wood type

[Rhapsody]

I used birch on birch for a bowdrill today and produced a load of char dust, a load of smoke but no ember . I thought I was doing well when I got masses of smoke, but I must have been doing something wrong...

 

[tomtom]

What colour/texture was the dust you produced!

 

[Rhapsody]

It was very dark brown to the point of appearing black and was not too coarse, I don't think (I'm not too experienced at this :-\). It was such that it was sticking to the hearth board, but I'm not sure how well it was sticking to itself, though.

 

[tomtom]

you really want it to be a very fine jat black (well you really want it to be glowing)..

once you have a thick smoke and you think you have done enough.. keep going twice as long again!! :wave:

 

[leon-1]

It was very dark brown to the point of appearing black and was not too coarse, I don't think (I'm not too experienced at this :-\). It was such that it was sticking to the hearth board, but I'm not sure how well it was sticking to itself, though.

Rhapsody, at first I thought that you may have been using too much weight on the bearing block, but from the sounds of it tomtom could well be correct, maybe a little more bow speed and a little more time once you hit this stage and you will be there, good luck :biggthump

 

[Rhapsody]

Bloomin 'eck, my arms'll fall off!

I think I'll take Ed's advice and try different combinations, preferably ones that don't need arms like Arnie to work!

Thanks for the advice, tomtom.

[edit] leon, I may well have been using too much downwards pressure... heavy-handedness is usually my problem, haha! I'll keepthat in mind next time around.

Thanks for all the help, guys; you're all great!

 

[tomtom]

Bloomin 'eck, my arms'll fall off!

when you get to that stage you know your half way there :rolmao: