Great demonstration. Other spindles that work really well are teasel, mullein, and cattail. Although with those, I prefer to use cottonwood root, elderberry, yucca, or softer sage as a fireboard.
That was awesome! I've watched a bunch of videos on how to do that, and they just intimidated me. I really want to go out and learn to do that now. Going camping soon, I'll at least try it! Thank you.
Can you suggest me what can i use as spindle and baseboard? i have those types of woods in my country: acacia, poplar, birch, linden,willow, wicker, oak, beech, elder, cattail....lots of this i have try but work just elder as spindle and linden as baseboard(where am i wrong?).....thanks for your help!
@5tonyvvvv KBAR is not a term for a knife, it is a brand name. If he was using a Mora, becker or falkniven he would have referenced that particular brand. Maybe you shouldnt comment if you have nothing positive to say. You can always watch a different posting. May I suggest Sesame Street for you?
I wonder after watching some of your vids, what happens if you dont have the specific type of wood that you talk about or some ype of cutting tool? do you have any advice on that?
nicely done! Answers all my questions from the bow drill video.
Just a thought, you could video response related video's you make. For an example you could make this a video response to the bow drill, you could make the tender video a response to this video. That way people would see a related video and could click on it. Can only reply with one video to one video but it might work out...
Glad you are making these video's I am burning through tonight!
Do you have to press your hands together real hard in order to get the downward pressure or is just a matter of bearing down with your weight and strength of your arms and shoulders. I simply can't seem to get the pressure I need. I know about using the thumb cord and am going to try that too but I'd like to learn to do it with just my hands. Thanks for any tips you can offer and thanks for the vid.
Just stumbled on this (have survivalism as a category) This is probably about the most thorough explanation of how to hand-drill a fire I've ever watched, including stuff I've seen on the discovery channel. Well done and thanks.
I have always had luck using a softer wood for my fire board and a harder wood for my spindle, then again I usually use the bow drill method because it is faster! When you have a good set keep it, doesn't make sense to continuosly re-make your tools!!
@desertsurvivalist In my parts of AZ there isn't much cottonwood, but there is lots of sotol and soaptree yucca. These make great boards to pair with a seep willow drill. You can also think out a sotol or yucca stalk to make a drill, but it takes time and lots of knife work.
This is fantastic!! I need to learn the difference between the two yuccas. Wish that was here too. Could watch you all day. Also would have loved to seen the whole thing from start to finish, even the cottonwood part. You have done SUCH a good job here. Is the enber part of the cotton wood board?? Or did you put something under the hole to catch? I've not yet done this but have been reading a lot about it. When I lived in the jungle I never made fire. But I want to try this. Do you have a book?
Thank you! The ember is actually part of the fire board and the spindle, Mostly the fire board. The notch catches the heated dust that is created by the friction then ignites into an ember. I placed a piece of wood under the fire board to catch the ember and make it easier to transfer to the tinder bundle were it is them blown into a flame. It is one of the hardest fire by friction methods to master but the simplest to make.
You can attach a piece of cord to the top of the drill like a bowstring that loops over both hands so that you can keep constant downward pressure without having to constantly stop to bring your hands back up
The best thing I can say is experiment with what is available. Try using poplar and cattail spikes or milk weed with the poplar. It really is all about experimentation and seeing what does work and what you like.
Great demonstration. Other spindles that work really well are teasel, mullein, and cattail. Although with those, I prefer to use cottonwood root, elderberry, yucca, or softer sage as a fireboard.
duskrequiem0522 7 months ago
That was awesome! I've watched a bunch of videos on how to do that, and they just intimidated me. I really want to go out and learn to do that now. Going camping soon, I'll at least try it! Thank you.
nwtipton 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Can you suggest me what can i use as spindle and baseboard? i have those types of woods in my country: acacia, poplar, birch, linden,willow, wicker, oak, beech, elder, cattail....lots of this i have try but work just elder as spindle and linden as baseboard(where am i wrong?).....thanks for your help!
alraider100 10 months ago
when i try it
it takes like 7 years to smoke :D
But patience is the key ;)
kayra97 11 months ago
tom hanks would be so proud
shylildude 1 year ago
do you put some tinder at the bottom of the hole? Or is it just from saw dust breaking off as you use the hand drill???
mycaddigo 1 year ago
how do you make your round hole
mycaddigo 1 year ago
Comment removed
5tonyvvvv 1 year ago
@5tonyvvvv KBAR is not a term for a knife, it is a brand name. If he was using a Mora, becker or falkniven he would have referenced that particular brand. Maybe you shouldnt comment if you have nothing positive to say. You can always watch a different posting. May I suggest Sesame Street for you?
barbsluv 1 year ago
Comment removed
5tonyvvvv 1 year ago
I wonder after watching some of your vids, what happens if you dont have the specific type of wood that you talk about or some ype of cutting tool? do you have any advice on that?
ggglllllll 1 year ago
Good job! Simple and easy!
joshgabaldon 1 year ago
Thanks for sharing. I like to use cedar, but one can't argue with cottonwood. Keep the faith!
