Smallest Bow Drill Kit.

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
7,443
I had seen this challenge some time back - and decided to try my hand at it.

Here is the first attempt:

Smallbowdrill002.jpg


About a 5 inch hearth and Spindle. Two coals produced.

Lessons learned:

1) You need softer wood - you can't get much downward pressure.
2) You need a good path for the dust to collect - any jamming and the smaller coal will be smuggled.
3) You need GREAT form. Put the hearth in the middle of your foot - not the ball - you need to be able to support your wrist - not your forearm.
4) You need a STRAIGHT spindle - life gets much easier.
5) Your tinder must be great. The coal will be tiny.
6) A flat surface is great to do this on. Grass seems to magnify the smaller problems.
7) No wind or very little is good. Wind will bust apart your tiny coal.


TF
 
Great job! Basswood has been the best thing I've found to work on small bow-drills;

Brantparkandminibow052.jpg


Brantparkandminibow049.jpg


I did the one above a couple years ago in Basswood, worked surpisingly well, IIRC I got 3 ambers out of it. The spindle is something like 2-1/4" and the bow is roughly 6". :D
 
Yeah - I need to perfect my craft with this smaller kit. I think I am going to try white cedar next. Make a small bow to use especially for this venture.

Nice kit!

TF
 
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