At this time of year I keep walking past clumps of annual or biennial stems or various "weeds" growing in waste places. They are the right size and shape for hand drills. But the question is will they work, and if they do then what are they?
If a stem is about 1.5cm diameter I cut them off at the base and if they have a round profile and moderately thick woody layer and some pith in the middle then I take them home, dry them and try. Quite often I am successful, although some polish easily. Most can become like a brush with coarse fibres projecting from the business end if I press too hard.
Anyway there are a number of these perenial flowering wayside plants that will make a successful hand drill for fire. So don't stay too settled into your standard mullein, teasel or even burdock.
If I post a few pictures maybe people can help me identify them.
If a stem is about 1.5cm diameter I cut them off at the base and if they have a round profile and moderately thick woody layer and some pith in the middle then I take them home, dry them and try. Quite often I am successful, although some polish easily. Most can become like a brush with coarse fibres projecting from the business end if I press too hard.
Anyway there are a number of these perenial flowering wayside plants that will make a successful hand drill for fire. So don't stay too settled into your standard mullein, teasel or even burdock.
If I post a few pictures maybe people can help me identify them.
