Bow Drill

O

Oregon Knife Guy

Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
336
I have been attempting to get a fire going via bow drill. So far, the only luck I have ever had was a lot of smoke. I am using dry fir branches as the drill and the base. Anyone have any good tips for me? How long after you have smoke is there an ember?
 
If you're getting smoke, usually you aren't far off a coal. Try bearing down just a tad harder and moving the bow a little faster.
 
I think I may be too thin with the base. I wear through it, I am going to give it a try a little thicker so there is room for it to go down.
 
is there dust building up around the points of friction? if so what color and texture is it? that can tell you allot about how to tweak your technique for optimum results
 
Yea I have a lot of dark dust particles building up under the drill. They are very fine and a dark brown. It seems like i am really close, I just can't seal the deal... Should I try a different type of wood? Maple?
 
Try white cedar, or willow (not weeping) and my favorite a poplar board with a yucca stem spindle
 
If you are brown - not black - A little more pressure downward. If you have a buddy with a lazer temp guage - you can have him shoot the notch and see the temps you are generating. You need about 700 degrees.

TF
 
I wouldnt think fir would work to well, if its anything like pine. I like to suggest that people use some cedar from the hardware store when learning how to do the bow Drill. It takes the wood selection out of the equation till you understand the proper size and spacing/size of the notches, and the physical mechanics of course and get your own personal "feel" for it. Plus the cedar is pretty forgiving to work with.


Any pics of the rig? Are you cutting the notch too small or anything?
 
Oregon Knife Guy...ditch the fir immediately! Go with dry Alder or something of medium hardness and no resin!
 
As long as you have the right wood. Start off with long steady bowing and a lot of pressure, when you start gettgin smoke go for another 5 seconds then increase the speed and lighten up the pressure a little bit, after about another 15-20 sec you should have a coal.
 
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