Another Firebow Experiment & A New Machete

Great photos!

What is the Rockwell Hardness of these machetes and how does their edgeholding when chopping wood compare to say a Becker BK9 or an ESEE Junglas?
 
It should be around 55 HRC if it's like the rest of Imacasa/Condor's stuff. I'd say that the longer models will easily outchop a large knife like the BK9 or Junglas, and perform comparably with something like the ESEE Lite Machete.
 
Thanks guys, the machete is an awesome design! The handling is great as is the weight distribution, the handle ergonomics are sublime :)


Also, he did most of the work, but it was a team effort? :p

Well...I had to decide which antler I wanted to use...which part...how much of it...where I wanted the hole....oh yeah and I did ALL of the sanding :D


Enjoyed the read, and the pics - can't wait for the 12 inchers!!!

Thanks man, they're coming Andy just had to work some things out with the supplier.


Thanks for sharing - great pics and info, I noticed these when Fiddleback first posted the prototypes in the -makers- forum and I have been following the progress up until now. This feedback confirms that I should put one on my "gotta get" list. How would its performance compare to say a production chopper like an RTAK, Junglas or the like?


In my experiences the thicker heavier grinds and blades with higher RCs of the heavier knives handle the abuse of working with truly hard woods better than a machete with a lower RC.


That machete turned out better than I thought it would! Andy, it's a work of art. Now, do I get the 12" or 14" model? Hmmmm...

As always, great work Mistwalker. I always look forward to your posts.

Thanks man, glad you enjoy the posts :)


Great post as always buddy, keep em coming !:thumbup:

Thanks bro, glad you liked it !


Great photos!

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed them!


nice review plus pictures,thanks.

Thank you.
 
Sweet blade!
You've inspired me, In the next few weeks i'm going to try using a bow drill (for only the second time in my life).
Hmmm your pics reminded me i have a small quantity of moose antler kicking around here, must try to make a bearing block out it!
:)
 
Sweet blade!
You've inspired me, In the next few weeks i'm going to try using a bow drill (for only the second time in my life).
Hmmm your pics reminded me i have a small quantity of moose antler kicking around here, must try to make a bearing block out it!
:)

Yep, really sweet :D

Cool, always glad to hear I inspired someone :thumbup:

I'd like to see what you come up with using the Moose antler, I bet that will be cool.

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hello. I dont know what to do with a machete! They are too flexible for my woods. Being a global man of the world. I'd say that is a barong. And the handle is not wrong. I like a thing that feels a bit more like a cleaver, a bit.

I like your sak saw too.
 
I don't think the spindle was the reason for your lack of coal. The powder looks good, it just appears you didn't get it hot enough. Judging your pics, I would say your hearth board is too thick and not allowing you to generate enough heat to get your powder to that magic 800 degrees. Try thinning the board a bit.

Thanks Tony, I really appreciate the input. If that's the case then maybe I'll try the spindle one more time in that socket before I thin it some. But I did havest some smaller Poplar today off of the same tree.

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hello. I dont know what to do with a machete! They are too flexible for my woods. Being a global man of the world. I'd say that is a barong. And the handle is not wrong. I like a thing that feels a bit more like a cleaver, a bit.

I like your sak saw too.

I'd be very surprised if a machete is too flexible for your neck of the woods--mine cut rock maple and oak just fine! :):thumbup:
 
Excellent thread Mist! I've been wondering what species of wood here in WV would best fit a friction fire set. Poplar is on my short list.

And by the way, that is a crazy nice machete! I must have one!
 
Thanks Tony, I really appreciate the input. If that's the case then maybe I'll try the spindle one more time in that socket before I thin it some. But I did havest some smaller Poplar today off of the same tree.

.

:thumbup:

Keep us posted big guy.
 
On a thicker hearth board, all you need to do is bow a bit longer until you are sure the dust is filling the notch. A thicker board takes longer to do so, but I don't think it makes any difference for the heat. Basically, you get a super heated flake that ignites it comes in contact with another dust particle on the pile and multiplies from there.

So, when I'm using a thicker hearth, I just spin at 3/4 speed, enough to get good dust, but not to wear myself out. I just keep looking down at my notch and don't change anything until I see my dust piles full and piling over the notch a bit. Then I give it about 5 s of super crazy action speed. That typically works.

Incidentally, I'm also starting to thing the 'look of the dust' is also a poor diagnostic. It really depends on the wood. I was working cedar all weekend long and that dust looked all light brown and worthless and yet it caught into ember just fine.

Just some thoughts. Mist - I responded about that machete elsewhere, but I think it is a beaut!
 
On a thicker hearth board, all you need to do is bow a bit longer until you are sure the dust is filling the notch. A thicker board takes longer to do so, but I don't think it makes any difference for the heat. Basically, you get a super heated flake that ignites it comes in contact with another dust particle on the pile and multiplies from there.

Yes thats true, but when you have a thicker board, each dust particle has a longer way to drop, in turn cooling down. As you fill your notch the particles in turn are warming the dust under them eventually creating enough heat to ignite the coal. I think we are saying the same thing, just explaining it differently.

So, when I'm using a thicker hearth, I just spin at 3/4 speed, enough to get good dust, but not to wear myself out. I just keep looking down at my notch and don't change anything until I see my dust piles full and piling over the notch a bit. Then I give it about 5 s of super crazy action speed. That typically works.
I wouldn't know, cause I am way too lazy to use a really thick board:o, but that sounds right to me :thumbup:

Incidentally, I'm also starting to thing the 'look of the dust' is also a poor diagnostic. It really depends on the wood. I was working cedar all weekend long and that dust looked all light brown and worthless and yet it caught into ember just fine.
Well, thats because your a crazy friction fire freak, I saw it in person when you got your hand drill coal on your first attempt. You know, the same day I failed miserably... :D

Hey Ken, my words in green.

And here are his pics again.

DSC_2368.jpg


DSC_2376.jpg

I really think the powder looks good enough to get a coal, but as you said it appears he didn't fill the notch. So if he got tired, which is easy to do while attempting to fill that big old notch, a thinner board may be easier..

So either Mist builds more stamina, or if he is lazy like me; he'll just use a longer bow and a thinner board:D
 
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