Bow Drill Fire Made Easy! Tips From A Beginner Perspective For Friction Fire Success!

Bow Drill Fire Made Easy! Tips From A Beginner Perspective For Friction Fire Success!

Primitive fire skills are so much fun! Having the ability to use friction with a bow drill or a tiny spark from flint and steel to make an ember which can then be transferred to a tinder nest and blown into a flame is so amazing! It really builds your moral as a human being. After all, these are the ancient survival innovations & skills that separated our path of progression from that of all the other animals on earth.

The "Bow Drill Fire" seems a lot harder that it really is. If I had a bit more knowledge when I first tried I know I would have had success the first try.

Most important is to know which woods work the best, (some woods won't work at all) the experts I referred to both agreed that in Utah, USA the best combination is a sage spindle into a juniper board and to make my tinder nest with juniper bark. Do the research for the woods available in your area otherwise you may only get exercise without a campfire which isn't nearly as much fun.

[raytribble]

Love the video Steve… I am like a walking pyromaniac when it comes to fire starting tactics… I do love the bow drill. I make my own flint and steel (the steel from old files) and make char cloth here at the house. I have struck a ember in my “unloaded” flintlock pan and it works just as well.
But… I do carry a Bic lighter in my fire kit also… Daniel Boo e would have loved to have a Bic lighter back in the day… the folks would have been amazed by it. Lol

[richardflaherty]

Thank you! Ever since BOY SCOUTS, I have always wanted to be able to do that. This video has explained it and I believe I can now, at 69 years old, earn my merit badge!

[Stewbphoto]

I learned how to do this at a young age and I used this technique as a right of passage for my son into manhood so to speak. We did this on a week long hiking trip in New Mexico. He was so happy that he did it and I have seen a huge improvement to the way he acts and handles situations. I am very proud of him.

[donc.]

Very good instructional video. I really liked learning about the Dust component.

[chuckbodnar]

SAME HERE I WAS SO CAUGHT UP IN THE PROCESS I WAS BLOWING WITH YOU, TURNING MY HEAD FROM THE SMOKE AND JUST GOT SO EXCITED WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAME. GREAT VIDEO

[yacobshelelshaddai]

I watched a bunch of clips last night on how to start fire and then I quickly tried it the next day before sundown without the bow drill method though just my hands and probably not the greatest materials and it didn’t work which I expected but knew I needed to keep trying and experimenting but in the meantime I thought there needs to be more videos from a beginners person sharing what didn’t work as well as what did. This video covered a lot of that. Loved it. One of the better videos on the topic. Thanks so much for sharing. God bless and much love from Australia!

[mpiercealange]

Very good bow drill instruction. Im going to use this to explain the bow drill to my grandsons. Thank you.

[What_If_We_Tried]

Best bow drill tutorial on YouTube!! Thank-you...

[arturoverde]

That was great, easy to watch, follow, understand and therefore...learn

[pauledmonds]

I just Love the way you set up your hearth board, with one hole leading into another to collect the coal - Absolutely Brilliant idea!
You are the only person I've seen do this.

[joseramos-nczg]

after 2 years of following you i made my first purchase received Nono 3 days ago it's your passion to continuously teach us with this type of video can't wait to try making my own bow drill keep updating us!

[roccman]

That was very helpful. Spent the better part of the day trying to get a fire. First time. Frustrated. After seeing this...I'm gonna go after it again this week! Thanks!

[NJHeartHeart]

About to embark in my first bowdrill attempt (with a premade kit from an experienced bowdriller). Thanks for the tips!

[RViscara]

Steve you the man. Everything you said here is spot on. I also like how you teach things it's not from the perspective look at me I am a professional teacher and you are a newbie student. You are a humble guy. Although I have to say this one being in Utah or Idaho or maybe northern Arizona you already ahead of the game. Try some of this in the Pacific Northwest in the rain. Lol or the foggy coast of Santa Cruz up north. Keep up the great work we need more dads making hot chocolate and keeping the kids away from the tablets.

[rayhutfles]

Survival Lilly recommends using a roller blade wheel as a beginner's block which allows having a block with a built in ball bearing that still allows sufficient pressure. Thought that was a real advantage for learning.

[cq]

Nicely shown and explained. Having the juniper bark is sure a plus. Thanks for sharing.

[alphanumeric]

This is a great bow drill video. LOVE the close up. So many others fail to show what is really happening in the bundle. Thanks!

[DavidAlvarez-xymj]

You really explained your techniques very well. I’ve seen other videos on bow drill, your the first to teach the birds nest technique with the very fine dust in the center of your nest for the ember to land on. Two thumbs up bro. 👍👍

[malachihayes]

I absolutely loved the camera angle of you blowing it to flame. It looks just like being the one to blow it into flam yourself (as the viewer at home).

[Darignobullseye]

Yes that helped! THANK YOU!! I had not seen a better explanation than yours. All the detailed important parts that I would have messed up. I also had not seen the notches or bore into one hole after the other method. I think I like that one. THANK YOU!! I think when I try this for the first time I will be successful, as long as I stack my deck for my success.. Thanks again.