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ive been using an old lawn mower pull cord for my bow drill now. I have to say, its the strongest cordage ever. I think it has some metal braided in.

yeah i did the same thing as you when i started. I used some fancy baseboard made of pine.

My biggest initial problem was my string. It would keep ripping. So now ive been using rope thats a...

well ive been adding a bit of pine needle every time. So much that the top tip is basically laminated now. Its like plastic almost and i dont get any friction any more.

whoo-hoo! i did it.

Its alot harder to do in CA than it is on the east coast. Not sure why.

I ended up using all cottonwood.
including the handhold and bow. I used pine needles to lube the...

Will a piece of oak (with lubrication) work for the handhold?

^ i think its because your coal isnt packed enough and has nothing to keep it burning

but dont quote me on that because im just as much of a noob at this as you probably are.

So if i save the powder, (even if its cold) i can just put it in my notch and start spinning?

I got alot of smoke this time. Im not sure if youll be able to see it, but its there.

and my pile smoked for like 5 seconds afterwards.. but went out

...

nope, no yucca.


i read that birch makes a good spindle, so im gonna try that today


ill film my attempt, so you can see my form

yeah. im getting quite a workout from this
haha

one time i was going on for like 10 mins, trying different pressures, speeds, angles, etc...


my dad decided to be funny and made a spindle...

I am still not getting this! GRR.

although my technique is improving. i learned to do the hold the string tight thing, and im alot better at keeping it level.

Im starting to think its my...

so i made a new bow today, and its alot better (more curvy)

i also made a new handhold out of a piece of pine, lubed with somekind of cedar-looking plant
...

ycc- thanks, im going to make a new bow, out of green wood, so it bends today. and im gonna try and get a new handheld.

ill try this later today, and let all you guys know how it goes.

yeah i know, thats why i waited to go to my dads house in ohio

so much more resourses


the good news it, its super dry in CA. and when i start flint fires, i find the seeds of the grass (the...

oh and also, is cotton ball a good starter tinder?

and also, is it easier to put tinder under the board, or transfer the coal?

So im in ohio now, where i have much more means to try alot of primitive things

so the first thing i decided to try is a firebow

im having problems though (obviously)

first off, ill shows...