Bow drills with kids (brain scratcher)

[Tommyd345]

Ok chaps, got a good one for you

I work at a outdoor activity centre, and we do some bushcraft, (I am the specialist) and iv been scouring the Internet, scratching my brain and I just can't think.

The question- how do you make bow drills easier for kids to learn and do?

Now before you suggest different woods ect, we have 5 different sets, all different woods, all instructors can get coals. Now bear in mind that these kids are about 9-10 and up. Our sessions are about 2 hours. Often getting them to work in pairs works better than alone but still it's tricky.
The difficulty is coaching 15 kids all at once to do something that is hard at the best of times. One on one coaching is fine but 15... Anyway.
My idea was that if I made a few larger sections of top wood to push down? Would having two kids pushing from the top on a bigger stick help? Anyways there's the question, any help would be massively appreciated!

 

[British Red]

I assume you have done all the normal stuff like fly wheels, two man bows etc?

Not sure what you mean by "top wood"? Do you mean the bearing block?

 

[Bishop]

Teams of three, one holds the bearing block and the other two go toe to toe working the bow would be my first thought,
failing that the Pump-drill/ Flywheel technique should work well with individual youngsters I would think.

 

[OurAmericanCousin]

It's critical that the hand block be in line with the fireboard as the drill runs perpendicularly to the spindle. When the whole shebang goes haywire and explodes it's usually as a result of the hand and fire boards being askew.

I'm not so sure anyone, much less a child, who doesn't do this a lot could keep that linear cohesion while still bearing down.

Perhaps a large sprung caliper/leaf spring type arrangement, where the fireboard is mounted in the bottom arm and the hand block is mounted in the upper. The contraption keeps it lined up and the operator only needs to apply pressure. It may alleviate much of the risk and liability to other people's kids. Especially the shear and torque forces multiplied with two operators on the bow (all that leverage) and only one (and one hand as main holding point, at that) using direct force to keep things lined up.

Teamwork would be an excellent exercise and lesson for bowdrill fire making, but I would think about tweaking the equipment for the safety aspect.

Great idea for the lesson BTW.

 

[mountainm]

Use skateboard wheels or scooter bearings for the bearing block. Makes it sooo much easier.

Then they can graduate to proofer ones with the faith they can do it.

When I show cubs and scouts I quickly size up those that can do it and put those in pairs with those that can't, then get the kids to tutor each other. This allows you to monitor the group as a whole.

 

[Tommyd345]

Sorry yes, top wood means bearing block, I was having a mind blank! Skateboard wheels? sounds genius! Thanks for the ideas so far!

 

[Tommyd345]

Plus I we havnt done pump/fly wheel, I'm half way through making a pump drill

 

[superc0ntra]

Perhaps use a hand drill first, makes things a bit easier when starting out.

 

[lannyman8]

use the Egyptian rope method as it will reduce the tension on the spindle and wont ping out...