hand drill

T

ThomastaylorIII

Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Messages
57
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
 
Hey TT3,

As far as Alabama goes, I have no idea. Up here my favourite hand drills are Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosa), Teasel (Dipsacus sylvestris), and some years, Great Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) - I say some years because some other years the stalk is too weak and 'blows up' in my hands. Perhaps some of these grow in your area. A lot of people like Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) although I don't.

For hearths, my favourite (that's the way we spell it up here in Kanada :) ) is Basswood (Tilia americana), then Cottonwood (Populus deltoides). A lot of others work though, Willow (Salix spp.), Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis), Box Elder (Acer negundo) and the list goes on.

If you don't get any other help with your quest, find a woody, dead flower stalk with some strength and a medium hardness hearth and experiment. Even if you don't get a coal, you will gain experience, learn a lot, and build up those muscles that only hand drills work. :rolleyes: Hand drills can also be made up of solid wood, willow for example, but in my experience the flower stalks work better. Cattail (Typha spp.) can also be used for a drill, but it's hard to find a strong enough stalk, at least, up here.

Good luck,

Doc
 
For Alabama, as fore mentioned, you actually have some hearth choices.

For a spindle, mullein or box elder. Don't try to substitute maple for box elder as a spindle for the hand drill. You can get away with it on the bow drill, but not the hand drill.
 
Quiet Bear said:
For Alabama, as fore mentioned, you actually have some hearth choices.

For a spindle, mullein or box elder. Don't try to substitute maple for box elder as a spindle for the hand drill. You can get away with it on the bow drill, but not the hand drill.
Click to expand...

Hey Quiet Bear,

Trying to confuse me? Not that it would be that hard :(. Box Elder (Acer negundo) is a Maple - Acer genus. Up here it is more commonly known as Manitoba Maple, so called because it was commonly planted out west (Manitoba) where it's one the few shade trees to take the harsh climate.

Doc
 
spindle and hearth both Yucca if you can find it, easiest combo I know of as it's the only one I've had sucess with.
 
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