Bowdrill

[dustintml]

So I have tried off on for probably two years now to start a fire with the bowdrill to no avail. Getting smoke is easy, and so is getting black dust, but I just can't seem to get a coal. I have used spruce and quaking aspen. I may have tried with balsam fir before; I can't remember. I live on Prince Edward Island, so the woods available to me would be your New England area kind of woods. Any tips from someone from the New England/Atlantic Canadian area who has successfully done this before? I have read that fir is the best wood available in this part of the country, and that may be my problem (not sure if I tried with it before or not). I did get a bunch of stuff for a fir bowdrill set recently, but it wasn't dry/dead enough so I have been letting dry in the shed. I think this kind of defeats the purpose though; I'd like to be able to just go out, find the pieces in the woods, and start a fire with them. That is how it would be in an actual survival situation, but then again, in an actual survival situation I would likely be in the wilderness so a greater variety of woods would be available to me .... anyway, any tips you can give me.

[Winter]

I have never been able to start a bowdrill fire here. I got one going in Tx once.

The woods here are predominately coniferous with the occasional mountain ash and alder.

I could use a bit of advice as well.

[crashdive123]

So I have tried off on for probably two years now to start a fire with the bowdrill to no avail. Getting smoke is easy, and so is getting black dust, but I just can't seem to get a coal. I have used spruce and quaking aspen. I may have tried with balsam fir before; I can't remember. I live on Prince Edward Island, so the woods available to me would be your New England area kind of woods. Any tips from someone from the New England/Atlantic Canadian area who has successfully done this before? I have read that fir is the best wood available in this part of the country, and that may be my problem (not sure if I tried with it before or not). I did get a bunch of stuff for a fir bowdrill set recently, but it wasn't dry/dead enough so I have been letting dry in the shed. I think this kind of defeats the purpose though; I'd like to be able to just go out, find the pieces in the woods, and start a fire with them. That is how it would be in an actual survival situation, but then again, in an actual survival situation I would likely be in the wilderness so a greater variety of woods would be available to me .... anyway, any tips you can give me.

Your_Comforting_Company (YCC) is our resident bow drill "go to" guy.

[your_comforting_company]

check your elements.
notch width? enough spin without squeek? enough pressure?

I have not used any of those woods, though I've had success with black willow, yucca, nandina, and crepe myrtle. I try not to use conifer woods, as around here they are usually sappy.
Perhaps if you guys elaborate a litle more on your process, and where it goes wrong, I might be able to help troubleshoot.

One thing I do, after I get smoke, I increase pressure and spin for a few seconds. This usually is the little extra kick it needs to turn grey smoke to yellow, and kick an ember out.
grey smoke is not hot enough. Look for the change... that little wisp of yellowish smoke.
And BREATHE! as you exhale, blow down gently toward the dustpile. sometimes the extra air circulation speeds up the process. Some days I can get fire in 3 minutes or less. Some days it takes me a couple tries. Hope that helps. If you can explain a little better, I may be able to offer more advice.

[letslearntogether47]

I'm no expert(just posted 1st time today),but I can make fire just about every time with my starter set.
My suggestion would be to purchase some white cedar at a wood shop or Home Improvement store first.Cut your fire board and spindle from that wood probably a 1" x 6".
Make sure your spindle is multifaceted,hexagon shape works pretty good.This seems to help the rope from slipping.
Some nice cotton clothes line for the bow cortege has worked for me.
Biggest problem I had when first starting is sting slippage and too much residence in the hand hold.Look to get a nice bearing block and lube it good.
The reason I suggest purchased wood is because it's not only about materials,but technique as well.If you can get fire with the best of materials then you will notice when things are just not right with natural woods.
Squealing,ember burns out fast,no smoke.You'll know right away if you have some wood that just wont work.
Again,no expert here,just a guy that was struggling on and off for a few years and then got a coal.

Good luck.

[wareagle69]

not my cup of tea, i prefer a different method, but my mentor is very accomplished in this method even using a method he calls "bows" bow drill it is a two stick method as a fire board, the two sticks tied togetjer and using that as your notch, try googling the name allen bow beauchamp and look at his many articles

[Alec_end]

What woods would you guys recommend for making the bow drill in Australia because I know that the Aborigines were able to make a bow drill without the bow they just made a notch in a fire board and used a stick in their hands and they used the same motion as a bow drill. So I was wondering if anyone knew what woods they would use for it.

Cheers Alec

[your_comforting_company]

Sorry, I just don't know much about the plants of australia. Look for light woods. you should generally be able to dent it with your thumbnail, and it should grow pretty straight. a tighter grain usually grinds into a finer powder.
I try just about everything that fits those descriptions.

[Alec_end]

Ok thanks man I will see what works when i get up to the farm.

[wareagle69]

i think what you reffering to is a hand drill, allan halcon is great at hand drills maybe look him up, that is something i have never tried

[Alec_end]

Yer thanks man i looked up his videos and his advice was really helpful.

Thanks alec

[wareagle69]

glad to be of help

[Rick]

Alec - Why not pose that question to a local? If you know someone that spends time outdoors then they might be able to answer your question on the type of wood.

[Alec_end]

Yer i would have done that but because I live in the center of newcastle and my dad loves to fish but he is not into survival and primitive stuff as much like when i use my fire steel he is like y not use a matches. There is really not a lot of people to ask and i don't get to go bush anywhere near as i like i wanted some advice about what woods were good ones before i went this firday.

[your_comforting_company]

Admittedly, I'm not real "search savvy" but I tried to look up a few plants that grow here and in Australia. The results mostly pointed to cannabis. If that is the case and it's so abundant, I say try that. I did find some info that would suggest (to me) that yucca grows there. That is one of my favored materials.

This link tells me that cottonwood grows in Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_tiliaceus

You might do some similar searching and find plants like the ones I've mentioned, or just start trying random materials that have the right qualities.

[crashdive123]

Alec - some possible local sources of information on what plants might be available in your are are the University of Newcastle, Australian Plant Society, or even a local plant nursurey.

[Alec_end]

OK thanks guys and I think I might struggle to get cannabis lol. I think that I might just try random woods if I can’t get the info form the uni or the local nursery. I am really pumped for camping on firday and I would like to thank everyone for all the great advice.

[Alec_end]

Actually I think I saw cannabis plant growing just up the creek form my nan’s so I might keep my eyes peeled for one just for a bow drill lol.

[Rick]

So, if you are having trouble getting an ember with cannabis and you only make smoke, will there be a point at which you don't care if you make an ember or not? Just curious.

[letslearntogether47]

So, if you are having trouble getting an ember with cannabis and you only make smoke, will there be a point at which you don't care if you make an ember or not? Just curious.

The quest for fire might turn into a search for wild edibles.