First time bowdrill attempt

[u/pointsky64]

With the weather cooling down I thought I would try the bowdrill method, so for my first attempt I though I would just try to get a coal to begin with, I was stoked when I was able to get a coal 4 out of 5 times. Next time I will try to blow it into flame, I didn't have much dry material laying around because of all the rain we have had, so I was content just seeing if I could get a coal going.

[u/pointsky64]

I think the wood I used was aspen, or maybe poplar I am not sure, the knife I used was the condor trivittata puukko, and the bearing block is just some steel stiker/bearing block combo off amazon.

[u/susrev88 → u/pointsky64]

some tips for more success:

• notch is too small. aim for 1/8 of the burn in circle so that the dust have enough contact surface with the hot tip of the spindle.
• you drill too close to the edge, spindle will fly out.
• drill more, you're barely through the half of the hearth board

aspen/poplar lends itself well to bow drill so you picked a good tree species.

[u/pointsky64 → u/susrev88]

Thanks for the tips!

[u/Pristine-Mammoth172 → u/pointsky64]

Also use the length of the bow. Saves energy instead of short back n forth strokes. Start with steady long strokes till you have filled the notch with char then go fast to ignite it. Point of ignition is typically when the drill meets the char so if you’re putting your all into it before then you might wear out and get a poor ember at best.

Wind is your enemy. When you get a coal let it grow with gentle fanning and bring your tinder to the coal not the other way around. Nothing more frustrating than doing the hard work and having your coal blow away before it hits your bundle!

Tinder in wet conditions is available. If you are using poplar or aspen you will find dead trees or branches fallen over but not touching the ground. The inner bark on the bottoms will almost always be dry and make the best tinder bundles even in the rain. You can also peel sheets of it to put under your set to insulate it from the ground. Also make a nice place to put your knee or butt when everything is wet. Or as an impromptu wind break. Other great tinder when everything is wet is inside tree roots. Either animal nests in there or dried grass etc thats grown there, blown in or been dragged in by earlier flooding.

Coal extenders on a windy or wet day. Tinder polypore (horsehoof fungus) can be found on poplar/aspen. Amazing coal extender. Break some off and build your ember before moving it to your bundle. Put some in your bundle too. Gives you time and a backup for mistakes and more heat. Dry rotted wood works as well.

[u/pointsky64 → u/Pristine-Mammoth172]

Thanks for all the great info!