I have been trying to use natural cordage for the bow drill with no luck. i have tried braided willow cordage which did not last for the burn in. pine root has got me the burn in but it will not last long enough for a coal. have any of you guys had success? if so what did you use? I have searched around but can not find to much info on it.
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Natural cordage for bow drill?
- Thread starter B.B.M
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2009
- Messages
- 251
I would give indian hemp (dogbane) fiber a shot....it's a bit of a pain to make, but it's incredibly strong....or just scrap the bow altogether and work on the hand drill. It's not half as hard as people make it out to be and has less parts, but is less forgiving of moisture in the materials and material choice itself.
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2006
- Messages
- 7,021
Here's one.
Here's another (scroll down to post #2+)
I'm trying to remember if we did any more, but as mentioned above, Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannibinum), plus Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis), Spreading Dogbane (A. androsaemifolium), Basswood bast (Tilia americana), to mention a few, all work.
The biggest problem people have using natural cordage is the string is not tight enough and the slippage causes the string to break.
One other thing I want to mention is when using natural cordage, overbuild it.
Good luck.
Doc
Here's another (scroll down to post #2+)
I'm trying to remember if we did any more, but as mentioned above, Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannibinum), plus Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis), Spreading Dogbane (A. androsaemifolium), Basswood bast (Tilia americana), to mention a few, all work.
The biggest problem people have using natural cordage is the string is not tight enough and the slippage causes the string to break.
One other thing I want to mention is when using natural cordage, overbuild it.
Good luck.
Doc
Last edited:
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2006
- Messages
- 7,021
I know where some nettle's are I'll have to give it a trySuccess!!! after messing around with it off and on for two weeks i finally got a coal with the pine root
I was going to try and find some yucca but never got around to it. I used a pine root about the size of my pinky/ring finger and broke it down into little strips, then twisted it together (the way Madison Parker showed) not a braid just a simple twist. it lasted for the burn in and coal with life still left in it! I wish i would have had my camera
I was going to try and find some yucca but never got around to it. I used a pine root about the size of my pinky/ring finger and broke it down into little strips, then twisted it together (the way Madison Parker showed) not a braid just a simple twist. it lasted for the burn in and coal with life still left in it! I wish i would have had my camera