Whats your Favorite wood for the bow-drill?

BarberFobic1992

BarberFobic1992

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Jan 21, 2008
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i have done the bowdrill with a variety of wood combinations, but i always find myself favoring a white cedar board with a pecan spindle.

so whats your favorite?
 
There are many woods better than red maple, some say it is down-right difficult, but it is what I usually seem to end up with. I don't know if I can say it is MY favorite, but I believe I am red maple's favorite!
 
White Cedar
Poplar
Basswood

In order. Spindle and hearth board of same materials always.
 
White Cedar is great.

I like a slightly harder wood because pressure isn't a problem for me (I think taller people have an easier time getting more weight above the spindle).

I use Mexican Sycamore a lot. It produces a fast and stable coal that does not need a ton of speed to produce.

TF
 
Basswood and Paw Paw are great and Cottonwood works well. Use 'em for hearthboard and spindle.

I've also used Giant Ragweed.

The absolute best spindle material is the stem of the Yucca. If you can find one big enough it makes a great board, too.
 
I've had luck with lodgepole pine, it's nice and straight. Otherwise any driftwood seems to make a good spindle; it's nice and dense.
 
VA27 said:
Basswood and Paw Paw are great and Cottonwood works well. Use 'em for hearthboard and spindle.

I've also used Giant Ragweed.

The absolute best spindle material is the stem of the Yucca. If you can find one big enough it makes a great board, too.
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I've used Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) for hand drills but not hearths. Have you used it for a hearth? Is it the same species as A. trifida?

My best bow drill combo - Basswood drill / Basswood hearth

Best hand drill combo - Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosa) drill / Basswood hearth.

Doc
 
Doc, it's probably A. trifida texana. I just cut one an inch and a half in diameter (dried) to try as a hearthboard.

I've not mastered the hand drill (read as 'not even any smoke!') but my teaching partner has and he uses a Paw Paw hearthboard and a Yucca spindle. I've timed him from start to 'ember' in less than 30 seconds!
 
I have deep trouble with the hand drill as well - it is tough here in Houston because it is SO humid. The bow drill was used in this area almost extensively - but as you travel inland and toward more dry areas - the Sotol stem is the best in this area.

TF
 
The best combo I've used is a cottonwood base and yucca spindle, cottonwood root for the base and it practically lights itself. The only sucess I've had with a hand drill is yucca on yucca.
 
Basswood for me, gets ambers in ~10 seconds no problem. White cedar would likely be my second favorite, it seems to be more capricious, can take more spinning with more pressure and the dust seems more delicate. Don't care to much what type of wood it is if I'm showing off in the woods with some friends, so long as it's dry enough and has the general characteristics I like, species doesn't make a huge difference after that.
 
I don't have enough experience with it to determine a favorite...but Ive had luck at least some luck with poplar, ash, and willow.... and mixed results with sycamore..I'm sure with more experience in this I'll develop some favorites... but right now getting smoke and the right color dust everytime.. is exciting enough for me....
 
VA27 said:
Doc, it's probably A. trifida texana. I just cut one an inch and a half in diameter (dried) to try as a hearthboard.

I've not mastered the hand drill (read as 'not even any smoke!') but my teaching partner has and he uses a Paw Paw hearthboard and a Yucca spindle. I've timed him from start to 'ember' in less than 30 seconds!
Click to expand...

Thanks VA, any chance of an in-use picture?

Coincidentally, I did a hand drill coal yesterday (in the living room :rolleyes:). It's the first one I've done in quite a few months - I need to toughen the hands up again. :(

Doc
 
k_estela said:
White Cedar
Poplar
Basswood

In order. Spindle and hearth board of same materials always.
Click to expand...

is there a specific reason for using the same materials for both? i use pecan on white ceder with great results, but when i use white cedar on white cedar it takes alot longer. the pecan i use for the spinde is slightly harder than the white cedar, so it tends to produce more dust. however, i run through notches pretty quick. i get three uses out of one notch if i am lucky.
 
Same materials mean equal wear on both. If one is too hard, it will drill or wear the other one out first. Too soft and it will drill itself down before a coal can be produced.
 
k_estela said:
Same materials mean equal wear on both. If one is too hard, it will drill or wear the other one out first. Too soft and it will drill itself down before a coal can be produced.
Click to expand...

...and it saves your energy by keeping you from running all over the woods trying to find your materials! :D

What?! So I'm a lazy f--ker...
 
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