My wife says I have the smallest one she's ever seen...

G

Gautier

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Aug 31, 2006
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Bow drill set that is :D I decided to see just how compact I could make my set and still get a fire comfortably. After 3 or 4 fires and shortening materials, I think I've bottomed out at 4 inches for all pieces, otherwise, my knuckles are going to start dragging the ground. So, for your viewing pleasure :rolleyes: I give you my new "pocket set".

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa122/Gautier_photos/DSC00188.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa122/Gautier_photos/DSC00187.jpg

I always enjoy changing materials and conditions to keep me sharp, as I'm sure many of you do. So, let's see those oddball sets fellas :thumbup:
 
Thanks for that link Andrew, I hadn't seen that one before. Those are certainly some nifty little sets there. :thumbup: Always glad to see how others improvise and adapt. I think I may see if I can knock another inch off the set next time just for giggles :D


Gautier
 
Man, thats awesome. And the title is funny too.
 
Gautier said:
Bow drill set that is :D I decided to see just how compact I could make my set and still get a fire comfortably. After 3 or 4 fires and shortening materials, I think I've bottomed out at 4 inches for all pieces, otherwise, my knuckles are going to start dragging the ground. So, for your viewing pleasure :rolleyes: I give you my new "pocket set".

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa122/Gautier_photos/DSC00188.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa122/Gautier_photos/DSC00187.jpg

I always enjoy changing materials and conditions to keep me sharp, as I'm sure many of you do. So, let's see those oddball sets fellas :thumbup:
Click to expand...

What wood are you using for the fireboard? It looks like store bought lumber.
I was thinking of using some cedar shingles for a bow drill set.
 
LOL, that title made me laugh! I remember years ago when Primitive Ways had that contest too. Very cool stuff.
 
Fireboard and handhold are basswood(same block split in two)from some carving scrap I had in the shop. Spindle is a random stick I found and shaved smooth while walking today, it's a good deal harder than the basswood though, which is just soft enough to show a thumbnail imprint.

Shingles eh? That sounds like a pretty novel idea, hope it works out for ya.


Gautier
 
:D heres mine:D just kidding ! that is realy cool though.
 

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Nothing miniature here fellas, just a regular kit. Part of the fun is playing around with different wood combos. Here we have a 29 inch maple bow, about a 7 inch maple drill. The hand piece is black birch, the fire boards are maple,sassafras, and some unknown piece of driftwood. The sassafras is just about used up, just started the maple with good results. They all produce coals. I've been lighting the grill using this set all week. The knife is a Ranger Knife custom shiv in 1095, with sheep-horn slabs.
 
Gorgeous looking set and knife. Wish I had access to such varied natural materials myself, alas the Mohave desert only provides so much :p Thanks for sharing :thumbup:


Gautier
 
I can't wait until the Japanese pick up on this :) Will there be a Sony FireMan? :)
 
Pretty nice, but I think I win. :p

Brantparkandminibow054.jpg


Brantparkandminibow052.jpg


Brantparkandminibow049.jpg


I've gotten 4 coals out of this one so far and could probably squeeze in some more. The bow is about 6" long and the spindle and hearth board are about 2-2.5" long.

Here's it's larger cousin that has a 9" bow:

Brantparkandminibow053.jpg


:D

I used both of this past winter but haven't bothered to do so this summer, they worked pretty well considering it was usually -20 C. :)
 
Very nice little set, nice clear pictures too. Maybe one day I'll be able to whittle myself down to something that small, always looking for another benchmark to achieve ;) I still maintain the requisite excuse of a lack of materials here in the desert though :p hehe Thanks for sharing though, it really is a very nice looking set, hope you can squeeze a few more coals out of it.


Gautier
 
Nice sets, all...but now a question about the size. I assume that the reason to go miniature is for pack-ability??? Why not go with a ferro rod setup if size/weight is the consideration. I'm sharpening my bow drill skills so that I can make something up with what I find if lost in the woods type of scenario. I would just make up a regular size because it is easier to use. Are you guys making these small just to see how small you can go and still produce a coal? What am I missing here:confused:
 
Wabajack said:
Pretty nice, but I think I win. :p

Brantparkandminibow054.jpg


Brantparkandminibow052.jpg


Brantparkandminibow049.jpg


I've gotten 4 coals out of this one so far and could probably squeeze in some more. The bow is about 6" long and the spindle and hearth board are about 2-2.5" long.

Here's it's larger cousin that has a 9" bow:

Brantparkandminibow053.jpg


:D

I used both of this past winter but haven't bothered to do so this summer, they worked pretty well considering it was usually -20 C. :)
Click to expand...

i was a bit worried when i read the title...:o

that is a great looking little set up....:thumbup: is it all osage...
 
I can't speak for Waba, but I went small just for the sake of seeing if I could do it or not. A sort of "how low can you go" meets friction fire, I do use a flint and steel and practice every method I can, so it's not as much a weight consideration on my part as it is an exercise in theory.

I figure when in the bush I'll know that I don't have to look for a stick of X-length and Y-diameter or a hearthboard that fits Z-specifications. So it just gives me more options, and I don't have to whittle as much in some cases(i.e. working smarter, not harder). That's just my take on it, trying to stay one step ahead of Murphy :p


Gautier
 
A good benefit maybe - if you cant find big enough wood or you don't want to go far. Just get a few small, stout sticks and you are good to go.
 
Remember, you can always counter that old saying, "Size matters" with the ancient adage, "It's not the size of the tool but the skill of the craftsman that is important." :D
 
Thanks everybody,

The reason why I made such a small set was really to see how small I could go. I have been a long time fan of the bow-drill fire method and I find it fun to take such a small set out of my pocket and whip up a coal for fun, even though it really is just a gimmick. :D

The bow and handhold are red oak finished with #0000 steel wool and two coats of Tung-oil. And the friction parts are basswood.

Here’s a little place I go sometimes:

PanaoramicofBrantPark.png


And here’s a picture of the larger bow set before it was finished while out there, this time I used a stone handhold:

Brantparkandminibow108.jpg


I can usually get four coals out of each notch in the larger set so it makes for a pretty effective little bow-drill. :)
 
When I first read the title of this thread, I thought "Wow! That's what my wife says too!"
Then I read your initial post and was disappointed to find that I'm still all alone in this regard. :(
 
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