Reading the dust from a bowdrill

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

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Mar 22, 2006
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I remember a while ago somebody posted something on here about reading the different types of dust you get from a bowdrill to determine flaws or strengths in technique.. I tried the search function but couldn't find it.. if anyone could re-post or offer any advice it'd be great... I've been experimenting with different types of wood.. I'm working with birch right now... I can get smoke in seconds but am getting a mix of dark black dust, and small black hair like particles.. the drill is seems to be eating through the hearth before i can get a good coal however..
 
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id say you are applying too much pressure towards the end. i put alot of pressure at the begining, but after you start to get alot of smoke, dont put so much pressure, forus much more on speed. after you go at your max speed with a little pressure for about 15 seconds, you should have a nice coal. the reason for the dark brown rather than the ideal black dust is that you put too much pressure, causing the spindle to grind away more of the wood of the fire board, rather than heating up the dust and wood and getting you an ember.

i am sure doc will be around to give some better advice.
 
it just occured to me that it could also be the wood. if you isolate the problem to the wood, i can send you some white cedar if you like. seeing as you are in the city, good wood might be hard to come by.
 
You said it..Good wood is a PITA to get.. the wood I'm using now I found bundled on the side of the street with someones garbage... (obviously pruning) I try to make weekly runs to the country where I can get stuff but with midterms it's been rough.. THat's a very generous offer.. I might take you up on it Thanks...
 
RescueRiley said:
You said it..Good wood is a PITA to get.. the wood I'm using now I found bundled on the side of the street with someones garbage... (obviously pruning) I try to make weekly runs to the country where I can get stuff but with midterms it's been rough.. THat's a very generous offer.. I might take you up on it Thanks...
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just send me an e-mail if you are wanting some.
 
RescueRiley said:
I remember a while ago somebody posted something on here about reading the different types of dust you get from a bowdrill to determine flaws or strengths in technique.. I tried the search function but couldn't find it.. if anyone could re-post or offer any advice it'd be great... I've been experimenting with different types of wood.. I'm working with birch right now... I can get smoke in seconds but am getting a mix of dark black dust, and small black hair like particles.. the drill is seems to be eating through the hearth before i can get a good coal however..
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Are you drilling through the board too quickly? If so, increase the diameter of the business end of your drill somewhat. This will slow it down (drilling through the board, that is). You're getting smoke in seconds and dark black dust, this sounds like your technique is good. I'm not sure what the black hair-like particles are, though. Can you post a picture?

One other thing, is the black powder spreading out or is some of it being contained in your notch? You need a quantity of it to stay together to form the coal.

Are you using Birch for both the drill and the hearth? I've never used Birch (Betula spp.) but Talfuchre has. Perhaps he can give you some first hand advice. I must give it a try, one day.

I wish I could be of more help, but nothing is coming to me at the moment.

Doc

Wait a minute, is the wood possibly too green?

Doc
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Do you guys know if red cedar will work well for this stuff?
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Red cedar will work fine, although it won't be the easiest for a first-time. If possible you should try basswood or white cedar.

This below is basswood (and a very small set):

Brantparkandminibow049.jpg


Brantparkandminibow052.jpg


Great wood for bowdrill. This set worked very well considering its size, several ambers, four fires from it outside in the dead of winter.

And here's its bigger brother (not very big though :) ):

Brantparkandminibow053.jpg


Brantparkandminibow108.jpg


The one below is a mystery wood, after some experience you can usually tell how adequate a piece of wood is when you pick it up:

BWP041-1.jpg


It worked on the first try. Good luck with your attempts! :thumbup: :D
 
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Wabajack said:
Great wood for bowdrill. This set worked very well considering its size, several ambers, four fires from it outside in the dead of winter.
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That is a bit of a small kit. Were you involved in the contest for smallest working set that was going on a little while ago? I saw some mention of it in the Bulletin of Primitive Technology and also heard about it from David Arama.

Excellent job, by the way! :thumbup:

And were you cooking up that Garlic Mustard? :)

Doc
 
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WabaJack, that drill set look remarkably like the one in the wikkipedia bushcraft definition, HMMM... Thanks for all the great help guys... I thinky I'm not letting my notch fill up enough..I'll keep practicing.
 
DOC-CANADA said:
That is a bit of a small kit. Were you involve in the contest for smallest working set that was going on a little while ago? I saw some mention of it in the Bulletin of Primitive Technology and also heard about it from David Arama.

Excellent job, by the way! :thumbup:

And were you cooking up that Garlic Mustard? :)

Doc
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There was a contest? Damn... wish I'd rather not have missed that, sounds like it would have been fun. :)

RescueRiley said:
WabaJack, that drill set look remarkably like the one in the wikkipedia bushcraft definition, HMMM...
Click to expand...

Yep, that would be mine, lol. Both of the pics on that page are mine actually. :D
 
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