Cotton wood works very well when Its sun dried completely or aged . Make all your tools from the same branch. Keep the bow at about the length of your arm. Make sure your spindle is as straight as possible. Antler or bone can make a good bearing block. The dried stalks of the yucca plant work great for a spindle bc you dont have to push quite as hard. If you cant leave a thumb nail imprint in the wood your using then Its probably too dense. Keep all your materials dry & in your pack to prevent moisture saturation. If your injured, stressed or exhausted from a trauma related survival scenario, the fire plow or fire roll method might be a better option. Cotton like material rubbed in wood ash will ignite much quicker with friction between two flat boards. Have your tinder bundle ready in advance & all your fire lay materials on hand at arms reach. With every friction fire you have success with will boost your confidence in the skillset. Thanks for sharing your experience. Enjoy the outdoors!
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
Excellent commentary 👊
@MaximusArurealius22 күн бұрын
I agree.
@Vikingwerk15 күн бұрын
Finally, someone who references the materials i actually have in my area!
@Level3Readiness15 күн бұрын
@@Vikingwerk that's what community is for! I know I glean a lot from others, through these guys Ive recently learned I have three candidates for hand drill spindles, whoo hoo! Good luck in your ventures brother 👊
@user-dw1jp7tp6i9 күн бұрын
@@Level3ReadinessTwo tips. Easy bearing block. Take a tea spoon and an old bolt and knock a divet into the spoon. You can leave the handle on and use it for lots of other stuff including a spoon or cut the handle off and wear it. Second instead of using a single cord double it, let's you use smaller cord too, I prefer a roll of bank line and just double and twist it if I need it thicker. Now for the line on the bow drill look at Felix Immler (the swiss army knife guy) bow drill you can watch it easier than I can explain it.
@qwadratix16 күн бұрын
What made the critical difference for me was wrapping the string twice around the drill. That reduced slippage and also tended to prevent 'spin out' where the wrap opens. Also wrapping the right direction is important because the bow is naturally inclined downwards and the wrap will tend to open on the forward stroke when it's wound one way rather than the other. As to materials, (I live in the UK ) I go for hazel every time. It's abundant wet and dry, and works well for all components. A piece of scrap tin or a bottlecap backed up by wood work well for the top bearing if you have it. Otherwise, pine lubricated with a crushed leaf works.
@Level3Readiness16 күн бұрын
No kidding, the double string wrap made a geat difference here too. I think its best to go that route, especially when just starting out with bow drill. Seasoned practitioners can make a lot of non-ideal methods work. Great idea using a bottle cap 👊 I'll have to try that some time! Thanks for sharing!
@CoperliteConsumerАй бұрын
Reason 1, you dont have one and are watching this inside with air conditioning on
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
🤣😂🤣
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
Wish I'd thought of that one 👍
@montybowlan974125 күн бұрын
Tru dat!
@xPumaFangx18 күн бұрын
See thats my issue right there.
@Level3Readiness18 күн бұрын
@@xPumaFangx honesty is underrated 👊
@PixelPals_1115 күн бұрын
That never gets old
@Level3Readiness15 күн бұрын
@@PixelPals_11 you got that right, as long as newcomers start the journey!
@danielww9022Ай бұрын
Well done, friend. S for technique, I would add that an improperly carved notch and applying too much downward pressure in the beginning are the two biggest reasons for failure.
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
Thanks! That could definitely make the list 👊
@TheSurviving24 күн бұрын
True mate, persistence pays off 💪
@Level3Readiness24 күн бұрын
Always 👊
@guythurmond2837Ай бұрын
It seems like if you had crumbled up some of your tinder it might have started quicker . But persistence pays off . Good job .
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
Thanks! I agree, will definitely keep that in mind next go round 👊
@adamripplinger603517 күн бұрын
I imagine using a longer bow can be a big help as well because you spend less energy switching directions to get the same heat generated. Also regarding the log technique, I think a basic thing you forgot about was simply which foot you put on the the fireboard and just make sure its the same side as your pressure hand
@Level3Readiness17 күн бұрын
Agreed! Very important point, get those reversed and instability will definitely ensue! Thanks for sharing that insight! As far as bow length, I've always gone with one about the distance of your elbow to your stretched out middle finger, I can see a couple of added inches. Are you talking about more length that that?
@JackyHeijmans6 күн бұрын
@@Level3Readiness I would love to see you try all the things mentioned here in the comments. I will subscribe, I want to learn as much as possible, since we all live in different environments, and may have to use different materials and ways to get things done. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and knowledge, I highly appreciate! ❤
@Level3Readiness6 күн бұрын
@@JackyHeijmans of course, you are most welcome, wishing you the best in your efforts and endeavors 👍
@davey7452Ай бұрын
Recommend dry fluffy plant material - old mans beard, cat tail, cotton wood pods, etc.
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
Great materials indeed!!!
