Bow Drill Pointers

Short video showing some pointers for the bow drill for Medicjimr aka PAWoodsman on BCUSA.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Bushcraft
• Bushcrafting
• Survival
• Woodland
• Camp
• Summer
• Camping
• Woods
• axe
• knife
• saw
• hammock
• walking
• hiking
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• fire
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• Sticks
• Woodsman
• Mallet
• NW
• Buck
• Saw
• Fire
• Flint
• Steel
• Piston
• Father
• Son
• Bow
• Drill
• Pointers

[vjanda1]

If you carry your spindle and board with you isn't it easier to just carry a firesteel as it's much smaller and lighter?

I have trouble making the spindle/board in the woods :(

Thx

[maveraver]

@vjanda1 proably true, but it's nice to practice skills

[MysteryMan159]

great tips, number one tip i think is the part about DONT GO FAST AT FIRST i can't believe how fast i got it once i learned that, also being picky about your spindle helps a bundle too, a straight spindle makes this a LOT easier

[maveraver]

@MysteryMan159 - exactly that, start slow and warm the set up before going for an ember

[foxbat88fx]

Very good and usable video! :) Greetings from Hungary.

[maveraver]

@foxbat88fx glad you found it of use

[Balgore8]

how important is the type of wood? Willow isnt really abundant in my area...

[pigsnuck]

Also, that squeak you hear is coming from the hearth board, and means your hole is deeper than necessary. You can widen the top part of the hole in the hearth board which is causing the squeak so that your spindle is only touching the bottom of the hole, not the sides. This reduces friction and effort.

[pigsnuck]

I find black sawdust means you are pressing too hard or spinning too fast, which makes it harder to get an ember. If the pieces of sawdust are big, you are probably pressing too hard. If the pieces are very powdering black, you are bowing too fast. The sawdust should be dark brown, not black.

[kdoubleg]

I was bored one day and attempted this with random junk I found on the beach. My first attempt ever and I almost had it. I ended up tiring myself out and gave up. Later on I realized I forgot to notch the bottom piece. Felt quite stupid. Haven't tried it since but I quite want to just to say I can do it. I also plan to start building a fire piston tomorrow. They sort of fascinate me.