Hand Drill Torubleshooting Tips

[Aussie123]

Lantana is my second choice of timber after Xanthorea. Much harder to get a dead straight length though, it always seems to be ever so slightly curved.

Great Tutorial by the way.

A bit of judicious whittling may straighten it out, but I know what you mean about lantana !

 

[Steve McFadden]

I know this is some time after the thread was posted but just to say thanks it's still very valuable. I had my first and second goes at producing fire with this method in the last week and had allready wondered about some of these things, (not all stalks are creatd equal) and was puzzling through the choices. For the record I was unsuccesful in creating anything but a polished surface but did manage to get my first blister of what I suspect will be many. However this information might save me a lot os sweat, swearing and pain.
Steve

 

[Aussie Forager CQ]

Hi Steve,

I agree mate, what Blake has written here is one of the better pieces of info on the hand drill out there. The blisters are worth it mate, you will not regret them!

 

[Zoob]

More tips re Xanthorrea Hand Drill .

Hi Steve,

I agree mate, what Blake has written here is one of the better pieces of info on the hand drill out there. The blisters are worth it mate, you will not regret them!

1 - Try putting Xanthorrea hearth board directly onto birds nest as ember is oxygenated as it falls.
2- Use flower end of stem for Hand drill.
3- Use ash on your hands for better grip (rather than spit)
Regards. Great Discussion.

 

[ChrisM]

Thanks for an awesome, informative post Blake!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[silver_capsicum]

Need to vent my frustrations! Three hours trying with the string over the top method, a heap of smoke and very sore hands but no ember... I'm using the tall fleabane weed which is rampant around here, and confirmed suitability with a battery drill (got a very nice ember in no time that way).

I'm giving that up for now, and go for a drive to get some balga (local Xanthorrhoea species) tomorrow. Probably will give the bow drill a go because my hands are cooked!

 

[Aussie123]

Give your hands a break - they will only get worse if you don't let them heal a bit.
Do a bit of bow drill for a while instead

 

[Leo J]

Love your article, I have never tried friction fire and super keen to try, my biggest issue was the selection of materials I was under the impression the drill needed to be harder than the baseboard. Super keen to give this a try.