Humidity and Friction Methods

[Wook]

I've been noticing pretty massive variation in my success with bowdrills. With my home-built bowdrill I was able to achieve a coal on my third try, with a total time of trying of about 10 minutes. It was about 50% humidity outside.

I tried again a few days later, for hours, and burnt out two whole sockets on my board, and still had no success. I was so tired I had to go and have a lie down. It was 80% humidity outside.

Has anyone else found that humidity has a big effect on the efficacy of fire by friction methods?

 

[Stringmaker]

I haven't any accurate kit to measure RH but I can entirely understand your experience.

80% is very high so it makes perfect sense that you'd struggle.

 

[John Fenna]

Yes - I have found friction fire easier in the desert than in the jungle by a long shot!

 

[dwardo]

Wood soaks up a lot of moisture very fast if it isn't sealed. I have several RH meters running at any one time, one outside, one in my workshop and one indoors.
Very rarely at this time of year does it drop much below 50 and more often than not its much higher. I am constantly checking these meters so I can dry wood quickly and safely (for the wood mind).

 

[Stringmaker]

I've noticed the effect of RH on crampballs too.

 

[Big Stu 12]

Also the amient temp would make a differance....

 

[lannyman8]

i find bow drill easy enough to get a coal all year round, hand drill is another matter of course as it takes much more energy.

bow drill is all about technique and once mastered even wet wood can be used go gain a coal, all you need to do is change the process a little.

have a look in the thread below, the video should help a little, its a bit rough though...

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89066&highlight=wet+wood+bow+drill

regards.

chris.