Saving/Storing the dust from a bowdrill

[Man of Tanith]

Not the burning bit!
right now i have clarified that, (apologies if i get the terminology wrong)
i remember reading an article somewhere where the writer claimed to use the dust formed in the socket of the bowdrill another time after making it, he stored it in a rawhide vessel and literally filled the notch of his hearth gave it a few strokes and out came an ember
Has anyone tried this?
does it work?
is it worth storing it as a contingency plan?
i hope to nail bowdrill fire ignition in the next week or so

 

[wildranger]

There are a few little tricks like this, like keeping the dust from your first failed attempt in the notch for the next attempt. Another good trick is to use ground down charcoal or even just small chunks of charcoal as an ember extender in your tinder bundle (if you already had a fire or found an old fire site).

 

[Man of Tanith]

so its a valid practice then?
cool.
like the idea of using ground down charcoal

 

[Snowfire]

I keep any dust left over in a small plastic bag and use it to part fill the notch before I start. Works for me.

Valid practice? I'm not bothered what the purists think.

 

[Man of Tanith]

valid practice as in it works not purist acceptable

 

[lannyman8]

yes Sam it should work fine, or adleast help save some energy when you start, that way helping your technice, then helping to get a coal...

once you have done it a few times it will become more easy mate...i will do a basic bow drill video for you at some point, i do my one a little differant from most, as in i have 2 stages, this means you can rest in between if you need to...

regards.

chris.