Bow Dril using Oak

Bow drill friction fire method using Oak (Yes, Oak) for both the spindle & fireboard. For the heck of it I was curious to see if I could do it using Oak. For those who don't know, Oak is thought to be one of the worst wood choices for making fires using the friction fire method.

The spindle is actually a left over piece from the bow itself made from a Live Oak tree branch (commonly found in Florida). That's why it's kinda short. The fireboard is from a downed sapling I found. I believe it's also a Live Oak tree as I found it in an area that was all Oak trees.

Surprisingly, it worked (successful) and it wasn't as hard as I expected. I'm guessing it's because I used a young sapling and an Oak branch (not as hard as heartwood). Oddly enough, I used Yellow Pine as a hand-hold bearing-block (a softer wood). Used 550 paracord for the bowstring.

The goal was only to get a coal (not start a fire).

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• friction
• fire
• bow
• drill
• bowdrill
• oak
• primitive
• survival
• bushcraft

[Snbkr]

i tried oak for so long b4 i knew it wasnt good to use and all i every got was a huge pile of dust but nvr an ember. its nice to see someone did it but i'll look for something else

[gundog5]

@Snbkr Yeah, Oak is not the best option. It's a tough wood to work with (fashioning the set) and it holds moisture in damp or humid environments (if made on the spot); A bad thing for friction fire making.

[tkx7]

I need some advise- I've been using eastern white pine for my board and drill. They are both very dry and I get smoke but all I get is a brown powder- not black like its supposed to be. I made sure to use hardwood for the handpiece and lubricated it. Any trick? Does thickness of spindle affect it? Should I be pushing down harder or focusing more on fastness? I feel like I go even faster than what you did

[gundog5]

@tkx7 My 1st guess is the wood may have resin/ sap in it. Try a Pine branch that has little or no resin. Make sure you have a sturdy bow with a decent bowstring to minimize slippage. You need good speed & downward pressure to get dark brown/ black dust. Bowstring slipping prevents applying good speed & pressure (to get darker dust).

Start off bowing easy so all moving parts are working smoothly. Don't rush, pace yourself. Gradually increase speed & pressure (balance speed & pressure by feel).

[gundog5]

@tkx7 Spindle diameter of 1/2" to 3/4" is generally ideal. No trick really. If spindle feels like it's spinning too easy it means there's little friction. As you bow, press down harder then you'll eventually feel the spindle bite into the fireboard (more friction). This will cause more heat between fireboard & spindle so they'll form-fit better with each other (or possibly overcome any existing gliss or caramelized wood that may have formed on previous attempts).

[MrEhud77]

So would a ceder board with an oak spindle be a good choice for a beginner?

[gundog5]

@MrEhud77 Probably not for a beginner. I'd go with Cedar on Cedar for starters. Once you get the hang of it then try other wood combinations. Oak is one of the harder woods to work with.

[stambo2001]

Yeah, oak is a bugger that I've not mastered yet either whether hand drilling or with a bow. I can get some black powder and some smoke easy enough but she's hard to get into an ember.

[kitsurubami]

awesome.

[sutrar]

I tried this wood combination independently prior to seeing this video. All attempts were successful, after having dried the oak pieces inside for a week I even got a coal in a weakened and painful state after a hernia operation with moderate effort (more was not possible). Excellent bow drill wood when dry enough, I am glad that someone found out the same.

[MrEhud77]

@gundog5 Thanks, I'll try that.