Lopped a largish holly tree down this summer and have started to chuck it on the fire at home. I was thinking is this a good wood to make into a firedrill set? Any opinions on its' suitabilty for the board or drill or length needed to season, if at all.
Holly wood for firedrill
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DWH,
I don't like holly for fire drills... It's a little too far on the hard side. Besides the grain is often twisting (like a corkscrew), which makes it hard to get a board or a drill straight. It still is possible to get an ember from it, but I personally would choose another wood if possible (beech, cottonwood, birch, cedar, juniper...).
HTH,
David
I don't like holly for fire drills... It's a little too far on the hard side. Besides the grain is often twisting (like a corkscrew), which makes it hard to get a board or a drill straight. It still is possible to get an ember from it, but I personally would choose another wood if possible (beech, cottonwood, birch, cedar, juniper...).
HTH,
David
It makes a good firebow if you can find a branch that's shaped just right 
It carves well too, but, and it's a big but, it splits with the slightest provocation until it's dry. It's best dried slowly too, so if you can leave the branches entire and just let them slowly dry off, then it works. Many folks cap the cut ends with wax to slow down the drying/cracking even more.
That cracking is useful though if you want to make a hearth board from it, since it will split like elder right along with just a little kedging.
I tried using it for a spindle, but it was 'sticky'…but then, it was fresh cut that I tried.
M
It carves well too, but, and it's a big but, it splits with the slightest provocation until it's dry. It's best dried slowly too, so if you can leave the branches entire and just let them slowly dry off, then it works. Many folks cap the cut ends with wax to slow down the drying/cracking even more.
That cracking is useful though if you want to make a hearth board from it, since it will split like elder right along with just a little kedging.
I tried using it for a spindle, but it was 'sticky'…but then, it was fresh cut that I tried.
M
I love holly as the drill bit. I do bowdrill demos all summer and tend to always use really well seasoned holly drills. It's the technique that's more important, not the woods, but holly is my favourite on lime boards.
If you use Holly, well seasoned, for both bearing block and drill bit you'll find it amazing if you wet the bearing surfaces each time you use it. Holly was used for the keels of fishing craft which had to be dragged up beaches and slipways as it is known for this quality of slippery when wet. I always found Hazel to be the best hearth board with this method, closely followed by Birch.
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