This is a thought for anyone thinking they might want a crack at hand drill fire lighting at the bushmoot. The suggestion is that you toughen up your shoulders and hands by a little daily practice between now and the moot. If you do this you may get more out of the session at the moot.
Find a straight, smooth stick about 3 foot long and about 1-1.5cm diameter. Find a suitable hearth board. Make a depression in the hearth board with a knife. Settle one end of the drill into the depression and have a go at spinning the drill fast while leaning your body weight into it. Get a good grip by wetting your hands a little about a couple of times a minute. After a little while one or both of your palms might be getting a little sore. STOP. Don't work up a blister. Then come back to it each day and do about the same, or a little more as your hands improve, each day. After just a few days don't try to make your hands sore - stop while the going is good but do it each day the same after that. If your depression in the hearth board polishes then you might roughen it. If you get smoke then that is fab, but just trying will help you come to the session at the moot more able to take advantage of the materials and the advice.
But, don't worry if you want to just come to the session without preparation - I hope you will still achieve and get a lot out of it.
Find a straight, smooth stick about 3 foot long and about 1-1.5cm diameter. Find a suitable hearth board. Make a depression in the hearth board with a knife. Settle one end of the drill into the depression and have a go at spinning the drill fast while leaning your body weight into it. Get a good grip by wetting your hands a little about a couple of times a minute. After a little while one or both of your palms might be getting a little sore. STOP. Don't work up a blister. Then come back to it each day and do about the same, or a little more as your hands improve, each day. After just a few days don't try to make your hands sore - stop while the going is good but do it each day the same after that. If your depression in the hearth board polishes then you might roughen it. If you get smoke then that is fab, but just trying will help you come to the session at the moot more able to take advantage of the materials and the advice.
But, don't worry if you want to just come to the session without preparation - I hope you will still achieve and get a lot out of it.
