100% Primitive Pump Drill

Our 100% primitive pump drill was a fun project that was actually several months in the making. We went to summer camp in mid-June, 2023. I had harvested the dogbane and made the cordage we used in January, though. Around that time, I also cut the white ash sapling we used for the main shaft. Later we watched lots of videos, gathered materials and ultimately made the pine pitch glue during a campout in April. Everything else we gathered in the woods around our troop’s campsite at Camp Davy Crockett, TN. We did all of our construction and testing there too.

Mike is a great friend who always comes up with interesting challenges for us to pursue. I told him, though, that I dread the day when he says we have to make and use only stone tools. Regardless, I hope you had as much fun watching this video as we had making it. Despite the minor failure at the end, this project was a magnificent success that we’re mighty proud of.

Some tutorials on making pine pitch glue:

Ahi! Sua! Qul!

[meldeweese]

GREAT ! Thank You Mtn Mel & Molly Blue 😊

[gregelston]

Another great video!!! Thank you and Mike and anyone else involved. You guys are doing some great work. I like your sense of humor too. I watched your facial expression a couple times on “rabbit poo” and the glue. I’m so glad I found your channel.

[aksalaman]

Awesome job on the pump drill, one of the finer looking bushcraft drills I've seen.

[boggycreekbeast]

Excellent video, Brad! Finally got back from the trails. Watched it beginning to end...twice!! Lots of detail on materials and great camera angles as usual. Easily one of my favorites now 👍
Like that necklace!

[conservativesniperhunter]

Hello there friend, I have a challenge for you to try and see if you can get ignition using the Rudiger fire roll method and natural fibrous plant material found in your neck of the woods and dried crumbled up or powdered up animal scat or green plants .🌱 . Boggy Creek Beast Youtube channel has a couple of videos where he used dried natural fiberous plant material and deer 🦌 scat as a filler to get ignition using the Rudiger fire roll method between two flat stones. You could use a 3 or 4 inch log split in two or just roll it between two logs. David West Youtube channel has recently made a video using a green leaf 🍃 as a filler rolled into 100 percent cotton wool to get ignition. I hope that you give a go, good luck. Cheers 🍻