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Practice Hand drill (pics added)

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wstanley:
With the right material (and lots of practice) the spindle and hearth method is the absolute easiest IMO (especially in survival situations). The bow method requires you to have 4 items and the technique requires more energy as you are doing many different things at once (pushing down on the spindle, foots resting on the hearth, sawing motion back and forth with the bow, not to mention you gotta make sure your spindle doesn't come off the string). Too many steps for me, hahah.

One way to help with the spindle/hearth method is to add one more item. First cut a notch in the top end of the spindle, just like an arrow. Then take about a 1.5' of cordage/rope with loops on each end. Put your thumbs in each loop and the midpoint of the string in the nock of the spindle. This allows you to apply downward pressure while keeping your hands in place as you spin the drill.

I use elderberry spindle against a buckeye hearth and can have a coal in 30 seconds. Lots of practice and blistered palms to get there. Its not about brut strength. Focus, breathe, and yes you need to put a little elbow grease into it. If your not getting jet black dust, don't even waist your time you will never get a coal no matter how much smoke you create. 

Outbackbob48:
Brian, who would have ever thunk that fireroll would work so well. The tarp set up is my summer camp, I have spent probably a dozens nights in there so far, It has been a cold spring so far.

Wstanley, I used to use a notch and string to get more down pressure when I first started, then graduated to pinepitch on my spindle to get down pressure. This worked very well but would blister hands even better. I was at an event and saw a guy put on demo and he was using sifted hardwood ash on his hands to help with down pressure, I tried this and is now my favorite helper. When I first started handrills I thought it was that I needed more strength and power and my age was against me. I am 72 yrs old so strength and power are becoming harder to come by , Finally seen the right fire demo where the man stressed finesse and technique over brute force and my success with handrill fire greatly improved from that day. Like you said, if you don't have black dust and enough of it your not going to get a coal. Bob

BowEd:
I like it Bob.
Good demo too Brian.
Slick.

GlisGlis:

--- Quote --- I used to use a notch and string to get more down pressure when I first started
--- End quote ---

i never fell in love with notch and string even if apparently it's a great method
i found it limit my hands strokes and when the string is rolled up on the spindle it make harder to grip it
I may do it incorrectly tough

Outbackbob48:
Glis, not sure how your using string, put thumbs in loops and palms never touch string, I like wood ashes the best. Bob

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