An RX first...

[rangerxanatos]

Hey guys! Been a while since I've posted.

I got my first solo hand drill coal! I used mullein on white pine. I used unoriginal methods to get it, but we got to start with baby steps don't we. I used a piece of sting with thumb loops to keep a downward pressure on the spindle and to keep from having to remove my hands. The spindle started to split, so I ended up taping below the string to keep it from splitting even more. After some drilling, I got the coal!

What I learned:
Without the string, I wasn't getting enough downward pressure.
With the string, I had to clasps my hands together harder to spin the spindle.
It is very tiring on your arms.
So far, the bow drill seems to be the easiest way for me to make a friction fire.
I didn't get a blister, so I must have done something right.

[thywar]

Persistence is an asset. Good job

[tjwilhelm]

Two BIG Thumbs UP to your thumbs-down pressure on the spindle, RX!

[twicebitten]

Listen I've not tried it yet, seems a bit daunting. But I read somewhere that a guy used the wheel from a pair of inline skates for his downward pressure. Would that work, or carrying it defeat the purpose?

[rangerxanatos]

Feb 24, 2014 15:26:25 GMT -7 twicebitten said:

Listen I've not tried it yet, seems a bit daunting. But I read somewhere that a guy used the wheel from a pair of inline skates for his downward pressure. Would that work, or carrying it defeat the purpose?

You may be thinking of the bowdrill where there is a hand socket to place downward pressure. If so, then yes. Many people use the wheel bearings to have less friction on the top end when spinning the spindle. Less friction on the top means more friction and speed at the bottom.

If you are thinking of the hand drill, I have seen one video of a guy placing a socket of some sort in his mouth using that to keep a downward pressure, but that would scare the bejesus out of me if it slipped.