Ikefis 1 year ago
thanks
superdeath1997 2 years ago
nicely done! Answers all my questions from the bow drill video.
Just a thought, you could video response related video's you make. For an example you could make this a video response to the bow drill, you could make the tender video a response to this video. That way people would see a related video and could click on it. Can only reply with one video to one video but it might work out...
Glad you are making these video's I am burning through tonight!
JimboJitsu 2 years ago
Freakin' AWESOME!! You are the man John!! Fire with only the tools you made in the wild! FANTASTIC!!
jeepnicc 2 years ago
@jeepnicc except a kbar
kream0247 2 years ago
Do you have to press your hands together real hard in order to get the downward pressure or is just a matter of bearing down with your weight and strength of your arms and shoulders. I simply can't seem to get the pressure I need. I know about using the thumb cord and am going to try that too but I'd like to learn to do it with just my hands. Thanks for any tips you can offer and thanks for the vid.
scarz1951 2 years ago
Just stumbled on this (have survivalism as a category) This is probably about the most thorough explanation of how to hand-drill a fire I've ever watched, including stuff I've seen on the discovery channel. Well done and thanks.
ashthefreeman 2 years ago
I have always had luck using a softer wood for my fire board and a harder wood for my spindle, then again I usually use the bow drill method because it is faster! When you have a good set keep it, doesn't make sense to continuosly re-make your tools!!
jwilson004athotmail 2 years ago
yes! for the fireboard I have found cottonwood SO much easier here where I live (NW NM)........and so much more available here
MystSilverDragon 2 years ago 3
That is why love the southwest. It is no wounder so many aboriginal tribes flourished for long here.
desertsurvivalist 2 years ago
@desertsurvivalist In my parts of AZ there isn't much cottonwood, but there is lots of sotol and soaptree yucca. These make great boards to pair with a seep willow drill. You can also think out a sotol or yucca stalk to make a drill, but it takes time and lots of knife work.
MrVoiceofreason123 1 year ago
John..
Great tutorial! Should help many who are trying this method to get a coal. Good job!
BushcraftOnFire 2 years ago 2
This is fantastic!! I need to learn the difference between the two yuccas. Wish that was here too. Could watch you all day. Also would have loved to seen the whole thing from start to finish, even the cottonwood part. You have done SUCH a good job here. Is the enber part of the cotton wood board?? Or did you put something under the hole to catch? I've not yet done this but have been reading a lot about it. When I lived in the jungle I never made fire. But I want to try this. Do you have a book?
RainforestRobin 2 years ago 2
Thank you! The ember is actually part of the fire board and the spindle, Mostly the fire board. The notch catches the heated dust that is created by the friction then ignites into an ember. I placed a piece of wood under the fire board to catch the ember and make it easier to transfer to the tinder bundle were it is them blown into a flame. It is one of the hardest fire by friction methods to master but the simplest to make.
desertsurvivalist 2 years ago
You can attach a piece of cord to the top of the drill like a bowstring that loops over both hands so that you can keep constant downward pressure without having to constantly stop to bring your hands back up
Bulletproofshirts 2 years ago 2
I have read about that and seen pics of people using that method. I believe that is called the thong drill or something like that.
desertsurvivalist 2 years ago
@desertsurvivalist I find the loops more of a hinderance when I use yucca on cottonwood. My fav is yucca on yucca. Keep'em coming John!
Ikefis 1 year ago
Great to see it done.
What types of wood would you recommend for the different geographical zones in Texas?
Thanks.
debraitireland 2 years ago
The best thing I can say is experiment with what is available. Try using poplar and cattail spikes or milk weed with the poplar. It really is all about experimentation and seeing what does work and what you like.
desertsurvivalist 2 years ago
Nice video now you should make a video making the drill
cava002 2 years ago
Great Job ! You made it look easy .
pinkfloydmoon 2 years ago