Quest for bowdrill fire...

[Antonyraison]

I been for quiet some time trying to get bowdrill Down,
The 1st time I tried was well over a year ago on my advanced survival course.. we where using a local species of wood that is good for it called seringer.. however the wood was cut fresh the day before and I struggled for hours with out joy... I again tried a few months back with a tree in my yard.. I believe a species of elder (common elder) and got good smoke but still no joy
. Again I tried yesterday with the same wood.. but was using the two hole method and formed good dust that smoked and went out... eventually I sat back and thought what is the problem.
It was several problems... 1. Wood may not be best... 2. Not enough oxygen (use traditional wide keyhole) 3. Too much friction in bearing block...
Eventually today I got a Rollerblade wheel.. cut some old pine I had laying around and used the elder spindle and cut a decent keyhole and after a few tries I got my 1st ember! Here is a video of the 2nd ember I have ever got...
https://youtu.be/X0iYli41IB0

[madmax]

It's amazing how that bearing makes a difference.

[crashdive123]

Good job. This is not a criticism since obviously what you did worked ---- try longer strokes with your bow if you are able (takes a little getting used to for control).

[hunter63]

Quote>
today I got a Rollerblade wheel.. cut some old pine I had laying around <Quote.
Y'all got roller blade wheel in your pines?....

Just kidding....
Congrats...still haven't been able to get a glowing ember....so far.
Guess I have to look for one of them roller blade pines.

[alaskabushman]

I've never been successful with a bow drill. I've probably tried a dozen times, but to no avail. Good job sticking with it till you had that elusive coal!

[Rick]

Am I the only one that wonders what his wife is going to do when she finds out he burned the floor?

Nice job. Friction fire is not for wimps. I cannot do it. I'll let that speak for itself.

[hunter63]

Am I the only one that wonders what his wife is going to do when she finds out he burned the floor?

Nice job. Friction fire is not for wimps. I cannot do it. I'll let that speak for itself.

Didn't want to go there.....but the floor is better than your desk at work....LOL

I have decided that of the many things I have tried ....some I can do very well....some not so much.....no longer concern my self.

I'll live viacariously though y'all......Nice job.

[kyratshooter]

I have faith in you guys.

You can all make friction fire, you just need the right materials and a good dry day with no wind.

I have taught hundreds of kids to make fire with a bow drill and I am sure each of you could if you had someone with experience standing there talking you through making the rig and using it.

[hunter63]

Does have to do with getting down on one knee?......and having to get up?...LOL
I'll work with my flint and steel,

[Antonyraison]

Heheh you guys are correct... The strokes can be longer.. need to work on that.. yeah doing it on floor wasn't a good idea..You can't see it but had ember pan, my wife actually filmed me... It was already too dark outside to make a viable video.. I will make a much better video soon and actually get a fire. Rollerblade wheel pine works.. but I soon want to not have to use it. Thanks all for awesome correspondence.

[madmax]

When you go back to a wood bearing block sometimes it helps to squish some green vegetation in the hole for lubrication. I think it helps.

[Antonyraison]

When you go back to a wood bearing block sometimes it helps to squish some green vegetation in the hole for lubrication. I think it helps.

Definitely should help, a lot of the issue is getting friction up in the bearing block, makes it very ineffiecent. I am going to transition to that once i have the technique down consistently.

[Antonyraison]

I have faith in you guys.

You can all make friction fire, you just need the right materials and a good dry day with no wind.

I have taught hundreds of kids to make fire with a bow drill and I am sure each of you could if you had someone with experience standing there talking you through making the rig and using it.

I agree with you, I think anyone could do it, it just takes some patience, correct woods, and prepartion of making the set, must be good, your notch or keyhole needs to be decent, the string need to be the right tension in bow, not too tight and not too loose, you just need to try understand where it is you going wrong ( I eventually worked it out from watching a few videos and having failure how to trouble shoot the issues...) once you get it the feeling of accomplishment is quiet a great one.

[Antonyraison]

Does have to do with getting down on one knee?......and having to get up?...LOL
I'll work with my flint and steel,

I agree here, this technique is only viable if you actually quiet experienced with it, even then, there are so many variables to get it to work well, it expends a lot of energy and calories... I wouldn't rely on this method, unless I really really had no other choices... For me what works consistently and is very reliable is my ferro-rod, and that always comes with me with my knife.

[Antonyraison]

Good job. This is not a criticism since obviously what you did worked ---- try longer strokes with your bow if you are able (takes a little getting used to for control).

Thanks, I hear you, also saw that when watching it back, shoddy technique .. but Will practice, the longer strokes certainly will keep it spinning longer and faster.

[hunter63]

We are always happy to celebrate your successes.....and a nice follow up on the vid.
Thanks again.

[WalkingTree]

To (re)state the obvious, but in the spirit of how remembering the basics does the trick...it's in the friction-derived heat, and material. Any proper combination of material and technique which produces this, produces fire. For example, the crooked-stick approach doesn't use speed, but just more pressure to get the same amount of friction and then heat.

[Antonyraison]

Today I made a hearthboard and spindle out of dead standing willow I harvested yesterday... and I must say wow.. willow was much much easier to do this with than what I was using... here is a video of the ember.. Sorry quality it's off my phone.. but just nice to document progress.. https://youtu.be/w_HpMxhw4-g

[Antonyraison]

To (re)state the obvious, but in the spirit of how remembering the basics does the trick...it's in the friction-derived heat, and material. Any proper combination of material and technique which produces this, produces fire. For example, the crooked-stick approach doesn't use speed, but just more pressure to get the same amount of friction and then heat.

I have not heard nor seen this crooked stick method?

[hunter63]

I think he means the Bow....Maybe....