I've enjoyed reasonable success in lighting fires with a bow drill over the years. I've even managed to get some coals with a hand drill. But sometimes I don't get a coal at all.... even with the same kit that I used the previous time. What are the top tips for ensuring success with a fire drill?
Carry a lighter.:thumbup:
It happens. The best way to guard against it is constant practice. When you're away from it, even for a short while, it becomes that much more difficult. This is especially true with the hand drill.
What should we concentrate on as far as pressure versus speed is concerned?
Both are very important. I've noticed, though, that most people, who have read all the books, etc., tend to push down too hard on the drill, thereby possibly slowing down the drill, tiring themselves out prematurely, increasing the chance of string slippage (single biggest cause of string breakage IMHO), and when you're pushing down too hard, it seems to me the charred particles you create is larger than with less pressure. The larger the charred particles, the higher the ignition temperature. It's kind of like the problem with damp wood. If the wood is damp, the char is not as fine.
If yesterday's successful fire drill is not working today, what has changed?
Probably the relative humidity in the air. One time I was demonstrating the process to a friend of mine. It was a humid day, and though I was getting lots of smoke - no coal. I switched to a Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) board and drill (the original was Willow [Salix spp.], I think) and had a coal straight away. The Cedar seems to be more resistant to absorbing moisture than the Willow. Also, you may be just a little more tired than yesterday, and may be affecting your speed/pressure. If you stay up all night sampling the local distillery's finest, it does make it difficult the next day. And, of course, you might have done something, that day, to piss off the fire gods.
doc
