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stonearrow:
I need tips on making a bow drill work. I havnt been able to make a coal but i cam make alot of smoke

Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive:
Switch up materials for your fire board and spindle.  I like 2 soft woods best. When I hand drill I like cedar board and yucca or groundsel spindle.    I used a cedar board and a groundsel spindle to make about 6-8 fires over a period of weeks.  then all the sudden It just wouldn't coal anymore. I was really conditioned well and couldn't figure out why all the sudden it wouldn't coal anymore.  after several attempts I switched to a yucca spindle and had a huge coal in about 45 seconds.       also make sure the spindle spins PERFECTLY in the board.     what wood combinations are you working with now?

richardzane:
yucca is great but
around here it's scarce, I use a straight branch of box elder (dead on the tree but not rotten) makes a great spindle and can get a coal going in a minute
on a dry cedar board.

 lotta-smoke-no fire?
it could be the board or spindle is rotten? if so you generate heat but the down pressure of the stick simply pushes aside the rotten fibers
and so it doesn't create the finest dark brown powdered sawdust that you need to catch in the notch.
or:
it could be there is too much pitch in the board or the stick...does it squeak? or give the spindle a shiny black tip ? if so, too much pitch.
or:
it could also be the notch is not UNDERCUT enough and that the spindle twirling the sawdust is just pushing it all away from the hot spot.
i guess there are lots of things that could be the problem but keep trying different things and you'll get it.

Even when it seems to be smoking like crazy keep bowing for another 20 seconds.
when the coal gets to burning , you can easily take your time gather materials get the nest together and it'll be fine just siting there.

stonearrow:
I have used ash, maple and oak for the spindle and ash,maple,pine,ceder,pawpaw and pine for the hearth board. I can make a large amount of smoke a a fluffy dark brown to black powder but a coal just wont form

Outbackbob48:
Stone arrow, Ash ,maple and oak are pretty hard material for spindle or hearth board. Try a pc of that pawpaw for both spindle an hearth. You need to use woods that are soft enough you can mark with your fingernail. I have used tulip poplar ,pawpaw, cottonwood, Yucca is excellent, mullen an even used sumac, also horeweed will work. Good Luck  ;DLater Bob

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