This is a really good piece of film - I have been practising with the bow drill for a couple of years now and still get into situations in which I do not succeed, due to myriad different factors. Friction fire, in my opinion, is kind of an endboss-level type of skill. You really provide some great quality information here - thanks for sharing this with the world :)
A straight stick will work fine because it is easier to control than a bowed stick, just make sure the loop on the spindle is on the outside. Great info. Thank You.
I think this is an excellent video. You do everything that I do with one exception. Instead of putting a piece of wood in the top part of the drill, I tie a string tightly around what will be the bottom of the drill. Then I split the drill for a distance of an inch or two. I find any pithy piece of wood and cut one end to a flat, sharp edge. I place this in the split and fasten it with string and small pieces of wood. There is a type of weed that grows all over the country. I think it is called horseweed. It is easy to work while it's wet but dries very hard. I have had my best success with this. I've also used sunflower stems. Anything with a pithy center seems to work well. For the hearthboard, I find cottonwood to be the best. I think your method of simply inserting a piece of wood in the top of the drill would be much easier than what I described and will try that. I too make my bow about two feet long. This length allows me to get a full reach with my arm and provides less starting and stopping. I have also made punp drills and have done well with them. Their only drawback is that if you have only a knife with you, they take a lot more time to make. Thanks for the information.
Thanks for the upload. I've been dabbling with this while camping in Australia and making a right fool of myself. The truth is I didn't really know what wood to choose, or what makes a certain material even viable. I was guessing that resin would be a good thing as I know it can be used as an accelerant, but it seem I was wrong on that. Definitely picked up a few things. Time to get back out there and give it another go I think. Thanks again!
I didnt understand the lubrication of the drill top... Get it on the drill but not the drill hole? Won't the lubrication on the drill be touching the drill hole? Please explain?
Man ..... I have Yucca cuttings and I have been using Yucca Stalk and some sort of pine cedar and I can't get it started... I'm going to try yucca on yucca. We have so much here in So Cal.... Very cool video. I have failed and failed just like you... That combination of wood I guess really really matters... 🧐
@@overthehilloutdoors6779 Thanks for the reply.... I was successful.... with yucca on yucca last night. I was not able to get it going every single time but close my hands are beat up and tired. Thanks again
Once you’ve learned how to ride a bike, you never forget how to fall off! Just ask an old geezer!😂😂😂 With fire making , nothing seems to be 100% Too many variables. When I started, I couldn’t get one going by chucking the spindle up in a dewalt drill! Now my failures usually happen when trying new materials gathered on the spot, where I haven’t eliminated the variables like moisture, or the possibility that this combination of material doesn’t work together. My personal favorite is a mullein spindle with a cedar or popular fireboard, for both hand drill or bow drill.
Very comprehensively laid out and demonstrated! You have a teacher's gift !!
This is a really good piece of film - I have been practising with the bow drill for a couple of years now and still get into situations in which I do not succeed, due to myriad different factors. Friction fire, in my opinion, is kind of an endboss-level type of skill. You really provide some great quality information here - thanks for sharing this with the world :)
I love your teaching style. Your information was delivered in a very clear and efficient manner, and the quality was great. Thanks!
A straight stick will work fine because it is easier to control than a bowed stick, just make sure the loop on the spindle is on the outside. Great info. Thank You.
this is so so great, one of the best bow drill material vids I've watched, thank you.
Great video. Good tips and even better encouragement. God bless.
I think this is an excellent video. You do everything that I do with one exception. Instead of putting a piece of wood in the top part of the drill, I tie a string tightly around what will be the bottom of the drill. Then I split the drill for a distance of an inch or two. I find any pithy piece of wood and cut one end to a flat, sharp edge. I place this in the split and fasten it with string and small pieces of wood. There is a type of weed that grows all over the country. I think it is called horseweed. It is easy to work while it's wet but dries very hard. I have had my best success with this. I've also used sunflower stems. Anything with a pithy center seems to work well. For the hearthboard, I find cottonwood to be the best. I think your method of simply inserting a piece of wood in the top of the drill would be much easier than what I described and will try that. I too make my bow about two feet long. This length allows me to get a full reach with my arm and provides less starting and stopping. I have also made punp drills and have done well with them. Their only drawback is that if you have only a knife with you, they take a lot more time to make. Thanks for the information.
Thanks for the upload. I've been dabbling with this while camping in Australia and making a right fool of myself. The truth is I didn't really know what wood to choose, or what makes a certain material even viable. I was guessing that resin would be a good thing as I know it can be used as an accelerant, but it seem I was wrong on that. Definitely picked up a few things. Time to get back out there and give it another go I think. Thanks again!
Very informative and helpful, thanks.
Always great films 🖒
Hazel works really well and I pretty much always use pine, just check for residence
Best I've seen
I didnt understand the lubrication of the drill top... Get it on the drill but not the drill hole? Won't the lubrication on the drill be touching the drill hole? Please explain?
Lubricate the top end of the drill, but take care not to get any lubricant on the bottom end of the drill.
Great video, Thanks for sharing. ~Cheers~ B.Champagne
Can I use Willow fireboard with a Willow spindle?
Goat55 - Yes, it can work.
Nice video man. Thanks
Man ..... I have Yucca cuttings and I have been using Yucca Stalk and some sort of pine cedar and I can't get it started... I'm going to try yucca on yucca. We have so much here in So Cal.... Very cool video. I have failed and failed just like you... That combination of wood I guess really really matters... 🧐
Yucca on yucca might be the answer. Good luck.
@@overthehilloutdoors6779 Thanks for the reply.... I was successful.... with yucca on yucca last night. I was not able to get it going every single time but close my hands are beat up and tired. Thanks again
Good stuff!
Thank you for doing this video
The only thing I seem to get is burnt dust I get smoke no hots any Solutions
Try a different piece of wood for the drill and/or fire board. The wood source (species) can make a huge difference.
Once you’ve learned how to ride a bike, you never forget how to fall off!
Just ask an old geezer!😂😂😂
With fire making , nothing seems to be 100% Too many variables. When I started, I couldn’t get one going by chucking the spindle up in a dewalt drill!
Now my failures usually happen when trying new materials gathered on the spot, where I haven’t eliminated the variables like moisture, or the possibility that this combination of material doesn’t work together.
My personal favorite is a mullein spindle with a cedar or popular fireboard, for both hand drill or bow drill.
thanks