Bowdrill Fires

S

Squeezymo

Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
315
Whelp....

Just tried to make my first bowdrill fire in my backyard.

Nothing really worked, but that's what I expected. I did everything pretty rushed, and I didn't have an abundance of wood. But the one thing that I really noticed I had to improve on is the actual bow itself. The string I was using kept loosening on me. It got me really freaking frustrated. I go for a good 10 seconds before everything just kind of got sloppy.

So that was my experience. But I was wondering if you have a straight branch what kind of knot/securing method you do to keep the string taught? I cut a notch around the circumferance of the branch I was using, and then wrapped the string around a few times, tied a square not, and it would just keep loosening. I thought the bow would be the easy part!
 
I had this problem at first too. I fixed it buy adjusting the string tension with my hand while I am bowing. All you have to do is hold the bow around the area of the end of string is, and adjust the tension with you thumb on top and pointer finger on bottom. Worked like a charm for me.
 
Talfuchre,

The site you linked is an excellent source. The best example online of what type of powder to look for. Thanks for posting!
 
I realized that with all the trouble making a bowdrill fire requires, I shoult just keep a lighter on me at all times :-)


Thanks for the sources
 
Squeezy,

It isn't all that hard - it took me about 4 hours of practice over two days to get red cedar to flame. That is hard to start. Had I started with a better firing wood (Willow or spruce) I would have had it in about 2.

Stick with it.

TF
 
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