Quick & Easy Natural Cordage for Bow Drill

While the ability to make high quality cordage is a skill worth learning, you don't necessarily have to master reverse-wraps and braiding to be able to use natural cordage for a bow drill.

Some materials will work with minimal processing. Roots are a great example of this. Lately I have been playing with willow bark and have found that by simply twisting two or three strands together on the bow, it is strong enough to work without the time consuming step of processing it into proper cordage.

This time I took an extra couple of minutes to separate the inner bark from the outer for extra flexibility. I have been successful in skipping this step, but it is probably worth taking a little extra time to ensure your success.

I have seen this method demonstrated with a single strand of bark, but I have had much better luck breaking the bark down into two or three thinner strands and twisting together.

When placing the spindle in the cordage, you can choose to wrap it as many times as you like. I initially went for a double wrap on the burn-in, but because I didn't experience any slipping, switched to a single wrap for the actual ember.

Many barks are especially flexible this time of year, so this may be an option with other species in your area. Be sure to experiment at different times of year, as the properties of these materials change through the seasons.

Materials Used...

Bow Drill Cordage: Willow Inner Bark

Bow Drill Set, Tinder Bundle, Kindling: Western Red Cedar Driftwood

Bearing Block: Driftwood fatwood

Knife: Ontario RD7

Music....

NOWË - Horizon

Luca Stricagnoli - Last of the Mohicans Theme

[MrZluvuever]

This may be the single most important short video on friction fire 🔥 ever!

[Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

Great info. I sometimes just use the willow bark as is, just as it comes off the tree. I trim the bark width to around 5/8th inch wide and leave the outer bark on it. I don't even twist it but just wrap it around the spindle a couple times. I have done this with the Eskimo strap drill but it ought to work the same way as bow and drill cordage as well.

[fire_x_friction]

Dog has gotten older and looks like he has filled in nicely. Great instruction!

[hoagyfire]

I can’t believe how time flies… I’m in and out on my fire building… still mostly do hand drill but been doing some bow drill too, the fatwood as a bearing block is great ! I went through a phase of collecting fatwood and my grandkids love using my fero rods to help me start fires. Hope you are doing well…

[branni]

I tried many times with the bark on and the green just turned the drill into a polished spindle. All my cords broke but only because i tied it at both guys have got this sussed out. I cant do bowdrill no more but this is great to see.

[Finn-uzfv]

Damn, impressive how u made that fire in the rain.
Thanks for sharing this. Love your videos please keep it up like this.

[CarolinaChrisOutdoors]

Nicely I enjoyed that a lot. Very cool.

[PJ_Grateful]

Great editing and great tutorial!👍 That's my next goal to make natural cordage 👊😀👍 Cheers Bart

[bushcraftsurvivalslovenia]

very nice and and useful information. I have a lot of willow around so I think this will work nice.

[pacificbushcraftandfirecra]

Well... Lonnie answered my question about weather or not you, have, to twist or braid it for strength.
I was thinking it could be used straight up if ya get a long enough piece. But even with just twisting,
this is right up my alley for easy cordage. Excellent fire Brother... Lupo was all about the star shot at the end...lol

[bushcraftnorthof]

Nicely done! Seems to have held together well.

[susquehannocksurvival]

3:12 LOL, that's what I think of rain too.

[DonnaConrady]

Hi Primate, you should be teaching these beautiful skills to the younger generations i.e Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts/Campfire Girls (if you don't already :)
'Girl in the Woods' uses a combo of cedar inner bark and spruce resin as a flame initiator to spark off of her ferro. I wonder if fresh spruce sap could somehow be smeared onto the bore hole area or shavings to facilitate the coal to catch?
What do you think . . .

[tarasb.ukrainian]

Nice! I'm surprised the simple twist cordage held up...I just think it's all NW primal skill in action

[davidharvey]

Another great video, thanks, Would this be possible in winter when sap not rising?

[brianferris]

You sure you didn't live in a past life as trapper in 1850-? Lol you are a natural at woods skills I'll get my bow drill practice to.

[gustavocassiano]

Parabéns pelo os seus vídeos!!
Muito interativo e didático para se fazer o 🔥 primitivo!!
👏🏻👏🏻🔥🔥👍👍🤝🤝🦅🦅

[greenjackl]

Wondering if this would work with nettle bark.

[whatup]

Having a dryd chunk of what looks to be cedar carried in to make the vid makes all the difference doesnt it lol