Bow Drill Fire starting

Lorun

Explorer
Apr 10, 2004
128
0
Woolwich
Has anyone ever tried successfully to start a fire using the primitive bow drill method? . I have tried several times and can get lots of smoke but that is about it.
 

woodjin

Piney
Nov 8, 2004
4,348
336
Near Mt. Misery
I've done it! It takes a lot of determination. What are you igniting with it? Cedar shavings or a birds nest tend to ignite quickly.

Jeff
 

Lorun

Explorer
Apr 10, 2004
128
0
Woolwich
I was trying to use a fireboard and spindle made from cedar. I just collected some dead willow hoping that would work better. For tinder at one time or another I used dried grass, unraveled hemp rope, and a birds nest.
The bird’s nest was mostly made out of the hemp rope since I leave scraps of it around the yard for the birds to use.

I am not sure but I think one of my problems is that the hardness of the fireboard and spindle are not the same. How long should it take to drill through the fireboard? Sometimes I seem to drill through before the friction builds up enough heat.
 
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