firebow

[michiel]

I've got a lot of willow and a piece of Ivy. They are all really dry. Is this a good combination for fire by friction, or should I consider another option? I've only got Ivy for a spindle. I don't have enough for a board.

Any help?

PS: fire by friction is hard work!

Michiel

[bloodline]

I have had good results using ivy for the hearth and hazel for the spindle.

[Bozle]

Both the willow and Ivy will be good for the hearth board.

Hazel would then be a popular choice but Ivy can be used for the drill (I've never tried myself though )

Best of luck Michiel

[Chay]

im trying fire by friction too with an ash spindle and a willow hearth board, is this any good for the job?

[Leon]

Hi Chay,
Welcome to BCUK!
Willow makes a great hearth board but you may find progress a little easier with a different spindle, say, hazel, willow, sycamore or lime for example.
I'm not going to say the ash spindle won't work because the condition of the wood used can often be more important than type. I've used an old, weathered piece of ash to make both hearth and spindle from in the past and obtaind a decent ember though it was hard work with a lot of screeching (some of which came from me )
It seems commonly accepted now that woods of equal hardness are best for a bow drill set to spread the wear. If that isn't possible then I believe the harder wood is preferable as the drill, though if too hard it will probably eat through the hearth too quickly without enough resistance to produce the heat for ignition. Ash is much harder than willow.
Try the ash/willow combinations a couple of times. If it seems like you're having no joy swap out the spindle for one of the other woods. Experimenting is half the fun
Cheers,
Dave

[Chay]

thanks for the advice Dave, im gonna go to my local forest and have a look for some more willow as soon as it stops raining.

[kb31]

i think dead standing sycmore makes the best bow sets
when it's got black lines runing through the wood
it won't last as long as green wood that's been dryed out
but will work right away
that's what i look for
black popers good as well (but i find it hard to i.d)

[Leon]

Hi Chay,
After posting about using ash as a spindle I happened across the old ash spindle I experimented with some time back. It's been sat in a drawer in my workshop for over a year (just a shade under 3/4 inch thick)! Anyway, I gave it a go with a willow hearth I've had for probably the same length of time. I have to say it worked better than expected!
There was an initial spell where the spindle and hearth started to 'polish' one another rather than abrading but after a quick rub on a bit of coarse sandpaper they produced a decent ember in pretty good time.
Just thought i'd come back and mention this in case you haven't managed to find any different spindle material what with all the recent rain. Worth giving the ash another shot, maybe!
Cheers,
Dave