Making a rock hand hold (socket) for a Bow Drill?

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
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How can this be done? How can one drill a socket into a rock? What rocks would be good for this?

Many people say you can do this - but how?

THanks,

TF
 
I am sure it would - I don't have any of that material. :(

So - I took a normal metal / wood drill to a rock in my back yard and after an hour or so - and a lot of sharpening - it seemed to work. I have a 1/8th inch divot in my rock.

It did NOTHING good for my drill bit! ;)

BowDrill001.jpg


BowDrill002.jpg


With that said - I have learned two things:

1) Spruce is WAY easier - I am getting a good coal every time with little trying.
2) The rock hand hold makes transfers so much more energy to the board instead of the handhold AND the board!

TF
 
Primitively you would do it with pecking the rock. Repeatedly hitting the rock with a rock that is harder than it. It takes a long time though. Its not flintknapping you are just trying to ware down the rock.
 
Anyone ever tried Corian?
Its cheap on Ebay and you can use a drill bit to to put a socket in it. Its lighter than Stone and impervious to almost anything. Very easy to work with as well.

Chris
 
My great friend Marty Simon recently gave me a socket made out of a beef bone. Bone is great because it doesn't retain a lot of heat, it is lighter than rock and it is extremely durable. I'll post a pic sometime soon once I get a little more time on my hands. It has been a busy week!
 
Great ideas both of you guys!

I can get beef bones from the local butcher.

Would you recommend an area of the bone - or just drill a socket in the side of a leg bone or something properly large?

TF
 
Mine is a bison legbone end. Look at the natural sockets formed. Just needs wax to lube it properly.

You can drill a rock using sand and your bow drill. Even easier is to go to a mountain stream and look for palm-sized rocks with a natural indentation.

Codger
 
Talfuchre said:
Great ideas both of you guys!

I can get beef bones from the local butcher.

Would you recommend an area of the bone - or just drill a socket in the side of a leg bone or something properly large?

TF
Click to expand...

I just take a large beef bone, crack it in half, sand it to a smooth shape and put the divit in the thickest part.
Oldman/Marty
 
A slightly pourous rock can make a great handheld. The best way as previously mentioned is to find another rock that is harder with a point on it and peck out a socket. This can take some time - 15 minutes to hour+. Plus you get to hear tap tap tap... in your sleep all night.

If you make one, make the socket a lot smaller than you think as it will provide greater versitility - you can always make your drill thinner.
 
On using beef bone, instead of getting a wet one from a butcher and waiting for it to dry and cleaning it just go to a pet store and buy a large dog bone. Same thing and it's ready to cut up and use.

SDS
 
I find the plow method alot easier than the bow and drill, try it out and you will see what I mean.
 
Rupestris said:
Anyone ever tried Corian?
Its cheap on Ebay and you can use a drill bit to to put a socket in it. Its lighter than Stone and impervious to almost anything. Very easy to work with as well.

Chris
Click to expand...

LOL...why pay for Corian on ebay, when you can go to Home Depot and get the little 2" square samples for free?
 
i found this rock on the beach... i thought it would make a great socket for a bow drill...
IMG_1905.jpg
 
I feel dumb now....I live close to the beach and never thought of looking there for a stone like that.It'd be smooth too.
 
Thanks so much for all the suggestions.

I am going to stop at Home Depot tonight - and I have a line on a free chunk of soap stone.

TF
 
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