Help needed with general Bow Drill stuff.

Brian Sargent

Brian Sargent

Joined
Jun 6, 2008
Messages
1,574
Howdy everyone ... I'd like to get some help from you all.

I have a bunch of tricks to start fire but none of them are primitive that only use friction.

Lighters, firesteels, petroleum fuel combined with tinder that I've carried in ... no problem.

Today I quickly threw together some stuff for a bow drill set just to try it out.

I got started late and had to do some chores so wasn't totally able to follow through today.

I found a dowel for a spindle that I can stick my finger nail into and it leaves a mark ... it must be some type of Pine.

Then I grabbed a piece of 1x pine for a hearth.

Found a piece of Oak for a bearing block and a piece of Hickory and P-cord for a bow.

I was able to get a little smoke from it and only tried for about 30 seconds before the kids demanded my attention. :D

... so I guess my question before I spend a lot of time with possible bad techniques ...

How do I initially shape the end of the spindle and the socket in the hearth ...I know I use a knife ;) ... what I mean is it a fairly flat curve or a steep angle to a point?

I've watched a few videos on it and the forming of these isn't really discussed.

Also another question ...

Before cutting the V-notch into the hearth socket ... how should it be prepped .... totally black and already producing hot black dust?

Here are a few pictures of how I walked away from the setup.

Thanks for any help folks! :thumbup:

IMG_5999.jpg


IMG_6003.jpg
 
Brian, your spindle looks glazed over and I don't know if that is the type of wood or some coating on it. The divot you made in the hearth looks fine, but it certainly hasn't charred. Based on the grain pattern extending from the knot on your hearth I suggest this material is too resinous to be useful at bowdrill. It is possible that the resin from you hearth is what has coated your spindle end also. I suggest ditch it.

Get yourself a piece of cedar and make your spindle and hearth from the same piece. Give that at go and get to the same point. Based on what your drilled out divot looks like then we can give you a bit more advice.
 
Thanks for the link Moose ... answered my questions.

kgd ... great observations. I was surprised how polished the spindle looked and thought to myself that there couldn't be much friction there for it to look like that.

I don't live in an area with wild Cedar ... that I know of .... could I use some from a lumber yard or are there other adequate materials?

Thanks a bunch guys!
 
Brian Sargent said:
I don't live in an area with wild Cedar ... that I know of .... could I use some from a lumber yard or are there other adequate materials?
Click to expand...

Yep, lumber yards usually sell cedar fence posts for $1-2. Or I sometimes find little cedar boards at the fish section of the supermarket because its now fashionable to make plank salmon, by cooking the fish on top a piece of cedar.
 
I'd agree to ditch the spindle/hearth.. however if you decide to keep the spindle for whatever reason, put a little sand on the hearth to help roughen up your spindle..
 
Brian Sargent said:
How do I initially shape the end of the spindle and the socket in the hearth ...I know I use a knife ;) ... what I mean is it a fairly flat curve or a steep angle to a point?
Click to expand...

No need for it to be pointy - you need more surface area rubbing together. Mmmmm.

Brian Sargent said:
Before cutting the V-notch into the hearth socket ... how should it be prepped .... totally black and already producing hot black dust?
Click to expand...

Doesn't really matter. I've cut the notch before and after drilling the initial socket - I actually have no preference, just do whatever I feel like at that moment. :)
 
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