stone or glass bearing block

[jasons]

I had some top results with stone and glass bearing blocks it makes it a hell of a lot easyer for a glass bearing block I heat up a bottel on the fire and the glass pits and it makes a top bearing block. give it a try just stay well back when the glass is on the fire. I get an ember evey time now

 

[Brocktor]

whats a bearing block?

 

[hanzo]

A bearing block is the part of a bow drill you push down on.

I saw on another forum, a guy had good results using a magnesium bar as a bearing block. He did it as a backup as the flint part can come loose.

 

[Goose]

I had some top results with stone and glass bearing blocks it makes it a hell of a lot easyer for a glass bearing block I heat up a bottel on the fire and the glass pits and it makes a top bearing block. give it a try just stay well back when the glass is on the fire. I get an ember evey time now

Any chance of a photo, not quite able to picture it, but glass does sound a good idea. I used the corner of the swedish cookset frying pan as a bearing block, worked well enough and very little wear to the top of the drill.

 

[OzaawaaMigiziNini]

I've used stone ones for a while, just use a masonry bit to drill a dent. Then drop sand in it and use a handdrill (mullein works good) to turn the sand around and around until it polishes it smooth.

Now I carry a moose ankle. Socket is smooth and premade.

 

[JonnyP]

I found a few pebbles on the beach with holes in them, they work well.....
I like the idea about polishing them, good one...

 

[dommyracer]

An efficient bearing block can make life so much easier. When Garrick of the Forest Knights taught me bow drill he had a rather fetching lump of polished marble.

 

[Dave Budd]

A friend of mine says the secret to his success is the limpet shell that he uses as a bearing block

 

[Zodiak]

A bearing block is the part of a bow drill you push down on..

Oh... I thought it was a tree stump that you sat on to take your clothes off in the woods!

 

[dommyracer]

A friend of mine says the secret to his success is the limpet shell that he uses as a bearing block

Has he set this in something (like a block of wood for example) or does he just use the shell on its own? I didn't think a limpet shell would be strong enough...

 

[JonnyP]

Has he set this in something (like a block of wood for example) or does he just use the shell on its own? I didn't think a limpet shell would be strong enough...

Bet it would warm up your hand pretty quick too.....

 

[Galemys]

Has he set this in something (like a block of wood for example) or does he just use the shell on its own? I didn't think a limpet shell would be strong enough...

They are strong enough but can heat up eventually. I think two on top of each other would reduce the built up of heat (but I only have one so I can't confirm this)

Tom