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Thread: Bowdrill with yucca cord

  1. #1
    Senior Member flatlander88's Avatar
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    Default Bowdrill with yucca cord

    Hey everyone, it's been awhile since I posted on here but I thought I'd share my bowdrill set I made yesterday.

    Materials:
    Cottonwood bark hearth
    Cottonwood inner bark for the tinder bundle
    Yucca cord
    Limestone bearing block
    Cottonwood spindle

    Made some cordage out of Yucca. I tried to keep it at least a 1/4" in diameter.
    cord 1.jpg

    Made about 2 1/2' of the cord
    cord 2.jpg

    Good sign. I was a little concerned that the green leaves would be too slippery but it really wasn't
    initial.jpg

    Got my ember on the first try
    ember.jpg

    Blew it into flames!
    fire.jpg
    "You are not good enough now, and you never will be, to not die in this sport."


  2. #2
    Senior Member flatlander88's Avatar
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    Here's a few more pics

    Bowdrill set before
    set 1.jpg

    Bowdrill set after- notice the how much the cord stretched
    set 2.jpg

    Thanks
    Flatlander
    "You are not good enough now, and you never will be, to not die in this sport."

  3. #3
    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
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    Well done.
    Can't Means Won't

    My Youtube Channel

  4. #4
    Senior Member flatlander88's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by crashdive123 View Post
    Well done.
    Thanks Crash!
    "You are not good enough now, and you never will be, to not die in this sport."

  5. #5

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    Nice Work! It's FEW bow drillers who are real enough to graduate from modern cord to natural fiber. I'm impressed! Way to go.

    Can I offer you and everyone a tip??

    Move to the "Egyptian" bow drill technique. In the Egyptian manner, the bow string does NOT rub itself, therefore does not ABRADE itself. With this technique, you can easily get a fire with many local natural fiber strings, and get more coals per natural fiber string!

    http://youtu.be/83KfeCTJ_fA
    Last edited by TresMon; 06-15-2012 at 07:34 AM. Reason: link
    ---------------------------------------------
    Thanks,
    Tres
    Website has been updated for 2012!! http://wildernessmeans.com/

    NOTE: I'm a machinist, gunsmith, writer, and instructor of many outdoor topics looking for gainful employment in any geographical cool place to live. Resumes posted on website.

    John 14:6
    Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

  6. #6
    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
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    Tres - your linky no worky.
    Can't Means Won't

    My Youtube Channel

  7. #7

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    fixed thanks
    ---------------------------------------------
    Thanks,
    Tres
    Website has been updated for 2012!! http://wildernessmeans.com/

    NOTE: I'm a machinist, gunsmith, writer, and instructor of many outdoor topics looking for gainful employment in any geographical cool place to live. Resumes posted on website.

    John 14:6
    Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

  8. #8
    Senior Member Stairman's Avatar
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    We dont have Cottonwoods here, but Yucca stalks make excellent spindles with a cedar fireboard.

  9. #9

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    Try those "thick slatty things" in your local cabbage and other palms- those fire board width wands or shoots that are arranged around the frond stalks.
    They work great for fireboard. Sorry for the caveman description- just a Hillbilly redneck tawkin about a FL plant.....
    ---------------------------------------------
    Thanks,
    Tres
    Website has been updated for 2012!! http://wildernessmeans.com/

    NOTE: I'm a machinist, gunsmith, writer, and instructor of many outdoor topics looking for gainful employment in any geographical cool place to live. Resumes posted on website.

    John 14:6
    Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

  10. #10
    Senior Member flatlander88's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TresMon View Post
    Nice Work! It's FEW bow drillers who are real enough to graduate from modern cord to natural fiber. I'm impressed! Way to go.

    Can I offer you and everyone a tip??

    Move to the "Egyptian" bow drill technique. In the Egyptian manner, the bow string does NOT rub itself, therefore does not ABRADE itself. With this technique, you can easily get a fire with many local natural fiber strings, and get more coals per natural fiber string!

    http://youtu.be/83KfeCTJ_fA
    I've seen the Egyptian method but I have never tried it. I am not an expert by and means but the only thing I did differently was use a little less pressure and went a little longer than normal.
    "You are not good enough now, and you never will be, to not die in this sport."

  11. #11
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
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    Outstanding....That has truly the first time I have seen an "all naturally gathered materials.......fire set"
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  12. #12
    Senior Member flatlander88's Avatar
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    Thanks hunter63!
    "You are not good enough now, and you never will be, to not die in this sport."

  13. #13
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
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    Too bad we don't have yucca plants around here except in some front yards...used to have one, but wasn't real good for cordage.
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  14. #14
    Senior Member Woodmaster750's Avatar
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    I live in yucca country' never thought to use it this way. thanks for the enfo.
    The Great Spirit and Country. Semper Fi.

  15. #15
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    Lucky first try, nice fire by the way.

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