Teflon as a Bearing Block for Bow and Drill

[moa_shooter]

My favorite bearing block for bow and drill friction fire is made from Teflon. I had some left over from a telescope build and made these two up. The larger one is just held as is in the hand with the middle finger through the lanyard.

This one is a knife fob that is held as shown. The advantage of using Teflon is the nearly zero friction and the light weight.

 

[Kepis]

Good idea, what type of scope did you make?

 

[monkey boy]

That is a nice idea

 

[British Red]

Old skill meets hi tec.....like it...lets face it ancient peoples rarely fabricated their bow drills on the spot...they carried them...so its traditional in a way

 

[moa_shooter]

Good idea, what type of scope did you make?

It's an 8 inch F6 Dobsonian reflector made with baltic birch and maple. It's designed to be taken apart for travel.

More info here.

 

[Kepis]

It's an 8 inch F6 Dobsonian reflector made with baltic birch and maple. It's designed to be taken apart for travel.

More info here.

Now that is gorgeous, ive had my eye on a 12" Dobo for some time, just been reading your website, love the pic you have on there of Venus, you caught the phase really well

 

[RoadLessTraveled]

An astronomer too!? Very impressive Kevin. I like the photo of Saturn. You were able to see the space between the rings and the planet.

Have you ever built a rocket?

 

[Elines]

mmmm interesting - does the teflon wear well, and what shape do you cut the end of the spindle - pointed as per usual or more rounded to reduce wear?

 

[moa_shooter]

An astronomer too!? Very impressive Kevin. I like the photo of Saturn. You were able to see the space between the rings and the planet.

Have you ever built a rocket?

Thanks Chris, you'd be surprised how many hobbies I have , no rockets yet though.

mmmm interesting - does the teflon wear well, and what shape do you cut the end of the spindle - pointed as per usual or more rounded to reduce wear?

Yes, it does wear. The original divot in the larger block was drilled to approximately one third it's thickness and it is now about half way through. I've probably used it hundreds of times and it's still going strong. I'm guessing it would be good for at least a thousand uses. I cut the end of the spindle to a point which will round out a bit once it gets used.