View Full Version : Bow drill - Kochanski style
In Bush Craft, Mors Kochanski has diagrams of a bow drill where instead of cutting a notch in a board he uses a a forked stick and drills into the crotch (of the forked stick ... :roll: ). Anyone tried this method? He also has daigrams of the two-stick method and the hole-through - all interesting variations on the notched board theme.
I'll have to give it a go - probably using ivy or willow.
ditchfield
13-03-2004, 21:20
I received this book through the post yesterday along with: Nessmuk's 'Woodcraft and Camping'. Kephart's 'Camping and Woodcraft' and 'The Traditional Bowyers Bible part 1'. I noticed the techniques mentioned, very interesting. Its a great book, lots of innovative ideas that I've never seen before.
ChrisKavanaugh
14-03-2004, 18:09
I tried it after reading his wonderfull book. I think once an individual has mastered that first miracle of a glowing ember different methods are just neat variations. What Kochanski shows subtly, if that was even his intent; is that survival/bushcraft is not a set piece. I've seen folks learn friction firemaking with store bought cedar fence panels for the baseboard. A few talented ( or lucky :-x ) individuals managed fire remarkably quickly. Those same people later went out in the real world and were totally lost. Nature just doesn't give us nice flat cedar panels. Once a skill is mastered, people should practise with the worst materials. Anything you do after that; fire,shelter,wooden spoon will seem better and EASY.
Excellent point Chris ... I agree that all of Kotchanski's work seems well grounded in the real-world.
Andrew Middleton
16-03-2004, 09:22
I have had a couple of attempts at using a bow drill, without success. I am using lime wood, which apparently is a good wood to use. However, my main problem is the cord: I can't figure out is what cord to use that doesn't stretch of move unevenly. Can anyone offer any advice?
Thanks
Andrew
Leather or paracord seem the best choice, with natural stuff being better than man-made.
Hope this helps!
Make sure its good quality para cord and not the cheap stuff which wears/frays thin and snaps quite quickly when used for a fire drill ;-)
:-)
Ed
Orindeed while doing anything else for that matter. :shock:
Make sure its good quality para cord and not the cheap stuff which wears/frays thin and snaps quite quickly when used for a fire drill ;-)
:-)
Ed
Or indeed while doing anything else for that matter. :shock:
Make sure its good quality para cord and not the cheap stuff which wears/frays thin and snaps quite quickly when used for a fire drill ;-)
:-)
Ed
i seem to remeber reading that lawnmower starter cord is the most long lasting of the synthetic cords.
cheers, and.
I would have never thought of that ... thanks!