Bow drill woes!

[Salix]

Got in early to work this morning, and was on my own so I thouight ide have another crack at the ol bowdrill.
Using a broken ash stave for the hearth board and an easily found peice of 9mm dowel i managed to get smoke, and a smell of. Just at that moment the dowel snapped. I tried again X3 but couldn't get it to work. Then I fashoined a drill from the remaining peice of ash, but it wouldn't run smooth, so I carved a running groove into it, drilled away an......................................nothing........................snap!
Aarrrgghhhhh!
Im'e so impatient, will ash on ash work?
How can i get the drill to run smoothly, is it just a matter of more patient wittling?
I will achieve this........................i will....................i will
Mark

 

[bloodline]

I was taught with Hazel for the spindle. Use a length no thicker than your thumb but it must be as straight as possible that way the bow string stays where you want it I prefer a long spindle of at least 12 inches are you tapering the end of the spindle that goes in the bearing block and are you lubricating that end. If you get the chance to go to a workshop thats a good way to learn the technique I found it much easier to pick up that way rather than teach myself. I think its quite a technology to master but very rewarding once achieved. Good luck and keep trying

 

[capacious]

Yeah, you can use ash on ash (it is often better to use the same wood for both, preferably from the same branch). You can in fact use any wood, but ash is a pretty poor wood for the bowdrill.

Contrary to bloodline, I think a shorter spindle is better - you can put more pressure on it with more ease. To get the drill to run smoothly, the hearthboard end of the spindle must be as symmetrical as you can get it - it dosn't have to be perfectly circular, I've used oval spindles that have worked fine.

You will do this - it just takes practise and patience. Try not to lose your temper (I'm hardly one to talk, I lost it completely on several occassions, but it makes life easier if you stay calm) and it will happen by itself.

All the best,

Jake.

 

[Seagull]

Yep, like he said, you will get there.

When you do, you will do what we have all done; which is to laugh your head off like a complete eedjit.

Just dont do it , as I did: in a garage full of fresh laundry
Missis went ballistic!

Ceeg

 

[spamel]

I did it on my balcony (Ooooer, just read what I wrote there!), and suffered from skinned fingers from my bow hand hitting the flagstones. I also have to drill slightly differently because I've got a knackered knee!! I had blisters on my fingers and the web of my thumb from gripping the string, aching back, shoulder and arm muscles from "over exertion" and severely dented pride when my wife asked why cavemen could do it and they didn't have shiny knives to cut the wood or paracord for the bowstring. Grrrrrrrrrr!

When I did create fire, I was more chuffed than Tom Hanks in Castaway was. I had already created a few coals, but never got them to grow into fire. This was a waste of my time and effort and makes you do things correctly the next time, to prepare and take your time. I think friction fire lighting is perfect for this, but when your learning the method, it just turns the air blue!!

 

[Salix]

Tried again this mornin and got smoke and light brown fibrousey powder but no coal..................aarrgghhh!!!!!!!!

Using a hazel spindle and ash/sycamore hearth board.

must be doing sumthing wrong

 

[capacious]

Try using a hearth board with a closer grain (there are variations within each species, so even the king of bow drill wodds, sycamore, can sometimes be utterly useless).

Either that, or you are stopping drilling too soon - I used to get the loose powder you described; there needs to be a hell of a lot of it before it starts to stick together.

Just stick at it

Jake.

 

[Ogri the trog]

Yup, keep at it,
I think a longer spindle is better to learn with, as the angles are easier to control and it allows a more "open" body position, it also doesn't matter so much if the string starts to wander.
If you're getting a smoking pile of dust, keep going for a few minutes longer until you are on the verge of collapse - then gently roll the hearth away and wait for a minute to catch your breath - during that time the coal will form itself and be smoking and glowing of its own accord.
From then on its plain sailing so long as you have a well prepared tinder bundle ready to accept the coal - granted a piece of fungus as a coal extender will give you a bit more time but the basics will already be in place.
Just be ready to grin your head off when you get your first flame.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Infragreen]

I'm of the willow-drill maple-board school.
Just choose your willow thick enought that it won't snap ('Tis a bummer when it happens).
And remember with those two woods, DON'T PRESS!

Just a medium heavy hand is needed to spin up some smoke, and by then, it's ease off a bit, but BOW FOR YOUR LIFE!!! AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THEN PRESS A BIT MORE!!! JUST GET THAT MOTHER HOT!!!

I use this peculiar setup, where I'm flat on my butt, almost cross-legged.

Left foot holds down the hearthboard.

I'm holding the bow on the middle (Egyptian setup, knot in the middle of string and a few turns around above and below).

That way, I just need to move my right hand right to left, no shoulder movement.

Tiring, but can get really fast.

My record time is about 30 seconds. A friend (novice) was coached thru the process, and spun up an ember after just one minute.

Remember to keep the black/brown stuff after an unsuccessful spin. It makes great tinder for a spark lighting.

I hope you get spinning successfully soon!

Infy

 

[BobFromHolland]

I also got successfull after swapping my (wood unknown) drill for a willow one.
If things really don't seem to work, change a parameter (wood, technique, speed) and go on trying.

Just keep on going , you will get there.

Bob

 

[Biddlesby]

I'm suprised ash will work, it seems a bit hard. Perhaps it would be better starting with an easier wood?

I'm also in the "shorter drill" camp.

Keep trying!