Evening all, I need a bit of help...
I have been trying for a few days now to make fire by friction, and failing. I've tried various woods including poplar, oak, hazel and some others i dont even recognise.
I have been using a drill (of the cordless persuasion) to test and see if anything is likely to come of it, rather than giving myself blisters without any promise of a result... and aside from a lot of smoke and black powder, have failed to produce anything with potential.
I plan to sort it with the drill first, get that bit figured, then move on to hand drilling.
I am using a piece about 1.5cm diameter fixed into the drill bit, and sharpened to a rounded point. I have been using a slot in the side of the dip in the hearth board to catch the ember, but there has so far only been black dust.
I have also been wondering about the method involving a groove and a scraping action... is that likely to prove any easier than the bow drill?[/QUOT
The action of first in one direction, and then the other is important for getting the charred tinder dust out of the slot. The softer the drill and fireboard the quicker this will work. If you are producing black dust, then you must be close,
I would suggest getting everything right first, the drill-bit, the fire-board, and the hearth/tinder board. Then keep at it until you get an ember. Do not stop too soon!
Le Loup. PS. See other posts on this subject.