Two Schtick Bow Drill

kgd

kgd

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Feb 28, 2007
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This is only my second youtube video and I'm not very good at it. But I thought I'd post up a little back yard bow drill action from today using the two stick approach.

First though, we gotta set it up with Rick's awesome funny video!

[Youtube]ua_XQETRfdw&feature=related[/youtube]

Heres the one, sans prop, I did this afternoon....

[Youtube]R86Jr1C12WE[/youtube]

Enjoy!

Edit: Here is the Two-Hole method as described in Kochansky's book.

[youtube]2j2H3YZb0d0[/youtube]

Edit: Here is the 'Through-hole' method:

[Youtube]Dl05t7msJcQ[/youtube]

Edit: Here is a one-hole-pith coal method:

[Youtube]jmbIGMjj0f0 [/youtube]

Now I only need to do the 'natural crack' to complete the Kochanski series....RICK!!!!!!!!
 
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Thanks buddy, fortunately I think a little bit faster that I talk :D
 
I thought it was a pretty good video. I could have used a setup like that today (I got my butt handed to me by moist wood). I went out back with my knife and a length of cord. It did not take long to make the bow, the board with divot and notch, and the spindle...but the coal would never get going (I believe it was pulling moisture from the log from whence it came).

I can TOTALLY identify with the sentiment in the first video...If I had a torch, I would have used it after that effort!
 
Yep, I know what you mean. Sometimes bowdrill is like that! The Truth. If it wasn't so, we'd all get bored with it after a few successes and just think we are "entitled" to our ember. We aren't, its a gift, and we learn that through our failures, no matter how cocky we get!
 
Well said! Ever since I started reading this sub-forum I have learned more and more about the many gifts around me, and how to enjoy them more. And truly the most precious ones are never guaranteed.
 
Damn Ken, that was great. You did that much faster than I was able to do it with this red Cedar I have. I have definitely got to find some Cottonwood. Rick's little "nippled" spindle design takes a bit more time but I had better luck with using it. The first two times I tried with a normal spindle I had more of a circular fire plow action going on :o

I'm thinking that Cottonwood is a softer wood than this Cedar. I have found some small Basswood trees but no large ones yet...which I find rather odd...
 
I've never tried the two stick with cedar Mist, just with cottonwood and willow. To tell the truth, when I'm in a cedar forest I usually have a bit better luck with balsam fir than I do with cedar but I have had cedar and juniper work for me. I just find them a tough finicky.

I agree that Rick's little nipple trick on the drill does help stabilize the drilling until a divot is formed. Its a good approach, I'm just usually too lazy to carve it in. I'm more likely to just scoop out a bit of divot from the sides of the two stick with my knife then carve a fancy drill like that.
 
kgd said:
I've never tried the two stick with cedar Mist, just with cottonwood and willow. To tell the truth, when I'm in a cedar forest I usually have a bit better luck with balsam fir than I do with cedar but I have had cedar and juniper work for me. I just find them a tough finicky.

I agree that Rick's little nipple trick on the drill does help stabilize the drilling until a divot is formed. Its a good approach, I'm just usually too lazy to carve it in. I'm more likely to just scoop out a bit of divot from the sides of the two stick with my knife then carve a fancy drill like that.
Click to expand...

I'll have to try just scooping out the sides next time. I used the saw on my SAK to do most of the work making the nipple so it didn't take too long but was still time consuming. Maybe with a softer wood doing it without it would be a lot easier.

I definitely want to try this with some Cottonwood or Basswood, but I just got an idea to try it with yucca stalks, I can't believe I hadn't already thought of that, damn I must be getting old :D
 
Here is the Two-Hole method as described in Kochansky's book. Also, what I like to refer as 'Two Holes, side-by-each' method.

[youtube]2j2H3YZb0d0[/youtube]
 
Great stuff Ken! Excellent knife safety as well, I always forget to put the knife back in the sheath after I knock the coal out...
 
I just watched the 2 hole video. Very well done, but I am with you. That is way too much effort for a bow drill ember. I'll stick to the carving a knotch.
 
Thanks Tony! I just finished a through-hole video and its uploading now so will take a bit of time. Only one more left in this series of alternative bow drill methods and thats the natural crack. Rick already showed me the natural crack (in more ways then one), but I have to forage for a good piece before I can film that one.

Unfortunately, I had only borrowed Mors' bushcraft book for a while and I can't remember if there were other methods discussed. If anybody has Kochansky's bushcraft book with them, are there additional variations that I forgot? Thus far I covered 2 stick, two hole and through hole (up-coming). We'll get to the natural crack eventually. What else is out there in the bowdrill world that I'm forgetting?

Thanks folks!
 
Ken,
The single hole (not the through hole) is one. I think it's the most difficult of all.
Then there's the method of just using a natural "y" as your notch.
It has to be pretty narrow.
The two stick and through hole are the easiest for me.
The two hole and single hole are just for showing off.:D
Good stuff,
Iz
 
Thanks Iz. I can't recall the difference between single hole and through hole. Can you give a brief descriptor?

Also to add, my through hole vid. is now posted and linked to the first post in this thread.
 
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