Bowdrill - hazel hearth?

[bushcraftbob]

Hi all

Has anyone made a bowdrill set using a hazel hearth? I have a fairly thick bit of seasoned hazel and want to give it a try, what drill will be best? Will hazel on hazel work or perhaps willow on hazel?

cheers

 

[John Fenna]

Hazel on Hazel works fine and was my favourite set-up....until I discovered Hazel on Ivy!

 

[Shewie]

I`ve also used hazel on hazel and it`s excellent, not done hazel & ivy yet though

 

[bushcraftbob]

Hows about ivy on hazel cut some nice ivy spindles on sat?

 

[mick miller]

Hazel on hazel I found easier than willow on willow for sure. Or maybe that was just me?

 

[Kerne]

And ivy on ivy?

 

[bushcraftbob]

I have struggling getting consistent embers using a hazel drill and hazel hearth, im finding it a lock more nackering that hazel on lime! I get plenty of black powder but find the embers are quite short lived and crumble apart easily.

I am using the same drill on the hazel that i used on the lime, which is about 3cm thick, could the drill be too thick for an all hazel setup??? Would i have more joy with say a 2cm hazel spindle?

cheers

 

[dwardo]

I have struggling getting consistent embers using a hazel drill and hazel hearth, im finding it a lock more nackering that hazel on lime! I get plenty of black powder but find the embers are quite short lived and crumble apart easily.

I am using the same drill on the hazel that i used on the lime, which is about 3cm thick, could the drill be too thick for an all hazel setup??? Would i have more joy with say a 2cm hazel spindle?

cheers

I have always had good results with hazel on hazel, if it isnt working i would go down in size on the drill. That or keep that set aside and make another if you have ready access to materials, hazel is very easy to find dead standing in a coppice.

 

[dogwood]

I've had good results with hazel on hazel as well.

However, hazel on cedar is terrific too. Cedar hearths are one of my favorites.

 

[BigShot]

On the main forum page I read this as "Bowdrill - health hazard?"

Thought maybe the scouts or some bushcraft school had fallen foul of H&S madness and had the humble bowdrill deemed far too risky for people to attempt.
Haha.