Yet ANOTHER bow drill thread

aaronjayl

aaronjayl

Joined
Apr 5, 2006
Messages
2,310
I've been having intermittent success with my bow drills mainly I find due to the bow string. Just curious, what do you guys use for your bow strings? I've tried leather (i.e. leather shoe lace) and paracord. The problems I'm having are the paracord slipping on the drill and the leather stretching out on me no matter how much I pre-stretch it it seems. Is it just me and if so do you have any recommendations on how to correct these issues or do you have any recommendations for different bow strings to use?
 
I use paracord almost exclusively as that is usually all I have at the time. Without seeing your set and you in action, it is hard to give advice other than you may not have it tight enough.

You may want add the egyptian bow drill to your arsenal...

http://www.primitiveways.com/e-fire.html
 
I use fake sinew twisted like a Flemish bow string.

and a Timber hitch on one end
timberhitch.gif


I also hold my bow like this so as the string stretches I can squeeze it to tighten
Iholdlikethis.gif


It doesn't hurt to make a couple of these and pack them in kits.
 
Thanks Quiet Bear. I'll have to try that out. I thinkI keep good tension on my bow. Having never seen anyone else do this and going solely on my own trial and error, whats a good measure of tension?
 
Try making a "bumpy" cord. Ron shows it in his video, here is a link to the video.
http://survival.com/volume-1.htm
It has some pics that show it so you may be able to figure it out from that. Also, square the sides of the spindle a little to give it more traction. Lube the bearing surface (chapstick,candle...)to reduce friction in that are. WHen the string stretchs during use, just wedge your finger between the string and stick and it will tighten up.
Good luck
 
That's a good link and pic of an M6, but, I am afraid I can't correlate what it has to do with a bow n drill. :confused:

aaronjayl, I have been using 550 cord in my attempts, and cord slippage is the least of my problems. Try pre-stretching a 4 foot piece fo cord.
You can tie it to a tree branch and pull hard, tying off to something else, you can soak it, (it shrinks as it dries).

Mewolf's technique looks really good to prevent cord slippage.
I'm just using my thumb, pressing on it, seems to be working for me. :thumbup:

If using a fresh piece of 550 cord, tie it VERY tight, as you know it is going to stretch in the first usage. You may even need to stop and re-tie.
After using mine for a bit, it seems to have "settled" in.

good luck, keep us informed.

How many "Participants" do we have right now working on Bow&Drill method?
 
Silly skunk, You put the drill portion in the sling and use the gun as a bow.:D

I use 550 cord with the inner strands removed, I think the flattened cord grips better.
 
The secret is to 'reverse twist' the cord. That's what makes it 'bumpy' as alluded to by coyotesniper 69. You will notice in mewolf's post that the artificial sinew has been 'corded'.

Doc
 
Also make sure you have the bow string (i use para-cord) low on the spindle, it gives you more control over the whole process get into a comfortable position also, if your squatting in an uncomfortable position it will be hard to keep everything lined up.
 
runningboar said:
Silly skunk, You put the drill portion in the sling and use the gun as a bow.:D

I use 550 cord with the inner strands removed, I think the flattened cord grips better.
Click to expand...

DOH! [slaps forehead] Now I get it, and once you have a succesful flame you can fire a shot up in the air in celebration!
 
how flexable is your bow? I use a verry stiff bow (can barly flex it on my knee) and a para coard string thats nearly tought (cant put a kink in it, adjusted after its streached) befour I chuck the spindle in. I also use a fairly large spindle, 3/4" to 1". with this setup I have never had a slippage problume, I only hold the bow, as the string is tight enough to dent the spindle just by chucking it in, my holding the string or wedging my finger in there would do nothing to tighten it further.

When others use my setup, they sometimes have a problume chucking the spindle in, but with some coaching on the propper technique they usually get it. I think a really tight string is the best soulution, however your bowdrill does have to fit you, and what works for me dosent nessesaraly work for someone else.
 
I usually use a spindle of about 6" long and a 3/4" diameter roughly. The span (bow string length) on my bows is usually 1.5'. I keep the bow pretty taught or at least I think so. Maybe it's just me :o Thanks for the good ideas guys. I'll have to try some of them out next time I go out hiking and I'll let you know how it goes :)
 
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