@nifernarkАй бұрын
Perfect timing!;)
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
Impeccable I'd say 😂
@RobertssurvivalsystemsАй бұрын
Good information , thank you for getting that out there!
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
Most welcome, I always feel there's not enough time to neatly package the info, hopefully it inspires others to get outside and try out some of the knowledge we share. Thanks again for the support 👊
@LegionTacticoolCutleryАй бұрын
Good info thank you.
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
Thanks! Looking back there's hours worth of advice I left out, That's why community is so important, specifics can be hashed out!
@LegionTacticoolCutleryАй бұрын
Wouldn’t a tinder bundle been a better choice as fuel?
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
Absolutely, I got that ember and was going to leave it at that, and then I got the urge to bring it to a flame and just grabbed what was laying near by... But Yes! Had I planned better I'd have had a tinder bundles in waiting! Great observation 👊
@LegionTacticoolCutleryАй бұрын
One skill i need to learn.
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
Great one to have indeed! Its attainable 👊
@phillipbingham48729 күн бұрын
good job friend
@Level3Readiness29 күн бұрын
Thanks! Much appreciated 👊
@erikhoff5010Ай бұрын
Two words: Flint, Steel.
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
🤣😂🤣 flint & steel have saved my outing on more than one occasion 👍
@joelstanhope7231Ай бұрын
Using lint from dryer filter kept in a plastic bag works well for starter material
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
I've had no luck storing in plastic bags, with temp changes I end up with moisture in the bag. Do you ever have that issue??? Curious if you're doing something different from me 🤔
@joelstanhope7231Ай бұрын
@@Level3Readiness moisture gets in the bag from the air , so be sure to use air tight bag like ziplock
@workhardplayhard801Ай бұрын
I used a dead hemlock top for drill and base for burn in board (split out of the center 10- 12 " long my bow was shaped like a lightning bolt with paracord a boot lace will suffice. If your boot laces suck switch em out for paracord I recommend doubled over so you have twice as much . Don't want a long drill.no more than 10" / use talo or pine pitch on the point (upper end) as a lubricant / after burn in and at the start of every use , you should blunt the bottom of drill so it resembles a new pencil eraser this will create most friction and give best results. I learned how to make & use a fire drill from a native micmac resident here in Maine , I have been lucky I guess because I have produced fire with out fail every time several dozen times. It has never not worked. Prep and practice are your friends.
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
Too cool! Great that you got to learn from a master of friction fire 👊
@aaftiyoDkcdicurak18 күн бұрын
I found a long bow let's you get more revolutions per stroke and requires less effort.
@Level3Readiness18 күн бұрын
@@aaftiyoDkcdicurak I think there is an optimum length, usually suggested to go as long as the length of your elbow to tip of the middle finger, I could see adding a few inches. Are you talking longer than what I just mentioned?
@jeffg468620 күн бұрын
How are maple and birch for this? "It does come if you don't quit" --- if you don't wear out your arms too much. I wonder if pine pitch (powdered) would help it get started better. Just a little bit mixed in with the tender (what a weird word - I can never remember it..., or spell it apparently). I think you need to work out the tinder more. I've seen them catch must faster. btw, I came across something that said that birch bark makes great tinder.
@Level3Readiness20 күн бұрын
I've had good success with birch! It needs to be of certain age and dried out, I find it often in this condition on the woodland floor. Maple, imo, is tough, Ive gotten it but It wouldn't be my first choice. 😂 Tinder, yeah funny when you listen to it. Oh yeah as far as my tinder went, it was paper birch bark, I didn't process it very well though as you can see how long it took! Thanks for the input 👊
@jeffg468620 күн бұрын
@@Level3Readiness - thanks
@Level3Readiness20 күн бұрын
@@jeffg4686 anytime 👍
@MaximusArurealius22 күн бұрын
What the heck are you piling on top of your burning ember? Put the ember in a bird's nest of materials.
@Level3Readiness22 күн бұрын
🤣😂🤣 admittedly the flame was an after thought, I grabbed some paper birch bark and just wanted to see if I could get ignition... I did 😂 so there you have it ... I'm rolling here 👊
@lukecollyer22 күн бұрын
Reason 6 - you’re using Sweet Chestnut
@Level3Readiness22 күн бұрын
Tell it 😂
@joshuanorthey20263 күн бұрын
Are reasons 1-4 you wood is too wet?
@Level3Readiness3 күн бұрын
Definitely could effect the outcome, huh!?!? But barring a torrential downpour and saturated materials, its possible to dry as you bow. That's where entrance plays a major role 👍
@JohnhanddrillАй бұрын
Lmao what u doing Michael
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
🤣😂🤣 happy to be the source of laughter 👊
@NelsonZAPTMАй бұрын
So your drill is sft wood and the base is hard?
@Level3ReadinessАй бұрын
You're on it 👊 materials were my undoing in 2021, along with my bowing technique, the persistence and growing endurance as well as successful examples lead me to my own success in bow drill.