what am I doing wrong? Brown powder , no coal

[baliodude]

Hi

Been trying again with my b/drill. I get lots of smoke and lots of blackish/brownish powder but no coal.

Any tips?

 

[Brian Andrews]

What types of wood are you using for your hearth board and drill?

 

[Hobo-Jack]

I have run into the same problem. What is the best type for the hearth board and drill? I did manage to get a coal once but I wasn't expecting it and didn't have enough tinder ready.

 

[1234]

What kind of wood are you using , I don´t know that much about , Saudi Arabia flora?

1234,,,,

 

[Chris_Norden]

If the woods not resinous and its dry, if you can easily dent it with a thumb nail, but not your thumb pad, it should work. Just a matter of adjusting pressure to get reasonably fine black powder. As long as its fine enough with enough pressure that it doesnt start to squeak you should have the right amount of friction. If the dust comes off as little "rolls" lighten the pressure a little. If you have the right technique you should be able to drill for some time with the bow drill (if the bow is long enough) and not get tired. Another thing that helps with the friction is a little dry sand in the hole on the hearth board. Keep trying and eventually you'll get it.

 

[baliodude]

Hi guys

I use wood from a 2 by 4 that I have in the House. This wood can be from any part of the world and have no idea where it is from.

I carved the spindle and board from the same wood.

 

[stockmanlover]

when i do bow drill fires i use cedar as the board and maple as the spindle

 

[Rick Marchand]

I really need to see the kit you are using... the way it is carved... the wear characteristics... its all very important to diagnose the problem.



Rick

 

[RescueRiley]

often lumber wood is not a good place to start
Good woods for both board and spindle are
White cedar
sycamore
Willow
Poplar
Cottonwood
AUtumn olive
yucca (spindle)
staghorn sumac
to name but a few
learning to read the dust will tell allot about how to improve yourtechnique
Generally brown Dust indicates that you are not bearing down enough
Fluffly dust with hair like projections in it Might indicate that you are not rotating your bow fast enough....
Start witht he easiest wood you can..
I'd reccomend a yucca spindle with a cotonwood board
or a set made completely of white cedar.

 

[dawsonbob]

+1 on the Yucca. I've also got one I made from a palm frond that's working pretty well. I don't know what species of palm.

 

[RescueRiley]

here are some links I foud helpful
http://survivalinstructor.blogspot.com/2006/08/bow-drill-woods.html
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/bowdrill/pmoc/basicbowdrill.html

 

[kgd]

Hi

Been trying again with my b/drill. I get lots of smoke and lots of blackish/brownish powder but no coal.

Any tips?

There are more skilled folks who replied to your thread. When I'm having troubles there are a few things I fiddle with.

1) drill size. Too fat makes it difficult to enough heat although you might be producing enough smoke. Try thinning out your drill a bit and see if that helps. This will increase the velocity at the surface and increase heat. Doc Canada likes to leave most of the drill fat for easy of threading to the bow, but narrowing down the part at the hearth, about 3" from the point.

2) drill straightness. A crooked or angled drill leads to bad technique and reduces velocity. If you are spending energy compensating your balance because a drill isn't straight or true then this might be affecting you.

3) Too much pressure on the head piece. I often do this. Usually when I get more brown dust versus black dust, Rick tells me to lighten up the pressure and spin it faster.

4) Moisture in the wood. Is you wood dry? Again, spinning lighter for longer might help this.

5) Matched drill and hearth. I've found it much better to use the same piece of wood for drill and hearth. I'm told you can use a harder drill compared to hearth on unmatched wood, but I've had best results when they are made from the same piece. Not just the same type, but the same piece of wood!

Good luck.

 

[Don M]

Some pics here:

http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/bowdrill/pmoc/basicbowdrill.html