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Title says all. Just wondering how some people can do that....
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How to start a fire with sticks and a shoe lace?
- Thread starter idontknow312
- Start date
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- Nov 20, 2005
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- 19,385
... light the shoe lace with a match? 
Add the sticks after it gets going. Couldn't resist.
Add the sticks after it gets going. Couldn't resist.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2001
- Messages
- 2,101
Here are a couple pics from the WLC Basic Survival Course this past August. Marty, Bob and I were able to get 10 out of 12 students to get a coal. We used poplar for the hearth board and drill. One of the pics is from WAR (September Rendezvous).
Hope this helps visualize it.
Hope this helps visualize it.
on_the_edge
Gold Member
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- Jan 31, 2006
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- 11,706
Here are a couple pics from the WLC Basic Survival Course this past August. Marty, Bob and I were able to get 10 out of 12 students to get a coal. We used poplar for the hearth board and drill. One of the pics is from WAR (September Rendezvous).
Hope this helps visualize it.
I wonder how many people in the world can do that. You can bet it is not too many.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2001
- Messages
- 2,101
With just a little coaching, you would be amazed how many people can pick it up. During this course, I helped a 71 year old man in reasonable shape get a fire. From what I've noticed, while positively reinforcing instruction, common problems include:
-Not keeping the spindle as vertical as possible while drilling
-Too much or too little pressure downward on the bearing block
-Not using the full length of the bow
-Winding the drill inside of the bow (how many books show it this way when it is wrong?)
-Not making the notch large enough
-Attempting to catch a coal on damp ground
-Burning out too fast without warming up the board
-Carving a drill too fat or too skinny at both the top and bottom.
-Using the wrong woods
There are many variables that come into play with the bow drill. All of these that I've listed are easy to fix but it helps to have someone next to you to point out what you are doing right and wrong.
If anyone is ever in the CT area or interested in coming on any of the campouts I post, I'll be more than happy to walk you through it. I have a few bow drill sets kicking around from this past summer and would gladly pass one along to someone if finding the right wood is the problem. If I can get a coal out of the set, you should be able to as well.
Just let me know and we'll help you get fire.
-Not keeping the spindle as vertical as possible while drilling
-Too much or too little pressure downward on the bearing block
-Not using the full length of the bow
-Winding the drill inside of the bow (how many books show it this way when it is wrong?)
-Not making the notch large enough
-Attempting to catch a coal on damp ground
-Burning out too fast without warming up the board
-Carving a drill too fat or too skinny at both the top and bottom.
-Using the wrong woods
There are many variables that come into play with the bow drill. All of these that I've listed are easy to fix but it helps to have someone next to you to point out what you are doing right and wrong.
If anyone is ever in the CT area or interested in coming on any of the campouts I post, I'll be more than happy to walk you through it. I have a few bow drill sets kicking around from this past summer and would gladly pass one along to someone if finding the right wood is the problem. If I can get a coal out of the set, you should be able to as well.
Just let me know and we'll help you get fire.
Im one of the many that cant. Im working on being one of the few that can though. Im in Mississippi, I think my problem is finding the right wood and after looking at your pics i can see some mistakes i made. I had my string to tight and i was using pine for the base, spindle and every thing. Thanks for the photos. Any advice is always appreciated. I dont have a teacher so im having to learn survival on my own. Ill keep trying. Its became my mission in life. haha.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2001
- Messages
- 2,101
Segaman,
Pine will smoke like crazy but in general, resinous woods are not a good choice. I prefer Northern white cedar and poplar. Cut the drill and the hearth board out of the same wood. Remember the rule of thumb. Make your spindle as thick as your thumb and as long as the distance between your pinky and thumb when you make a "hang ten" hand gesture. Your hearth board should also be about as thick as your thumb. Make your bearing block a good hardwood and make sure your bow is long enough to keep the drill moving but not overly long to be too cumbersome.
If you still have trouble, give me a call. Just E-mail me and I'll reply to you with my cell. I should be able to talk you through it.
Kev
Pine will smoke like crazy but in general, resinous woods are not a good choice. I prefer Northern white cedar and poplar. Cut the drill and the hearth board out of the same wood. Remember the rule of thumb. Make your spindle as thick as your thumb and as long as the distance between your pinky and thumb when you make a "hang ten" hand gesture. Your hearth board should also be about as thick as your thumb. Make your bearing block a good hardwood and make sure your bow is long enough to keep the drill moving but not overly long to be too cumbersome.
If you still have trouble, give me a call. Just E-mail me and I'll reply to you with my cell. I should be able to talk you through it.
Kev