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I am working on and trying to perfect fire with the bow drill I will be posting pictures and a video when I perfect my technique.
what is your primitive method of fire starting that you've perfected.
The methods i know of are bow drill, hand drill, fire plow , and fire thong .
The more experienced guys can chime in and correct me, but I think you want to make it from an already curved piece of 3/4"-1" hard wood that doesn't flex.
Make sure you that your twine isn't stretchy or too thick. (para chord works well)
When you attach the rope, be sure you leave some slack (not much) so you can loop around the drill.
Best way I found to make a bow is find a semi curved stick about 2½ to 3 feet long and have a little flex to it. Best wood I've found so far has been willow. Tie your string so you have little Slack after you wrap it around the drill if it is still too loose you can adjust tention with your fingers by squeezing your fingers tighter pulling the cord into the bow. I will try to get a video up in the next day or two on constructing the bow fire board and drill.
Been awhile but used a shorter bow 18"-2' keep string long enough to go around drill but short enough to hold tight under tension. Think the drill was hickory or oak and then would use the bottom block in a soft wood like pine or hemlock to really heat up and start to charcoal. If you have a little char cloth, tuck it in on the bottom. placement of the air notch and tinder to catch the spark is crucial in my experiences.
I also like flint and steel though it's very hard and takes lots of time. Got to say that's why I like my metal match.
I've never had luck with the magnifying glass. Maybe it was lack of patience or sufficient strong sun...either way a bust for me.
Not sure how primitive you consider it but the fine steel wool and 9v battery works great!
And as the non primitive...I luv me a bunch of little cheap Bics stuck everywhere... lol
What do you all use for tinder/ fire starter? I mean birch tree bark or hemlock twigs is nice but I luv dryer lint! I have my wife save it(when she remembers) when she dries the jeans and t-shirts during the winter. I also have a old small stash of char cloth.
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you!
I too LOVE the dryer lint. Almost every gear bag I own has a ziplock full of lint in it somewhere.
One note about using a fire steel. I see people all of the time that are trying to start their tinder with a fire steel, but instead of sparking the tinder pile, they knock it into the next county with the striker... Most of you probably already know this, but it works much better if you keep the striker stationary and poised over your tinder as you pull the steel back towards you.
Dryer lint catches a spark like crazy. Followed up with some birch bark and it's a no-fail. Birch bark will light even when wet due to the oils it contains.
For the fire bow drill You don't really need a "curved" stick for a bow, it just makes it a bit easier if you have not had a lot of practice. Dry mullein makes a great "drill" very soft and it turns to ash very quickly. Hardwood can be used for the "hand hold" but you may notice it will squeak loudly once the wood starts to heat up. Take your finger and wipe the oil from the side of your nose and apply it to where it meets the drill, it will quiet it long enough. Bone or a stone, with a carved divit works best in my opinion. Primitive fire starting is one of my favorite subjects. I have not started a fire with a match or a lighter in several years. It's just the common way to do it for me.
use shavings of birch or pine, and willow to make the bow. hard wood on the spindle oak works well. and softer wood for the drill and wood base. pine also works really well for those.
and a good piece of flint and a rock work extremely well with straw and birch shavings.
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