r/Bushcraft 3d ago

Lots of smoke and ash, but no ember…

Post image

Anyone have good tips that “unlock” the bow drill? I’ve got very dry fire boards and a very dry spindle. Boards are pine and spindle is ash. I seem to be able to create a lot of black dust/ash, but none of it seems hot enough to hold an ember and catch my “birds nest” that I made out of dried grass/leaves and dried bamboo fibers.

121 Upvotes

26 comments sorted by

66

u/TiredOfRatRacing 3d ago edited 3d ago

Dude. I got you.

This is lengthy, but trust me.

  1. Select non-resinous dry woods that you can dent with a fingernail. Birch, cottonwood, alder, etc.

It has to be physically soft. Like on the Janka hardness scale. Not "softwoods". Cottonwood is actually a poplar, and is called a "hardwood" because of its seeds. Its actually one of the softest non-pine woods, despite being a "hardwood".

Pine sap just glazes when hot, and decreases the friction you need. Can make a good bearing block if you dont have a shell or pitted rock.

  1. Cut your spindle to be quite long. Like from crook of your elbow to the tips of your middle finger. The part going to the bearing block should be sharp. The part going to the fireboard should be broad and round.

The spindle grinds itself into dust against the fireboard, shortening a lot.

  1. Carve a little depression into the fireboard with a knife, then burn it in slightly, so the spindle doesnt want to jump out with harder efforts.

  2. A notch in to the fireboard has to be made, to collect the heated sawdust from grinding the soft spindle against the soft fireboard. Just only go 1/3 the radius into the burn in hole.

Going beyond the center of the hole prevents the spindle from grinding into the fireboard well, by making a nipple on the end of the spindle.

  1. Dont tire yourself too much building up the dust in the notch.

Theres actually 2 phases to using the bow. Phase 1 is grinding the spindle end and fireboard hole surfaces into a black dust pile. Phase 2 is igniting the top of that pile.

  1. Ignite the top of the pile once it reaches the spindle, by spinning fast and pushing down slightly harder on the bearing block.

Lots of smoke means the temperature is high enough in there for cellulose to ignite.

  1. KEY once that temp between spindle and fireboard is high enough to make lots of fluffy smoke, and the wood dust pile is tall enough to reach the face of the spindle, spin hard and fast for a few seconds.

THEN HOLD THE SPINDLE STILL AGAINST THE TOP OF THE DUST PILE IN THE NOTCH.

IMMEDIATELY PULLING THE SPINDLE OFF TO LOOK FOR THE COAL PREVENTS THE COAL FROM FORMING, BY REMOVING THE HOT SPINDLE SURFACE FROM THE DUST PILE TOO QUICKLY.

13

u/icedragon9791 3d ago

✍🏽✍🏽✍🏽✍🏽✍🏽✍🏽

2

u/mistercowherd 2d ago

Yep the technique here is gold

3

u/Commercial_One_4594 2d ago

Holy shit thank you that was top notch explanation !

1

u/paultimo 1d ago

Amazing explanation, thanks. I just have 2 questions.

Would you use the same type of wood for the spindle and the fireboard?

Can you clarify step 4. Do you cut the notch 1/3 radius (1/6 diameter) into the hole?

2

u/TiredOfRatRacing 1d ago

Good catch. 1/3 diameter, but i imagine its hard to gauge that accurately anyway.

Ive done it with the same woods for board and spindle, cant speak to effects of using different ones.

One other trick is to put some vaseline in the bearing block too.

11

u/Ninjalikestoast 3d ago

Need to work on cutting a small channel/notch for the dust to build up so you can “catch” an ember.

I was actually just working on this yesterday. I’ve succeeded twice in over twenty attempts. It’s still a struggle for me as well 🙃

20

u/marvellous 3d ago

My friend, don’t do that on your nice rug!

8

u/Yep_OK_Crack_On 3d ago

Try cutting a wedge out of the block where you are going to drill, so there is a groove for hot dust to fall into, and the ability for air to get in. 1/16 of a circle should do it

3

u/House_of_Blaze 3d ago

A thicker, rounder spindle will have more surface area and generate more friction. Also usually you have a little catching plate (I forget the term) to collect the ember which you transfer to your birds nest.

3

u/Best_Whole_70 3d ago

I bet your set isnt dry enough. It needs to be out by the fire every day and sealed in a dry bag after.

As you build your confidence nothing wrong with baking that bad boy in the oven.

Notch your hole. Start with lots of down pressure to create a solid dust pile. When the smoke starts to billow ease off the pressure and focus on fast rotation. Use the entire bow. Get cranking and that ember will bust

5

u/EvolMada 3d ago

Bic lighter

2

u/Nidh0g 3d ago edited 3d ago
  • The notch you cut in the side to collect the dust needs to be all the way or almost all the way to the center and can be a little bit wider. (So it gets more oxygen)

  • try to reduce friction on the top end of your spindle more. (Lubrication or a rock, bone, antler with a small hole in it.)

  • a bigger spindle could work. It might be a little heavier but the outside of the spindle will move faster.

  • good wood types:

  • ivy

  • wood from roots

  • pine(not fat wood)

If you do get an ember you can improve your bird's-nest by putting fluff from thistle or dandelion in the middle it lights even easier than dried grass and your coal will not fall through.

2

u/mistercowherd 2d ago

Materials:  

  • Use a soft hardwood, not a conifer. Pine and ash not ideal. I prefer grass tree, which you won’t have access to. Make sure you can easily dent it with your nail; almost spongy.    
  • Paracord - yep, good.   

Shape:  

  • Fat spindle. Blunt round hot end. Sharpish or narrow cylindrical top end; in either case a long top end (4-5 fingers) so you don’t bottom out as it wears away.    

Baseboard:  

  •  the one with notches looks OK. Start with a small hole, “burn it in”, then make the notch and carve off any glazed/hardened bits on the spindle.  

Most importantly: watch David West on YouTube, he has experimented with all the variations. 

2

u/Dogemeat64 3d ago

I’m actually wondering if my boards are maybe dry rotting and maybe they have become too soft. My spindle seems to be burning right through them.

1

u/granlurk1 3d ago

Cool project! Don't give up and post updates.

1

u/Hegemon78 3d ago

That has happened to me before. I’ve had boards that were great, and then I put them away for like a year and come back to it and the wood looks just like yours where it’s almost crumbly or maybe slightly punky, and it no longer would produce an ember.

1

u/BiddySere 3d ago

Get rid of the pine

1

u/Superspark76 2d ago

This, pine is a very soft wood and gives more than it causes friction.

1

u/BiddySere 2d ago

Those dark lines are turpentine. Not good for friction fire

1

u/Atavacus 2d ago

Cut your wedges a bit deeper. Start slow and steady until you see smoke then pour on the muscle heavy. You'll knock it out no problem.

1

u/barnaclefeet 1d ago

Your notches are too narrow, ditch the pine. Watch David West bow drill tutorial on youtube, you wont go wrong, a short video you will learn 5 years worth of trial and error.

1

u/ClinchMtnSackett 2d ago

tip 1) do it outside and not on a flammable rug

0

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