Bow/ Hand Drill materials?

[a1993h]

Hey guys,
All ive got in my local are pine, birch, horse chestnut , hawthorn, ash and beech. Any of these make a good hand drill of bow drill set?

Cheers

 

[chris_r]

Sycamore and birch are good. Make the whole set out of the same wood.

 

[a1993h]

Sycamore and birch are good. Make the whole set out of the same wood.

I thought the hearth board had to be softer?

 

[The Big Lebowski]

Ash on ash works very well... as will Hazel on ash if you can find some.

 

[chas brookes]

Paul Kirtleys blog has a really good article

http://paulkirtley.co.uk/2011/bowdrill/

 

[Nonsuch]

Sycamore, Alder and Lime are best and Lime said to be most reliable. Beech, Rowan, Oak and Sweet Chestnut won't work. Others are worth a go but not ideal.

 

[leahcim]

think water trees, without resin. the cell growth is light due to much water already there. so the growth rings are not tight. they are even spaced. Then look for Mullien stalks, Horsetail Stalks, Yucca Stalks, or any plant that grows like that. If you dont have large pieces, then use a straight branch of any flexiable strong wood and tip it off with shorter pieces of the friction wood with sap and fiber for a felxible tress. Maybe you shoul learn quartz spark instead of friction. Pine is not your choice at all, but if you have long leaf pine, the young growth is non sappy and light as balsam wood and can work but hard to start.