Aspen bowdrill problems

[Hoodoo]

Anyone ever used aspen for a bowdrill setup? Mine does not want to go. I get a very hot, dark black pile of powder but no coal. It's like the wood is burning up as I drill and there's nothing left to sustain a coal. I'm wondering if I have too much friction. It's usually pretty noisy as well, due to the high friction. Any suggestions?

 

[match]

I've tried Aspen before but not with much success - it seemed to grind to a powder very quickly without ever forming a coal - and took a lot of effort before enough powder jammed int he hearth groove and got hot enough to form a tinder.

Just had a look on the internet - the Primitive Ways website (http://www.primitiveways.com/fire_Baugh.html) has this to say about Aspen which seems to tally with what I've found:

b. If the structure of the wood is such that it disintegrates before it reaches 800 degrees then it is a wood that should not be used. I strongly believe that some softwoods such as willow and aspen don't work because they fall apart before they reach the critical temperature.

 

[Hoodoo]

Hey match! Thanks for the feedback! Somehow I missed your response previously.

That's an interesting comment about willow and aspen. I've made coals with willow although it seemed difficult at first, eventually I had no problem. Aspen is often listed as a good wood but maybe weathered aspen will work better. I dunno. I'm using kiln dried board and it seems to fit the pattern described.

 

[Abbe Osram]

Anyone ever used aspen for a bowdrill setup? Mine does not want to go. I get a very hot, dark black pile of powder but no coal. It's like the wood is burning up as I drill and there's nothing left to sustain a coal. I'm wondering if I have too much friction. It's usually pretty noisy as well, due to the high friction. Any suggestions?

Tried aspen too yesterday but didnt get it working. Now I am wondering what I am left with up here. Willow seems to have the same problem as aspen, to fall apart to early. Pine has to much resin. Whats left? Hmm... spruce.... I dont think so...
What arctic wood could work for me up here?

thanks
Abbe

 

[rich59]

I have tried a lot of different materials with the hand drill. Many of them are softer than most woods. For instance teasel is little more than a sturdy pith. The diameter of the drill is very important. A soft material may crumble with a small drill but be stable with a larger drill. I have a working theory that there is no material that won't work if you can just get a big enough drill to get smoke.

So, with aspen (I have not tried it) I would look to use a slightly thicker than average drill, I would look to keep the pressure very light and keep the velocity of drilling very fast.

Having said that I think the best bow drill guru around is at http://www.uq.net.au/~zzdlittl/aussiefirebow.html He has tried several pines, but no aspen so far it seems.

 

[Fenlander]

Mors uses Aspen which has been attacked by the Aspen conk fungus for hearth and drill.

I used Aspen and willow hearths for my bow-drill workshop at the moot last week.

Abbe......be patient. Not long now

 

[Abbe Osram]

Mors uses Aspen which has been attacked by the Aspen conk fungus for hearth and drill.

I used Aspen and willow hearths for my bow-drill workshop at the moot last week.

Abbe......be patient. Not long now

LOL yes mate, I cant believe that you come all the way to the north to teach me the bow drill mate, check my webpage and you see me and Viking fiddling around with the bow.

cheers
Abbe

 

[torjusg]

Tried aspen too yesterday but didnt get it working. Now I am wondering what I am left with up here. Willow seems to have the same problem as aspen, to fall apart to early. Pine has to much resin. Whats left? Hmm... spruce.... I dont think so...
What arctic wood could work for me up here?

thanks
Abbe

Alder makes excellent hearthboards. I have had success with rowan on it, but I think you can use birch and willow on it as well.

And they say that roots from trees have a far different structure than the wood itself. Because of that you can use conifer roots and it'll work well. Have tried it and was pretty close to success.

Spruce does work as long as you have a thoroughly dried piece. It has to be a little aged as well, cracked and grey with loose bark.

I have found that pieces that feels smooth and the bark still is attached is generally no good. That is with the exception of alder and birch. Both are quite hard to find dry, but unrotted though. A little rot seems advantagous for hearthbords of alder.

