I'm sitting outside, enjoying a martini and a cigar (I may be "King of the Castle," but She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed doesn't like cigars indoors...). I promised myself if I managed fire from the bowdrill, I'd have a martini.
I'm so pumped right now. I DID IT!!!!
My last spindle was worn down to a nub (much like my first firesteel when I was learning to use it). I smoothed out a new spindle and set to work.
The first attempt, based on the half-worn divot from teh nubby spindle... nothing.
Next attempt (where I've learned a thing or two about the proper tension on the cord), an ember. A nice, big, fat ember. I blew it into substantial size, dropped it into my tinder bundle (shredded inner bark and pine needles), and... missed the bark. Not wanting to give up, I blew and coaxed and cajoled that ember into... blackness. D*mmit! Back to square one.
I set to making another ember. I first "squared off" the business end of my spindle and had at it. Smoke. Pain. Keep going. Lots of smoke. A little more. Don't quit now... and... ember!
I dropped it into my tinder bundle again and missed AGAIN. This time, though, I grabbed my Mora and shoved that ember into the bark nest part. Coaxing... C'mon.... I can hear that roar of the flames wanting to start. C'mon... more blowing. C'MON.... And the flames leaped out of the thing.
I had a small pile of kindling/sticks set aside. I had set up a "V" of sticks to allow airflow, etc. Once that tinder bundle leapt into flames, I set about getting the kindling going. In short order, I had a nice, but small, fire going.
I need to repeat it (which will happen shortly), but right now, I am very full of myself!
Doc