Any tips to Bow drill with a rebuilt shoulder?

[Scally]

I washed my hands five years ago and my right shoulder went into involantary dislocation. 8 hour s of op later and i can use it to a fashion ( i am right handed ) its now shorter than my left and i have less moveabilty than most!
I can bowdrill but i then have to hang from a tree to straighten it out after!
any length of abuse or diffcuilty then it just packs in?
any tips to ease the use?
by the way no i can't use my left arm i have tried and tried.
any tips would be gratefully accepted.
thanks uppy_dog

 

[bushtuckerman]

i haven't got much special to say i'm afraid, but with practice, not only will your technique improve, but your arm will get stronger too. I'm sure that's what you're doing though!

hopefully someone will have decent advice.

edit: although, a longer bow makes it easier for the bowing arm, if it's tight enough, and the wood is rigid.

 

[Scally]

like that idea will try a longer bow! i usally use one measured from the tip of my nose to my out stretched arm and fingers ?
how much longer would you go?

 

[Toddy]

Why not make a pump drill instead? It's very effective, ought not unbalance your shoulders and won't strain a damaged joint.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=10652&highlight=pump+drill

Besides, it's fun!

EDIT: Someone posted pics of a mini, hand sized, one of these a while back too.....I can't find the link, anybody remember where?


Cheers,
Toddy

 

[Scally]

ok next question anyone got a tutorial to make a pump drill

thanks toddy looks good! :You_Rock_

 

[Goose]

Lots of tablets afterwards! Or use a lighter
I sympathise mate, in the same boat with my shoulder. OK most of the time until I do any heavy(ish) work or stretching, then I can't move my arm for a week Climbing and fire by friction are really difficult.

 

[bushtuckerman]

i usally use one measured from the tip of my nose to my out stretched arm and fingers ?
how much longer would you go?

hmm, actually that's quite long already, so not much longer, but it sounds like you want to try other methods which are better balanced.

I don't know how important it is to you but a pump drill would be difficult to manufacture in the field, and impossible in an emergency really, but by the looks of it pretty darn fun to use! If you get hold of some large diameter bamboo then the fire saw with that is a piece of p*** as far as i can tell from trying with smaller pieces, but again it's not very practical. the only other one i can think of which is fairly even on the upper body is the fire plough...but that is tough!! there is of course the hand drill but personally i find that very difficult, and very much so in comparison to the bow drill, and i can't imagine it going easy on the shoulders.

good luck with the pump drill