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Hand Drill Positions

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Kegan:
I sit down when I do the hadn drill, but alot of people (including HIllbilly and Jamie) use the kneeling position. I dunno why, but I have troubel getting it to work. It's considered easier by alot of hand drillers, but is it really that much better (I assume it lets you use a wider variety of materials)? If so, any tips on how I could get it to work :P?

*So far I use either golden rod (1/4"-5/16") or mullien (3/8") bits on a 30" sourwood drill (it's about 11/32"). All on aspen fireboards about 5/16" thick.

Hillbilly:
The main advantage I see to kneeling is that you can put more of your body weight over the spindle to create downward pressure without having to push down as hard. Try getting right over the drill. In the end, whatever is most comfortable and works best for you is what works best for you-if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Have you tried horseweed? It seems to be the primo drill material that I've tried so far.

Justin Snyder:
Ergonomics....  Leverage is much better, and if you kneel on one knee the other foot can hold the hearth.  Well that and I can't sit down very good like that if I don't have something to lean back against.  :D Justin

ricktrojanowski:
I find it easiest to kneel on a piece of wood that holds down the hearth board.  This gets me over the spindle, but far enough away that I can get to the very bottom without feeling crowded.  I agree with hillbilly about the horseweed, I find that it is the easiest for me to get a coal with. Lately I've been using ERC and some local groing White Cedar.

Kegan:
I dunno if we have horseweed 'round here, but there are several stalk plants along some back roads that I have yet to identify. I have very little trouble getting it with the goldenrod and mullien we have on our property. It's just really easy and I'd like to be able to do it with harder materials, some of the more readily available stuff.

Justin- how you phrased that made me realice why I'm not getting it going kneeling- I'm leaning on my leg (the on that holds the fireboard), which gets my arms in the way :D. No wonder I keep having toruble ;D.

Hillbilly- I just wanna know more about playing with fire >:D!

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