through and taking your time saving ALL your powder. It was amazing when I got it!
Brilliant, great explanation. Ive never tried fire by friction before, as i normally keep lots of firesteels in different bags depending if im out walking or Canoe wild camping. But after watching your explanation, i would give it a try next time im out on one of my Canoe trips this year. Thanks for sharing those skills.
Regards
Geordie
Nice One Nick .!!
Love your transparency Nick 👌🏼
Another excellent lesson. Your channel raises the bar for the other "vlogers" to follow.
I love it. He gives an amazing, in depth explanation on using a bow drill. Last top tip? Don’t leave your house without a lighter.
Thanks Nick - once again an outstanding “real” video with step by step and visible pointers on how to do it. Too many times I see a quick bit of furious bowing and then hey presto we’re off... . I collected some dry standing ivy last weekend and followed your set up for the hearth board and drill and will be trying it this weekend. This vid is perfect timing. Cheers.
@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 It worked like a dream! “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail” was the main lesson I got from your vid. So I spent the time getting everything right and ready. Particularly useful were: 1. Kindling and nest prep, 2. Keeping everything off the ground - ‘twas pretty damp yesterday! 3. Position of feet and kneeling to ensure good bow movement, 4. “Warming up” the wood to gentle smoking, then a specific push hard down and 20 good strokes, 5. Allowing the ember to settle and get going, and 6. A decent ember catcher, in my case a flat piece of birch bark. It took first time (which is a first!) - don’t know whether it was the use of ivy, which seemed to get v hot v quickly and/or application of the techniques, prob both. I do use a steel bearing block (doubles as a steel for my flint) and that worked well too - it didn’t get hot (spit) or wear the drill point. All in all great work and very satisfying, all down to your excellent tips. Cheers. Pics of the details here if you’re interested. imgur.com/gallery/yRlTeX6
I bet many a bow drill has been smashed across a knee in sheer frustation over time! The calorie hunt in days gone by must have been huge, we are so lucky now. Great tips Nick and really satisfying to see, fire seems to be magic when you create it without a lighter or matches, simple pleasures eh? . Thank you for sharing. All best.
@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 Thank you for sharing your knowledge, really kind of you.
Good stuff 🤠
.......love the lighter !!
Really enjoying the Videos. I'm in Atlantic Canada, we have similar challenges as far as changeable weather goes. As a bonus, fire-starting skills are really well tested and finely honed by camping in the woods during a Canadian Winter.
Very interesting video, I never seen.
@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683
Thanks you, keep smiling 👍😊
The main thing I do differently to you, is that I try not to blow on the nest until the last few seconds (I just gently wave the nest back and forth) that way you don't introduce additional moisture from your breath into the equation. I don't know how much difference it makes really, but you definitely don't get as light-headed!
Hey Nick, great culmination of bringing friction to fire! Hoping all the kneeling you’ve done hasn’t aggravated the knee pain....best Cam👍🏻
@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 Nick, do you suffer from "Kneemoania" then?
Fascinating stuff. I do remember seeing one of Ray Mears' shows where he visited a Pacific Island where the inhabitants had completely lost the knowledge of creating a fire from scratch. Ray used a fire bow to show them how. Have you ever tried the 'fire plough' method? That always seems to be far harder work than the fire bow, and requires very hard, bone-dry wood, to work.
All that, and you 'ad a bleedin' lighter on you all along?! Only joking. Always need a plan B. Very good tips. Didn't know about the colour of the smoke detail. Good work as ever!
Hey :) it'd be worth linking this video in your prior bow drill videos description box, just had to scroll through your posted videos to the 6months ago mark. Petty request but making it easier to find your content and self-linking will benefit you aswell! Keep it up love the videos
I learned about this in Boy scouts... I was young but still never forget
Hi mate. I’ve be tried so many times and only achieved the flame once 😂. Fortunately I had my daughter with me and she was mind blown 🤯. I find my embers are quite fibrous almost like charred splinters.
@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 I will buy some kiln dry wood to practice on. See if by that eliminates the fibrous dust. Thanks for replying mate I appreciate it 👍🏻
Have you seen Felix Immlers SAK setup? I've never started a bow drill fire faster in my life.
I just cant find a video on finding the right wood for the spindle and board. I dunno how you started the burnhole in the boards, did you carve it a bit or spindle burn it into the wood
Challenge for you, Sir? I am a Paraplegic, I have no use wist down. How would I use the bow drill method?
I'd love to have a go at doing that, without setting my local woodland alight.
Still can’t master this after 20 years. 🙄 still I won’t give up
I've been trying to start a fire by rolling cotton wool and wood ash between two pieces of wood. Can't even get the bloody cotton wool WARM.
Imagine you’re going on Naked and Afraid.
What is the one item you’d take and what would you hope your partner turned up with?
Edit... Apart from a cracking set of jugs of course - that’s a given!