for Bryan

sicily02 said:
Hi all,
Doc that is so cool about the coal with the teasle. I keep saying to my self that I am going to make one up using the teasle and then I look at all the spines on them stalks and well LOL I just have not done it yet. But seeing your set up there I am going to try it out. We have a ton of teasle here to on the farm. Bryan
Click to expand...

Bryan, those prickles come off really easily with a quick scrape of a knife blade (you do have a knife, right? :rolleyes:). You have to smooth out the nodes anyway, or you would tear your hands to shreds, so it's not much more work to scrape off the prickles.

Another tip, in case you don't already know, a straight stalk is necessary, so if it's a bit crooked, with a bit of heat, you can straighten it. Before somebody says that you won't have the heat until you start the fire, I'm talking about practise.

Couple of other things -
-when using Teasel, cut the notch in just past where the periphery of the stalk meets the hearth - this is where the char forms - more inboard is a softer part of the stalk that rubs away without contributing.

-the thicker (the hard part of) of the drill wall, the better the drill.

-the harder the hearth material, the smaller the diameter of the drill and conversely, the softer the hearth, the larger the diameter, keeping in mind the diameter must be large enough to spin the drill.

-if and when the drill starts to 'socket', stop and 'dish' out the hearth (so that the drill contacts on the bottom only, not also on the sides - this dissipates a given amount of friction over a greater area, reducing the temperature, not to mention causing more drag and contributing to muscle fatigue.

-when a hump starts to form in the middle of the hearth depression, remove it. This is counterproductive in the same way 'socketing' is.

-to gain the proper traction between the drill and your hands, spit on your hands - you want them damp, but not soaking wet. You'll see what I mean when you do it.

Well, that's a few tips, anyway. If you have any questions give me a shout. BTW, like bow drill (in my area), Basswood (T. americana) and Poplar (Populus spp.) are my favoured hearth materials for hand drill.

Doc
 
Hi all,
Doc Thanks for the info on the teasle, I will give it a try. I have never done the hand drill. I will let you how it goes. We are getting frezzing rain right now and I am still feeling under the weather so I will be a few days. I have some nice cotton wood root for the hearth will that work pretty good for the hand drill. Or should I get a different wood to start with?

Thanks again Doc,

Bryan
 
caine said:
What model is that
Click to expand...

Hey caine, if you're referrring to the knife in the OP, I call it DHLK (Doc's Handy Little Knife). It's basically a copy of a knife kgd had Bryan make for him with a little longer handle (4-1/8") and thicker blade. (1/8")

sicily02 said:
Hi all,
Doc Thanks for the info on the teasle, I will give it a try. I have never done the hand drill. I will let you how it goes. We are getting frezzing rain right now and I am still feeling under the weather so I will be a few days. I have some nice cotton wood root for the hearth will that work pretty good for the hand drill. Or should I get a different wood to start with?

Thanks again Doc,

Bryan
Click to expand...

Hey Bryan, Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) works fine. It's what I'm usually referring to when I mention Poplar. However, I've never tried the root. Let me know how it works.

Doc
 
Thanks for the info Doc - I have not made my first coal yet. The Willow is not straight - si I plan on using a straight dowel and making a chuck for it on the bottom. I can then use small pieces of willow.

I will also use thumb loops for the first attempts.

TF
 
Hi all,

DOC I got out to day and tried the teasle after seeing a video by quite bear i thought I would try the teasle. No luck not even a hot end of the teasle LOL it was about 20 degrees and all this morning. I was using a cotton wood heath to start with then I switched to the root and still nothing.

Brian Andrews called me today and I was chatting with him about it Brian said to try it in a bow drill first i said i was going to. I will try it tomorrow when i take Kelly out for here walk then.

Bryan
 
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