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Friction fire help
wstanley:
Probably putting too much elbow grease like bob 48 says - OR - Your heart board is too soft or drill too hard is my guess. I'm not familiar with horseweed, but I usually stay away from any woods that have pitch if your using pine. That's just my practices, not saying that those wood wouldn't work. You should be getting a few coals out of each "hearth" though. Humidity and elevation are big factors of course to consider.
Also, in my 6 years of using the drill method, if I don't see jet black dust piling up, I stop because I will NEVER get a coal. You can get smoke all day and never get a coal. For me it meant I was using material that was not at the proper moisture content.
I use elderberry drill with a buckeye hearth. Both materials for each tool works too. I find that just as each wood has dried out completely, that this is the best time to use these woods for fire making. Too dried out and the wood does not like to make a coal for some reason. I think the morphology of the wood changes and inhibits flow of oxygen??? Just a guess.
Ed Brooks:
--- Quote from: aaron on May 06, 2019, 01:47:53 pm ---Good advice above. I use hearths that are at least 3/4 thick
--- End quote ---
Aaron, what Woods do you use? Ive been playing and have been unsuccessfully so far. I’m in western Washington as well. Thank you. Ed
Outbackbob48:
I got a coal yesterday with a NY ironweed and white pine hearth, I have tried ironweed before but it was old and starting to deteriorate. I cut a green one and let dry a few days and worked a lot better. Still seems frail in structure compared to horseweed or mullein, Pith is super soft so ya get a divot each time. :( Bob
bownarra:
Elder for spindle and board :)
GlisGlis:
ever tried cane types as spindle?
I've used arundo donax with mixed results
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