Complete Bow Drill for Beginners

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Music used with permission under Artlist Unlimited License Number - 660361 License owner - Joshua Enyart

0:00 Introduction
0:21 MATERIAL SELECTION
1:22 WILLOW
1:25 ASPEN
1:28 COTTONWOOD
1:31 BASSWOOD
1:47 HEARTWOOD
1:55 SAPWOOD
3:05 POT HANGER NOTCH (BAIL NOTCH)
3:30 SADDLE NOTCH
5:49 CORDAGE
8:11 COMPONENT 4: SPINDLE
9:21 HEARTH BOARD
10:01 CATCH PAN (WELCOME MAT)
10:11 THE BURN IN
10:52 CARVING THE DIVOT
12:03 LOADING THE BOW
13:19 BODY POSITION
14:45 STEP ONE: BURNING IN
15:08 PROPER BOWING TECHNIQUE
18:33 SQUEAKING IN THE SET
19:43 SCORING THE NOTCH
20:37 CARVING THE NOTCH
21:42 TOUCHING UP THE BEARING BLOCK
23:04 TOUCHING UP THE SPINDLE BOTTOM
23:24 HIGHTENING THE STRING
24:08 STEP TWO: FILLING THE NOTCH
27:32 THE CUES
27:40 RUNNING SMOOTH
28:54 ALOT OF SMOKE
29:48 STEP THREE: LIGHTING THE NOTCH

[GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

In the interest of keeping this thread organized for those who view and read the comments section and are hear to learn, please drop all contributions to the discussion that have anything to do with "why not just use a lighter" in this thread. Everyone already knows it is easier to just use a lighter. This is for folks who also know that its possible to not have a lighter 100% of the time. Thanks!

[MrByTheMile]

this is the best tutorial for a bow friction fire i have ever seen. I have watched so many over this past year and you have explained and demonstrated the mechanics and construction perfectly! thanks Green Beret!

[BudgetGunsandGearReviews]

The way you used that knife as a plane was something I'd never seen before. I'm gonna have to try that techinque. Thanks for showing it!

[fransbester]

Very good explanation man, I am 60 years old and I am going to build myself a bow drill kit, and practice the bow drill for the first time and try and make a fire in my back yard!

[randymarch]

Thank you for your service to our Great Nation!

[andrewfreeman]

You have a gift for explaining in detail without being winded.

[eugenioaraya]

This is the best lesson on Bow Drill Fire I've seen online. Very meticulous, very explicative, going deep into details of woods, carving, the mechanics of the bow, friction issues, and the process until fire is obtained.

[allanhall]

Awesome video! I feel like I have attended an outdoor seminar on primitive fire making techniques, not just a youtube vid I was really into it great job.

[rammhansen]

Thank you for the long, detailed, real life teaching video.

[sosteve]

Very good demonstration
Greetings from a Belgian bushcrafter

[daveagar]

Batoning off the deep YOU! i learned something new today.

[NormReitzel]

I find all this easier to -do- than to tlk about. Thank you for the careful explanaion.

[rustyshackleford]

A few days ago my 6 year old daughter asks me out of the blue to teach her to make a fire by rubbing 2 sticks together. Unfortunately I’ve never done this myself so where else would one go to but YT and the GBGB. Now it’s time to go for a hike and search for the necessary materials.

[NearlyNativeNursery]

Very good instructions. Thanks for sharing.

[miketaylor]

This is the most informative and useful video re: making and using a bow-drill set for firemaking on YouTube.
Thanks a ton.

[travisodr]

Found another gem. Thanks for the great videos

[WildWyatts]

That was the clearest tutorial I’ve seen. Thanks!

[ra]

Using a slug or some green leaves would help with reducing friction on that top bearing - having said that, this is probably the best bow drill video I've seen yet on YouTube! Keep up the great work mate! All the best from the UK

[HarleyBob]

Thanks for the tutorial. This is the best teaching tutorial I’ve seen yet. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Much appreciated.

[nightfury]

Best tutorial I've seen so far. Thanks for expending the energy time a knowledge to teach us this valuable knowledge/tool. It'll surely save lives. Thanks