Which willow

[hawsome34]

Hello all,

I'm a little confused, as to which willow everyone mentions to use as a hearth/spindlie for firelighting???

Does it matter which? Is it weeping willow or the willow commonly found in damp places which is usually coppised?

Shed some light on this for me folks,

 

[grumit]

white willow is the one you are looking for (salix alba) works well i have found for both spindle and harth

 

[Laurence Dell]

I would have thought that most types of willow would work with a bowdrill as long as the piece of wood used is dead and dry and not too soft/rotten. I cut some hearth boards from a dead goat willow the other day and am looking forward to trying them out.

 

[Infragreen]

Blf? Heh? What? What kind of willow???

I don't know. I just use twig the right thickness and length for a drill (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, 5-10 inches long with no shoots).

Googling the Danish name (Hoop willow/Båndpil/Bun peel), it should be Salix Viminalis.

Hope this'll help.

Happy twirling!

 

[bushtuckerman]

Never really thought to be specific! use whatever you can get your hands on, it should work pretty damn well.