Another Firebow Experiment & A New Machete

[Shotgun]

Hey Mist, I've noticed in this thread and the punk thread that you have an * pattern on your hearth boards and was just wondering why they're there. Relief cuts?

 

[kgd]

Thinking about it Tony, I think you are right. My intuition tells me that you can get more embers from the same well when using a thicker board. However, Mist's example gives pause for thought. If its too thick, you have to drill out a good ways at the beginning to fill up that notch. So you are doing more drilling and wearing out more material. Clearly, there will be a case of diminishing returns on hearth thickness vs. number of embers you can pop out of there. Agree that 3/4" seems to be about the right thickness!

 

[Mistwalker]

Wow...more here than I have time to respond to now.

I'll reply later when I get back. Thanks for the comments guys!

 

[Rick Marchand]

I wish I hadn't miffed the grind on the side of that one. Drat....

Andy..... how many times have I told you?..... there are no such things as "miffed grinds"... only opportunities to make smaller blades.:thumbup:



Mist..... you suck.... Talfuchre would have gotten that coal!





Rick

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

For reference this is what the 16" and 18" look like.

 

[Rick Marchand]

Thinking about it Tony, I think you are right. My intuition tells me that you can get more embers from the same well when using a thicker board. However, Mist's example gives pause for thought.

I think you are all right.:thumbup:

To compensate for having to fill the hole with dust you can stuff a bit of your tinder under the board and fluff it up into the slot. I agree with Ken pointing out that Mist really didn't use his hearth efficiently. If the dust had filled the gap completely, I believe he would have got his coal.

My personal experience has led me to believe that the thickness of the hearth board should be equal the diameter of the spindle. If I was in Mist's shoes, I would have split a squared piece off the back of that hearth and rounded the edges to use as a spindle. Using like woods for the spindle and hearth is always a safe bet.

Rick

 

[tonym]

To compensate for having to fill the hole with dust you can stuff a bit of your tinder under the board and fluff it up into the slot. I agree with Ken pointing out that Mist really didn't use his hearth efficiently. If the dust had filled the gap completely, I believe he would have got his coal.

Rick

I would hate to inflate your ever growing noggin, but that is some great piece of info.:thumbup:

Thanks Rickypoo

 

[Mistwalker]

Ok...been a pretty busy day today...work, meetings, work, stung on the privates by an angry wasp, an hour to recover from the aforementioned sting, more work, some grinding, attempting to make a temporary sheath from some thin scrap leather (work in progress), fetching dinner from the Chinese place down the street...and in a trade with the missus soon to be doing laundry. But I'll do my best to respond here

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 man, and the machete is incredibly sweet!

:thumbup:

Keep us posted big guy.

Hopefully get to give it a go again tomorrow afternoon :thumbup:

What are the price points on these. I'm really liking that 12 inch also.

Sorry bro...due to previous infraction I do not discuss prices here. Talk to this guy here http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/member.php?u=145728

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

That thinner board sounds better and better

Ditto :thumbup:

I knew those 12 inchers would be awesome

Thanks Russell, the 12 incher is definitely awesome :thumbup:

Hey Mist, I've noticed in this thread and the punk thread that you have an * pattern on your hearth boards and was just wondering why they're there. Relief cuts?

Just the way I lay out my notch.

Andy..... how many times have I told you?..... there are no such things as "miffed grinds"... only opportunities to make smaller blades.:thumbup:

Yeah...that's pretty much what I did today... long story so more on that later

Mist..... you suck.... Talfuchre would have gotten that coal!


Rick

Yeah yeah...like you've never failed before :jerkit:

...it soon became apparent that getting a coal using the Cedar spindle was going to be more work than I had time for, had light enough for photos of, and be more work than I had the desire to do this evening.

I made it obvious I was a little on the lazy side...in my defense I am also a little on the busy side lately too ?)

I agree with Ken pointing out that Mist really didn't use his hearth efficiently.

Rick

Yeah...that's it start teaming up on me

I would hate to inflate your ever growing noggin, but that is some great piece of info.:thumbup:

Thanks Rickypoo

Don't sweat it bro, Ricks head has a self-sustaining sell thing going on at this point...you're not hurting anything


.

 

[tonym]

stung on the privates by an angry wasp, an hour to recover from the aforementioned sting,


.

umm, never mind, I think I would rather not want to know the story behind that one, what you do in the woods is your business... Please do not share a video of that escapade!!

 

[Rick Marchand]

He he he....

You know I love ya buddy. Aside from my first post saying that you "sucked" I had nothin' but good intentions.

I honestly think I fail more than I succeed, these days. I have found that adjusting your technique can overcome most problems that arise with wood selection. Even green wood can be coaxed into producing a coal. As KGD will attest, I will attempt the firedrill with just about anything and work it until I'm blue in the face or risking frostbite. Most of the time it I "fail", but sometimes, I stumble across a bit of info that helps me get past the stumbling block and it makes all the frustration worth it. I believe that once you can get a coal 9 times out of 10 using a perfectly fashioned set, made from choice woods, modern cordage and a prefabricated bearing block.... that it's time to step out of your comfort zone. Let that "mastered" material become your "BIC lighter" to fall back on... get out there and find a combination that doesn't work and exhaust all your options. Remember, you have a lot to play around with... speed, pressure, geometry, moisture, size, ventilation and every possible variation of those components. Then take it even further and make your own cordage or fashion your set without using a knife.... it's endless, really... and if you stop interpreting these learning opportunities as "failure", it can be fun, too!

At one point, I was attempting to show a small group of campers that friction fire can be made from almost any wood. Of course, I failed miserably but in the process, found out that I am incredibly sexy while assuming the drilling position... it apparently accentuates my butt and midsection. I know this because I overheard a group of girls whispering comments to eachother... "What an ass."... "Yeah, what a waist."

So I got that going for me....



Rick

 

[Rick Marchand]

.... stung on the privates by an angry wasp...

 

[Mistwalker]

umm, never mind, I think I would rather not want to know the story behind that one, what you do in the woods is your business... Please do not share a video of that escapade!!

Actually...happened in the comfort of my own throne

No video, and if there was it would just be black rectangles and LOTS of beeps....

He he he....

You know I love ya buddy. Aside from my first post saying that you "sucked" I had nothin' but good intentions.

Rick

I know Bro, I have learned a lot from you and continue to do so.

I "fail" quite often actually but I always learn something from it. I'm not ready for the no knife fire bow yet...not unless I have no other choice anyway

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