Bow Drill Success

M

Medic241

Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
84
So I've spent a bit of time over the past couple days working on my bowdrill skills. I had a piece of cedar that I collected over the summer just for this purpose. Seeing as it's cold here I decided I would do it in the comfort of my own garage. I still can't get a coal every time but am getting better at it. I intend to keep working at it. Heres some pics which hopefully motivate others to try.
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Great job. It's a helluva lot of fun when you accomplish this skill.
 
Awesome, Medic, truly awesome. Its great feeling knowing you got what it takes to make fire, from nothing. Congrats, bro, keep up the great work.

Moose
 
Very nice job!!
It's a lot of work but sure feels GOOD when you accomplish it.
Now it's time to work on the "Hand Drill" technique!! ;) :D
 
stjones said:
Very nice job!!
It's a lot of work but sure feels GOOD when you accomplish it.
Now it's time to work on the "Hand Drill" technique!! ;) :D
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i guess once you master those 2, you have what it takes to be out on your own for a while...


this definitely motivates me...i think it's going to be #1 on my weekend to-do list...
 
I don't know about MASTERING them but at least try it out (with at least ONE successful attempt) so that you know and understand the technique.
Sure do love my mag rod!!
 
Congrats, I remember how good it felt when I got my first bow drill coal. Keep practicing, changing woods, and eventually you will be able to go out in the woods and create fire with materials all found on site. Once you get consistant with cedar, change woods. Keep taking yourself out of your comfort zone, and you will learn different techniques for different types of wood.
 
tonym said:
Congrats, I remember how good it felt when I got my first bow drill coal. Keep practicing, changing woods, and eventually you will be able to go out in the woods and create fire with materials all found on site. Once you get consistant with cedar, change woods. Keep taking yourself out of your comfort zone, and you will learn different techniques for different types of wood.
Click to expand...

Which reminds me, how's the hand drill coming? And did you receive my email this morning? (I got yours :D )

GP
 
tonym said:
Congrats, I remember how good it felt when I got my first bow drill coal. Keep practicing, changing woods, and eventually you will be able to go out in the woods and create fire with materials all found on site. Once you get consistant with cedar, change woods. Keep taking yourself out of your comfort zone, and you will learn different techniques for different types of wood.
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:thumbup: I agree.

Nicely done Medic. I love making fire with a bow drill - it is the skill that really sparked my interest in bushcraft and primitive skills. To be able to make a tool and then make a fire with that tool... for me, a great feeling. Even better was when my sons (then 10 and 7-1/2) got their first coals with bow drill kits they had carved. I love that this is an interest that I can pursue and share with my kids.
 
Thanks all, It was really fun to do. Moose, I read your tutorial thread on the BKT forum, thanks for that. I intend to keep working on it and trying different woods. Maybe later on this winter I will take it outside and try it out of the controlled environment.
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Which reminds me, how's the hand drill coming? And did you receive my email this morning? (I got yours :D )

GP
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I have not attempted a hand drill since my failure with you. You made it look easy, but I think I will stick with bow drill. I know I know, I'm lazy.

I got your email, thanks for the info. Remind me to stay off your rip off toll roads next time I come visit GP.

Glad you liked my email.:D
 
Very cool. This is one of many skills that I have yet to try. I am sure it is no easy task, and kudo's to you for sticking with it and making it work.
 
Great job! Bowdrill fire is a VERY rewarding skill to learn.

Good form is a critical part of the equation, good materials being the remainder.
 
Decklin said:
I am sure it is no easy task
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Actually, it is. I think most folks think its a long drawn out, laborious process. Its not. It really isn't. It can be if you make it, but in the tutorial I did, it took me longer to upload the pics, than it took to make a coal, that includes, making the components from the wood.

Once you get your first coal, you will never see a bow drill kit the same way again. The first thing I thought was, "YES!!!", the second thing I thought was, "Why was it so hard before?". Its easy. Confidence and knowledge.

And I agree with Tardini, posture and efficient body movement is paramount, you waste a ton of energy, and effort when you are all over the place with your movement.

Give it a try, and post up your results, here, Becker, or WSS. We will get you making friction fire, I promise.

Moose
 
Friction fire is almost magical to the first time producer. The one thing it gives you more than anythign else, IMO, is confidence. When you knwo you can walk into the woods and make fire without modern means, then you're a whole lot more confident in other survival skills also. Hell, I think it makes you a better person in general (not just in survival skills) to be able to do things such as this because it first humbles you when it kicks your ass and you can't do it, then it gives you confidence once you realize you have to be patient and learn the skills. I doubt many road rager idiots can make fire by friction ;)
 
I can see a road rage therapy group now in the woods, I bet you never heard a branch called that before.
 
Just send me all the road ragers and the spoiled little asshole kids. They will either come out healed or not come out at all.
 
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