Big Stupid Grin

[miniac]

Well after about 2 hours I finally made fire using a bow

Had loads of go's trying to keep my balance, trying to stop the string from rising to the top of the drll. Then the god of fire looked down and gave me a load of black powder with a visable ember glowing away inside dropped this into a nest of tinder and gave it a good blowing......

Burnt me fingers and the grass but the smile, WELL YOU KNOW

 

[Wayne]

Well done.

Its always a pleasure watching someone get their first ember.

What woods were you using?

 

[Ogri the trog]

Excellent!

Well done Miniac :You_Rock_

Ogri the trog

 

[fred gordon]

Miniac,
Well done. Got my first ember and fire recently too. One of lifes milestones and a great feeling of achievement.

 

[Neanderthal]

Congratulations!

On a day like today you must have been lathered!

What sort of wood were you using?

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

well done mate,
i've seen people with on hand expert advice and the right kit struggle for a whole week! :You_Rock_

but.....don't stop!

do it again tomorrow, and in a couple of days, then another couple, till you get more confident, eventually you will be able to do it each time!

well done, next the hand drill!

 

[Neanderthal]

RAPPLEBY2000,

Were you on a Woodsmoke Woodlander course a couple of years ago? That sounds like a description of me.

20 minutes before the end of the course before I managed it!
Mrs Neanderthal had managed it on day 1, so no pressure!

 

[miniac]

Thanks guys!!!!

I have no idea what woods I used. I found a strong bow shape that didnt bend to much, a staight piece about 1 inch thick that felt hard and split a round that was about 3 inches across. I packed a load of grass and leaves in the top, and went for it.

The thing I found the hardest was keeping the string in the middle of the drill, it keeped rising up the top of the bearing block and throwing the drill across the garden. It pays to practice ALOT I have spent an hour or so every weekend for a month or so.

Thanks to all those before me, without their experiances that they posted here, I could still be working at it. :notworthy

Yes I was completely knackered! Good job the football was on, that allways helps me to sleep!!

Hand drill? Bring it on well when the stupid grin fades away.........

 

[Stuart]

well done, all of us who have done it remember the joy of your first fire by friction with a warm glow of pride.

you now carry fire with you wherever you go

 

[JonathanD]

Took me 15 years , well done!

 

[BobFromHolland]

Great stuff miniac!

Now you've got the fever....
... there's no stopping!!

Bob

 

[PC2K]

ahh... THE GRIN...

 

[miniac]

Tried it out again this time with half my explorer scouts watchin

Done it, No worries

grinning again

 

[Goose]

Tried it out again this time with half my explorer scouts watchin

Done it, No worries

grinning again

That is always the test, an audience! :You_Rock_
Well done, I still haven't done it with an audience!

 

[BobFromHolland]

That is always the test, an audience! :You_Rock_
Well done, I still haven't done it with an audience!

Try the Egyptian string method, that takes out one of the potential troubles: breaking bow-string. I'm sure there are strings that do not break (rawhide?), but my cotton string oops, off topic! ehh, my nylon BOW-string broke at first demonstration :aargh4:
With my new Egyption style string it doe'sn't wear and I've made several demo's since.

Didn't have much ember with my hand drill yet .........
lot's of smoke and piles of dust, but no ember.

Good luck
Bob

 

[Geuf]

well done! I managed it two a couple of weeks ago. the feeling is great and the big grin lasted for two days!