Main Discussion Area > Primitive Skills
Friction Fire Discussion
PEARL DRUMS:
Yup, they work slick Ed. It makes the hand drill much easier and a bit less abuse to the arms and hands.
Outbackbob48:
I need to try that Ed. ;D
PEARL DRUMS:
That's not what I was thinking you meant, Ed. I did see that on one of my survival shows. Very cool.
wstanley:
Been using the hand drill method for a while now. I live in the Sierra Nevada's and I like to use elderberry drill and buckeye hearth. Using elderberry hearth/drill and buckeye with buckeye works good too.
First off practice and practice. Two things I look for: (1) the right sound; (2) dark black charcoal dust build up:
(1) there should be a sound of sandpaper on wood when your drilling. Sometimes the drill can get polished up from use. Scratch it up real good to get a good grip between hearth and drill.
(2) if your not seeing jet black shavings, STOP- your just wasting your time, you will not get an ember. Smoke will still be present, but no coal.
Also, its like playing a guitar at first. Expect blisters!
Outbackbob48:
wstanley, when I get that burnished polished look on my hearth or spindle I just put a little dry grit or wood ash in hole and next I hear and feel that sandpaper scratch sound that I,m looking for. I used to use pine pitch on hands but have now discovered nice dry wood ash works for down pressure grip and causes a lot less blister even under callous. You are right no black dust no coal. I try and get a coal 2 or 3 times a week just to keep my hands tuff, At 71 yrs old you know the rest of me is bad ass tuff ;D :o (=) Bob
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