EDIT: See this post instead of the stupid bullcrap I've written in this 'original post'.
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I had some free time after the 'bicycle mechanics course' I took today at my college, so I decided to make my very first attempt at starting a fire with a bowdrill.
Not having any camera, I can't give pictures of what I was doing, so sorry if this makes your help utterly difficult. =/
Essentially, I located a bow-like branch on the ground. It was approximatively a bit shorter than my arm (I am not a tall person, by the way). Its thickness was varying between the size of 2 to 3 of my fingers (from on end to the other).
The cord I used was very crappy and I suspect it to be a bit waxed: when I'd try to make my branch spin, most of the time the rope was only sliding on the branch, which implies no spin at all. I'm wondering: could the tension of the cord also affect this? Once the branch was enrolled in the cord, there would be a tiny slack (not much, though).
For the spinning-branch, the only straight branch I could find was part of 'semi-dead' tree. Could this have participated to my failure? Is this branch supposed to be dead wood? It was the same size as my forearm, and it was as thick as my thumb.
The bottom plate of wood I've used was treated: I really couldn't find anything suitable in the wood so I had to make with it. I guess it didn't help neither?
I did not have much time since I was trying to start the fire right in front of every body, on the terrain of my college... and it's illegal. As soon as I realized I couldn't get the cord to have a proper friction with the wood, I just abandoned.
I know this isn't much of an experience, but I guess you guys could still get me some great advices based on it. Sorry for the lack of information. =/
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