A Guide to Fire by Friction - Firebow/Bowdrill

Today I share with you some skills on using the fire-bow aka Bowdrill. This is a common Bushcraft challenge that people face and I would like to share with you what I think is important to remember in terms of technique and tips like the limpet shells as bearing blocks. I hope some of this helps you.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• firebow
• bowdrill
• fire
• bow
• drill
• set
• making
• lighting
• survival
• techniques
• NaturalBushcraft
• Bushcraft
• Natural
• wild
• camping
• ray
• mears
• demo
• demonstration

[asramsy1]

what woods do you use please as i keep failing and does it have to be dead thank you

[NaturalBushcraft]

@asramsy1 I must apologise, I misinterpreted your message before, forgive my rudeness! As far as woods, try using dead/dry Sycamore or Ivy wood works well for the hearth-board, when I say Ivy wood that is just a real big peice of ivy vine. All the best,

Ashley Cawley.

[TheDragonhuntr]

Welches Holz muss das untere sein? Das härtere oder das weichere?

Which wood should be the lower one? The harder or softer one?

[NaturalBushcraft]

@TheDragonhuntr About equal in hardness is fine, you don't need one harder than the other.

[Lambda25]

Something that really helped me: There are two stages, 1) Slow with hard pressure to make very nice dust 2) Very fast and sustained with medium/soft pressure to create lots of heat and smoke and hopefully an ember. With this tip I was able to make flame on my second day of trying and with my first (pretty amatuer) bowdrill set. As an aside, an icecream scoop makes an amazing bearing block haha.

[01liquidfires]

very cool video body

[asramsy1]

@NaturalBushcraft Thank you, not your fault. All the best to you too.

[NaturalBushcraft]

@scottiblasto Thanks for alerting my to my mistake! I shall apologise.

[scottiblasto]

@NaturalBushcraft I think he means what kind of wood, as in type. Not to tag along with you.

[CiaranRooney125]

Ashley just curious what was the spindle & harth made of? I've been trying to get an ember for the last week now, my hands are blistered and my shin destroyed xD I've been trying Sycamore on Pine, Hazel on Pine, Hazel on Sycamore, Sycamore on Hazel e.t.c Really would appreaciate if you could help me out with the correct woods, Thanks bud :)

[CiaranRooney125]

Very helpfull Ashley, Can't wait to give it a go this weekend!

[asramsy1]

@alraider100 true ill try it next time i go out and thank you again.

[alraider100]

@asramsy1

sometimes is "hard" to write an answer......use what i tell you and in max 30 sec you will have ember.

happy bushcraft :)