Fire Drill - Help please .... PLEASE!!!!!

[leon-1]

Fair play mate, I think it was Rich59 who suggested using a icecream scoop as a bearing block.

You can reduce the friction on the block by oiling the socket in the block, allowing carbon build up and sharpening that end of the drill.

Limpet shells are pretty robust and work as a bearing block also.

Good luck in search of that elusive ember

 

[Ed]

Limpet shells are pretty robust and work as a bearing block also.

I always found they fall apart if I use them as a block..... but they make a great insert into a bearing block to reduce friction.

Ed

 

[leon-1]

I always found they fall apart if I use them as a block..... but they make a great insert into a bearing block to reduce friction.

Ed

Yep, sorry Ed I should of explained better, cloth over the top and 2 or 3 stacked is one method that works and as Ed quite rightly pointed out use it as an insert in a bearing block is another.

 

[Ed]

Yep, sorry Ed I should of explained better, cloth over the top and 2 or 3 stacked is one method that works

Cheers leon. I've not come accross that one before.... I'll have to give it a whirl.


Ed

 

[Zodiak]

I cheated

I was coming to the conclusion from the comments above that I was using hearth wood that was too resinous so I grabbed part of a bird table that I have replaced and used that.

It gave smoke almost instantly, loads of black powder, no squeeking but sadly no ember However it is 2" square so perhaps I need to work on the goove next time it stops raining!!

Oh yes I am banned from the kithen (apparently the black dust is messing up the tiles and I don't want to create a situation where I have to take a weekend off and spend money to replace them)

 

[crazydave]

try cutting grooves into the drill or a pinch of sand - are you cutting the groove too far in or too wide? mabe the heat is dissepating.

could be the wood is still drying out

you've had smoke so the final wood combination sounds right maybe you just need a bit more energy at the final straight

admitedly its been a while for me so I may be wrong.

 

[Zodiak]

Getting closer!!! I hjave been bowing for ages and still no self sustaining smoke.

I was wondering, how thick should the hearth board be? Mine is about 1" and I am starting to wonder if the dust pile is too big and the heat is disapating.

If this doesn't work I am going to get my son to film me and I wil post it on You tube!!!

 

[Ogri the trog]

One inch sounds a bit ambitious to me Zodiak. Could be that your dust is cooling as it falls down to your hearth board. Try something around the 3/8 to 1/2 inch and see how that performs.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Zodiak]

This is frustrating, mainly because my Back problem really limits me to 10 minutes a day max, if I over do that I can't stand straight next morning and SWMBO, being sensitive as ever, takes the mick!

However I am enjoying trying and do appreacaite the feedback from everybody here, thanks! :You_Rock_

 

[rich59]

Zodiak, Hi,

I have a specific suggestion about materials:-

hearth board - use a softwood batten - either a left over from DIY or buy one from a DIY shop. Make sure it is untreated, for indoor use.

drill - willow is great.

Leaf

Tree

or

,
usually by water.

Take a live branch 1- 1.5cm diameter. Strip the bark, dry it in an airing cupboard for a couple of days. Then try it as your drill material.