Torjus Gaaren

 

[Viking]

Tried aspen too yesterday but didnt get it working. Now I am wondering what I am left with up here. Willow seems to have the same problem as aspen, to fall apart to early. Pine has to much resin. Whats left? Hmm... spruce.... I dont think so...
What arctic wood could work for me up here?

thanks
Abbe

Alder mate, just go down to the lake at your cabin and you will find lotso of dead alder. That what I used when I made the bowdrill set at your cabin.

Wish I was there again...

 

[Abbe Osram]

Alder mate, just go down to the lake at your cabin and you will find lotso of dead alder. That what I used when I made the bowdrill set at your cabin.

Wish I was there again...

Viking it was Aspen, I looked it up. I said to my wife that we found Alder but she said it was for sure not Alder, it ended with an argument we settled with the tree book. I believe we picked wood from this tree, or????

This is aspen!

[/IMG]

This is alder!

I think she was right and we did a mistake. What do you think Viking, which did we plock up?

cheers
Abbe

 

[Viking]

Viking it was Aspen, I looked it up. I said to my wife that we found Alder but she said it was for sure not Alder, it ended with an argument we settled with the tree book. I believe we picked wood from this tree, or????

This is aspen!

[/IMG]

This is alder!

I think she was right and we did a mistake. What do you think Viking, which did we plock up?

cheers
Abbe

The tree I took from the riverbank was Alder, that I am pretty sure of. Next time your out in the cabin, take a look on the shoreline below the cabin, there were some dead alder down there.

As you can see here, Aspen´s bark is pretty smooth whick the bark on the tree we got was not.
http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/salica/popul/poputre.html

I am pretty sure that the one we got was a Grey Alder
http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/betula/alnus/alnuinc.html

But on the other hand I would not argue with yur wife

 

[Abbe Osram]

But on the other hand I would not argue with yur wife

Hehe, yes I know what you mean. Mate, I am going to check it out and take some pictures and see what we got there. Are you talking about the spot where the kids where going for a swim?

cheers
Abbe

 

[torjusg]

I am 100% sure that you have grey alder up there and that is probably the only specie of alder you have.

Looks like Viking's link is that type:
http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/bet...us/alnuinc.html

Torjus Gaaren

 

[dommyracer]

That's odd - the first time I achieved a coal with a bowdrill was with a Willow Hearth + Drill.

Once I had the technique down, it went up okay.

Maybe different willow species have different temperatures? Or maybe because of the temperature difference, speed of growth etc...?

 

[torjusg]

That's odd - the first time I achieved a coal with a bowdrill was with a Willow Hearth + Drill.

Once I had the technique down, it went up okay.

Maybe different willow species have different temperatures? Or maybe because of the temperature difference, speed of growth etc...?

Willow is often too springy and it's fibres are flexible, so it tends to glaze. I have found through my limited experience that as a general rule: "The poorer the bow-wood the better for bow-drill". So if a piece breaks straigth off it is usually better than if it frets and frays.

Torjus Gaaren

 

[dommyracer]

Interesting theory Torjus, will have to test that theory out methinks.

 

[rich59]

Willow is my current favourite bow drill wood.

 

[Viking]

Hehe, yes I know what you mean. Mate, I am going to check it out and take some pictures and see what we got there. Are you talking about the spot where the kids where going for a swim?

cheers
Abbe

No if you down by the "dasset" you will find a small tree sticking out in the water, thats alder. Tried to get but only got wet =)

 

[Abbe Osram]

No if you down by the "dasset" you will find a small tree sticking out in the water, thats alder. Tried to get but only got wet =)

hope in the water and not the dass.
did you have a good travel mate? I enjoyed your stay and already planed our winter thingy!

cheers
Abbe

 

[Viking]

hope in the water and not the dass.
did you have a good travel mate? I enjoyed your stay and already planed our winter thingy!

cheers
Abbe

You never know, thinking of what i fund under the sauna

20 Hours on a train gives you a lot of time to think and I have a lot of ideas now...