I worked on the bow drill today.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

First, I want to offer thanks to YCC...He set the learning environment that inspired me. I'd also thank WSF...If it weren't for ya'll I'd of been a long ways from trying to do this. I didn't get fire, but I did get a coal twice and on the first try...or first hole. My coal melted it's way through my tender bundle twice, it did rain today and yesterday. I learned alot about getting it done. I learned the tension on your cordage has to be just right. I also learned when it is set up perfect it isn't much work. I used Mimosa tree dead branches, an invasive species that resides in my pasture. I easily got a coal twice but couldn't get fire the first time, I dropped the coal. The second time it just melted through the dandelion fluff in the center of my birds nest. It didn't help trying to show ya'll the cam battery died. More to come...

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[welderguy]

Your getting closer than I am. I don't even get coals yet.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

I learned alot! I am confident I can get it to fire with the right birdsnest...I was disappointed in dandelion fluff...I went all natural except for the paracord...cotton would of made flames! For a first attempt I am satisfied. Keep trying Rebel!

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Another thing I learned is to keep the bearing block side sharp ( I used an oyster shell for my block) at one point the shell got hot on my hand!

[welderguy]

I'm still working on finding the perfect combination of woods for my drill and board. Ill get to fire one of these days

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

I'm still working on finding the perfect combination of woods for my drill and board. Ill get to fire one of these days

Don't discount using the same wood for both...

[your_comforting_company]

Cowboy, remember that as you blow the ember into the tindle, to keep tightening it up around the coal. Dandelion fluff works well for me to catch the dust and coal, so I'm thinking that your birdnest might not have been kept tight around it.

Excellent try tho. I've been wanting to try mimosa for a while now, just haven't gotten around to it. We're inspiring each other! I'm sure with that sort of progress, you'll get it in the next few tries. I must have tried 20 times before I figured out the mechanics and got fire. The good thing about the bowdrill, you can use materials that would not work with the hand drill, like red cedar.
Good work!!

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Cowboy, remember that as you blow the ember into the tindle, to keep tightening it up around the coal. Dandelion fluff works well for me to catch the dust and coal, so I'm thinking that your birdnest might not have been kept tight around it.

Excellent try tho. I've been wanting to try mimosa for a while now, just haven't gotten around to it. We're inspiring each other! I'm sure with that sort of progress, you'll get it in the next few tries. I must have tried 20 times before I figured out the mechanics and got fire. The good thing about the bowdrill, you can use materials that would not work with the hand drill, like red cedar.
Good work!!

I'd say you got it right. In the first pic of the birdsnest you can see where the coal burned through. Also it was very humid and had rained in the AM. Glad I can inspire back but, really it was reading your efforts that afforded me such quick success at learning what it will take. It will be fire next try!

[NCO]

Got inspired, whipped up a kit from birch with the bow made of willow. Got plenty of smoke, but no coal. Didn't take too much to get it smoking and producing the dust... I suppose I have to keep on going longer..

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[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

For me and using my materials the coal came after about a minute after the thick persistant smoke started. Maybe try something harder for the bearing such as a seashell or such. It will reduce friction at the bearing end.

[dolfan87]

Got inspired, whipped up a kit from birch with the bow made of willow. Got plenty of smoke, but no coal. Didn't take too much to get it smoking and producing the dust... I suppose I have to keep on going longer..

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Looking at your hearth in the picture, (from what I can see anyway) you need to notch the drill hole further in. You want the tip of the "V" in the notch to be just a tad forward of the center of the hole. I hope that makes sense.

In other words, cut the notch deeper into the hole and see how it goes.

[rwc1969]

Get 'er done!

[Galong]

For me and using my materials the coal came after about a minute after the thick persistant smoke started. Maybe try something harder for the bearing such as a seashell or such. It will reduce friction at the bearing end.

In complete agreement. Whenever it works for me, I attribute it to minimizing the friction at the bearing end and maximizing the friction at the 'business' end.

You might try some natural lubricants in the bearing too. Here in the tropics there are a few plants that produce a bit of oil that I use for that.

Keep at it and once you figure out what works, try to always replicate that combo. Good luck!

[Canadian-guerilla]

i've made it a habit of keeping an eye out for " firebow " branches ( on the ground )
once i use a branch as a firebow, i toss it into the fire
sometimes i've gone for a walk in the bush and come out with 3-4 possible firebows

[NCO]

Looking at your hearth in the picture, (from what I can see anyway) you need to notch the drill hole further in. You want the tip of the "V" in the notch to be just a tad forward of the center of the hole. I hope that makes sense.

In other words, cut the notch deeper into the hole and see how it goes.

Thanks for the tip! Though I came to that conclusion earlier, and tried it. No luck. It appears that my hearth hardens too quickly and won't have enough friction to generate enough heat to produce a coal. I'm looking in to alternative hearth materials.

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[kyratshooter]

looking at the first picture I know where the trouble lies.

The problem is that you cut your wood with the wrong knife.

A proper kit must be made using either a Mora or a Swiss Army Knife.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

I'd try using the same material as the spindle for the hearth. I also scraped the char from the hearth and the spindle each time I ran out of gas, before proceeding. I plan to give it a go in a little while this evening. I am home early with a sick little girl, doc said it is Strep! First time to the doc in 3 yrs though! I hope she feels better soon!

[your_comforting_company]

I don't mean to nit-pick, but the notch in the pic above is too narrow. It should be 1/3 as wide as the spindle. The narrow notch might be suffocating your possible ember. I wish I could draw a diagram of it.. Maybe this picture will suffice.
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At the point where the notch intrudes into your divot, the cutout should be 1/3 as wide as the diameter of the divot. I'm imagining your dust piling up in that narrow notch and never flipping out a live ember because it can't get enough air. Probably lots of smoke tho. Try a slightly wider notch and see how it works.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

YCC I just compared my notch to your pics. Mine is slightly wider...not much. I was getting a good sized pile of char dust. Another difference I see is my notch was not straight through...kinda sloping outward towards the bottom and smaller. I was using a round hearth stick though....What are your thoughts drop it straight or let it roll out the side?

[Batch]

Some things I would tell a friend if I saw this post...

Bring your arm out side your leg to stabilize the top of the spindle. You will probably get a coal much quicker that way.

You are getting a coal though. So, I would say increase the surface area of your tinder bundle by rapidly rolling the grass in your hands.

Back the tinder bundle with something that reflects both heat and air back into the bundle. It really makes a huge difference for me.

Also, with the coal don't rush it. It'll start as a pin head and grow really big. Just fan it with your hand to get a great coal.