Bow drill - Kochanski style

[Adi007]

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]

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]

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.

[Adi007]

Excellent point Chris ... I agree that all of Kotchanski's work seems well grounded in the real-world.

[Andrew Middleton]

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

[Adi007]

Leather or paracord seem the best choice, with natural stuff being better than man-made.
Hope this helps!

[Ed]

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

[Adi007]

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

[Adi007]

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

[sargey]

i seem to remeber reading that lawnmower starter cord is the most long lasting of the synthetic cords.

cheers, and.

[Adi007]

I would have never thought of that ... thanks!