bow drill made easy

[john scrivy]

please find pictures of my easy to use bearing block for bow drill notice the bearing

 

[Longstrider]

Neat idea John ! Not something I'd like to try to knock up whilst out in the woods ( it takes just too much effort and sooo much charcoal to smelt decent steel ) but as most of us carry our kits made up, including our favourite bearing blocks, I think that's an idea that will catch on fast witha lot of guys.

Am I right in guessing that your set is hazel drill and lime hearth ? Good combination if it is.

 

[jon r]

I bet that runs as smooth as a babys bottom! Will a little metal bearing like that put up with the vigerous action of the bow drill for long?

 

[john scrivy]

Ive been using the bearing block for about a year now and all is workin fine The ball race is from an old washing machine motor I used a roughter to form its seeting and super glued it in > the bow kit is willow Remember folks if this bearing block catchs on remember where you first saw it BCUK

 

[Ben Trout]

The bearing will be specified for a reasonable load on a steel axle probably at 1500 or 3000rpm. Bow drilling won't give it any abuse. Once upon a time I was after an axle for a Trebuchet and tried a bike sealed bottom bracket. The bearings were a little tight so I thought it could do with a little breaking in, so clamped it up in the pillar drill and left it at 1000rpm for an hour. Horribly over speed for an hour and no sign of wear at all. Sealed unit bearings are brilliant.

Great idea, sorry but I'm going to have to steal it!

 

[Greg]

Although this sounds like a good idea, don't you think it takes away the theme of ancient fire lighting methods.

Stick to using a bowdrill as is without modernizing it, your bound to get more satifaction from making fire by friction than:
'Oh, I made fire by friction with the help of sprucing up my bearing block with a bearing, maybe next time I'll use packing grease to make it a little more slicker and maybe I'll dip the tinder bundle in a bit of petrol to help it catch from the coal!"

IMHO some things should stay the way they originally are.

 

[bushtank]

Ive been using the bearing block for about a year now and all is workin fine The ball race is from an old washing machine motor I used a roughter to form its seeting and super glued it in > the bow kit is willow Remember folks if this bearing block catchs on remember where you first saw it BCUK

Hi john i have done the same to my bearing block never thought of posting it Greg what do you use for the cord on your bow nothing to modern i hope

 

[Greg]

Hi john i have done the same to my bearing block never thought of posting it Greg what do you use for the cord on your bow nothing to modern i hope

I have tried using cord made from palm leaves and it worked quite well! How about you?
I also use hemp rope most of the time too. Which I believe is very natural!