Hand drill fire - Teasel on Clematis

[addo]

Had a spot of fun lately trying out some new spindles and hearths for Hand Drill Friction Firelighting.

Great fun using the woods used and much easier a set up than ones I've been using. I need to practice on the more difficult set ups and in more challenging conditions to stay proficient, as this is a skill I intend to keep up. It's great to get away from the time needed to make natural cordage for the bow drill technique or relying on paracord.







Full write ups here http://woodsmancrafts.blogspot.co.uk...ls-to-try.html
and here http://woodsmancrafts.blogspot.co.uk...rill-fire.html

Addo

[hog]

Does the teasl grow in the UK, where abouts, near water or elsewhere ?

[addo]

Hi Hog,

Teasel grows on shrubby open ground, on the edge of woods and along field boundaries within the UK.
Without getting the books out, I'm not sure if there are areas in the UK that its less often seen or harder to establish. Goldfinches love to eat the seeds out of the brush like old flower heads.

Picture - http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?start...r:5,s:70,i:178

[lannyman8]

well done mate, good to see another with the same train of thought as me, but im just beginning and need to become proficient with the basic sets first...

[addo]

Cheers fella and well done on your recent success.
The two stage is definitely the way, much easier and even more important than when using it on the bow drill set.

[hog]

Thanks for the info, I spotted some of this growing in a neighbours garden with some dry stalks so will be begging some off him. Was it easy to get an ember ?

[addo]

Easy and hand drilling, aren't words that normally go together, but this combination has been the best for me so far. I'm sure with plenty of practice that other materials would work as well when both they and the operator are in good condition.

[hog]

Easy and hand drilling, aren't words that normally go together,

Have to agree totally, need to find some clematis and have a go, wonder if it will be as hard as Sycamore on Sycamore.

[mereside]

hi guys i am new to this and really want to try, i have loads of teasel at work so thats no bother but cant find any clematis. can i use ash for the hearth or is that no good,
exellent post by the way ,sorry for the hijack,atb wayne

[lannyman8]

teasel is a good spindle for me, poplar has been good for a hearth, but alder root elder and any fibrous woods should work well....

im not an expert and im sure there will be more advise soon...

[lannyman8]

Have to agree totally, need to find some clematis and have a go, wonder if it will be as hard as Sycamore on Sycamore.

sycamore will be to hard for this i think and not fibrous enough...

[rich59]

On teasel hand drill I agree it is a good one. It is my fastest to a coal drill material. On a practical note I find that only the bottom segment will produce a coal, and it only works well if completely dry.

On hearth boards - for hard woods you may need a narrower drill. If a board is too soft or even rotten then you need a much bigger diameter drill.

Someone mention sycamore on sycamore? Boy that sounds tricky. I'd tackle this by hollowing out the tip of the drill so you have a ring.

[mereside]

thanks alot for that, atb wayne
ps i will let you know how i get on

[addo]

ps i will let you know how i get on

Let us know how you do, and stay away from Ash as a hearth. Hard as nails when dry.
Cheers.

[ocean1975]

I have been trying a mullein drill on a clematis hearth.
So far I have got smoke but no ember.I have had success with the bow drill
with a sycamore hearth with a hazel drill.Must keep trying

[addo]

I've been playing with Mullein too. I managed to get some really long straight stems just the right thickness, but found the wall thickness was a bit too thin on most of the ones I gathered and tended to stick in the hearth, but I'm going to keep trying with it in case it was me that was the problem.
I also got plenty of smoke but only tiny embers up until they stuck.

Keep on trying, you'll get there eventually.