Bow Drill

[ThomastaylorIII]

ok i learned how to make and use a bow drill about a year ago and now i want to do it the hard way. what woods in alabama can i use to make the set? any tips?

 

[swedishdwarf]

I can't help you. I looked into this a couple years ago for my location. I wouldn't say there are no hardwoods around here, but they're certainly few and far between.

 

[k_estela]

Avoid punky woods.
Make your drill and fireboard of the same wood.
Work slowly to warm up the pieces then bear down once you see smoke.

Keep to the rule of thumb. Make your drill about the length of your hand when you make the "hang ten" sign.

Make your fireboard and drill about as thick as your thumb.

I'm sure others will chyme in but this should be a decent start for you.

 

[ThomastaylorIII]

topic was ment to say hand drill...... i posted another topic under "hand drill" Thanks

 

[lotoblades]

I live in ga,and routinely use poplar,and cotton wood for base boards,prefering tulip poplar,may not be the best but works well for me.Softer maple will also work
.
For spindles I have used numerous woods,some of which I didn't even know what were,usualy if very dry and a good bit harder than the hearth it will work.Not to argue with k estela post,as there are nearly as many way of doing somthing as there are people who do it.But I like to use soft wood for the hearth and a harder wood for the spindle,and usually make my spindles between a foot and a foot and a half long,to me it is more forgiving and you don't have to stoop over as much.I like hickory or pecan spindles,and the first thing I ever used succesfuly was a piece of dried out privet hedge(my great grandfather set them out on the property I grew up on and they have almost taken over the woods)

 

[mewolf1]

ok i learned how to make and use a bow drill about a year ago and now i want to do it the hard way.
What woods in Alabama can i use to make the set? any tips?
Whoops, just posted this as bow drill.... i dont know what im thinking tonight. anyways, i can readily make and use a bow drill, i now want to make a hand drill. I live in Alabama. What is the easiest woods to use?
thanks

Being from MN. it's hard for me to say,but, if I were to try down there I would try Sycamor. River Cane might be something to try also.

If you go to "Service and Support" you can do test posts to figure out the edit buttons and posting pics and the like. That way you don't have to post twice. No biggie.:thumbup: Good luck with the hand drill.

Wolf

 

[Aquacopter]

If you are trying a Hand drill try using the dried stalk of Mullien or Yucca. They naturally grow straight and after being cleaned up they work well as a hand drill. Hope this helps.