Bowdrill that works for WEAKER people! 

If you want to get the bow drill done make the spindle small in diameter. But then you also need a bow which is flexible so that the paracord is always on tension. ►Get your APO-1S here: ➜ USA/Canada: bit.ly/3vfXPuS ➜ DE/Österreich/Schweiz: bit.ly/3pMlJ04 ➜ Europe: www.survivallilly.at

Bushcraft arms 💪

Speaking of shoe laces, I always replace my laces with paracord, that way I always have a couple pieces of 4 or 5 foot paracord with me.

I like the little shout-out to Corporals Corner. 💪

Lily, after my previous comments, I want to say, this is the most detailed and informative fire starting video beyond sparking videos. A really big thank you for this very real display!!!

I remember when you used to open by rappelling off a rock cliff into a rushing creek. Now you are teaching the use of a bow drill. Your instructions are thorough and complete. I especially liked the comment when discussing using your knife to hold the drill spindle, “If I don’t have my knife then we have a whole set of other problems.” Heh, heh…. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Thank you. Texas

Your arms are very strong these days. Looks like you have been working out.

Lilly, have you thought about adding a bearing into your knife handle design? I have never seen anybody do that, but it certainly would add a survival function to an already great knife.

Good info Lilly, we must always be prepared for the unexpected events

Thank you for sharing a video geared toward us with less physical strength. This gives me more confidence to try.

Ex British Army here love watching your stuff well done Lilly thank you for your efforts 👍👍

I believe this is the first video I've seen that has even mentioned a solution for those who are not all muscle. Very well done young lady. However, I was a little surprised you didn't mention options to lessen the friction if you're forced to use a rock or wood for your pivot point.

_good old physics will make a thinner spindle spin more times and quicker too. It's basically gearing_

Thank you Lilly, you saved me a lot of time, I would of had to learn the Hard way other wise.

Oooo, you shouted out the Corporal. You guys are my 2 favorite outdoors channels :=-D Great tutorial!

i love how your dog came to check on you after starting the fire XD

Lilly, great video, I'll try this. Thank you...

Best tutorial ever on how to make a bow drill. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks Lilly! I am working on bowdrill skills and this was so helpful! Now I can properly create a fire! Awesome job!

OUTSTANDING VIDEO!! Your teaching method is excellent & for the FIRST time, I understand how to do this. Can't wait to try it out.

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing. This is by far, the best tutorial on bowdrill I ever watched. Thanks again and congrats for the awesome job. You rock, Girl! 💪

Great tips. A few extras are to replace your boot laces with paracord. Also, a fresh piece of oak works well as a bearing block, or dead wood with pine resin to act as a lubricant. That said, I have researched the internet and can't find one instance in a real-life survival situation where a bow drill was successfully used. My reasoning is that if somebody has the presence of mind to go into the woods with a knife and bearing block handle, they likely know to carry a lighter with them as well, because they know how unreliable a bow drill fire can be. All of my key chains have a ferro rod, so there is always a more reliable means to make a fire. Knowing how to make a friction fire is a great skill to have, but is one of last resort.

Great demonstration, especially with the practical description of wood selection and how to avoid unnecessary fatigue. Making it easier is for everyone. There will be a bad, damp day when bowdrill will be very hard, so we all need to gain every advantage we can.

I love how you explain it all and don't just show the end result.

I just got one of her knives, and i can definitly say its a great product, and worth the money. I work outdoors as a landscaper and ive used all week, even dug a small hole with the knife, and its still sharp.

I absolutely love your content. Thank you Lilly!

You're probably my favorite survival youtuber. You're very small and most of these videos are done by husky/big boned men. It's cool. Cause I'm a tiny guy and I've learned so much from you. Thanks lily.

Lilly please stay dry and safe. I've been monitoring the floods in Austria.

I really appreciate your videos. I'm still big and strong but closing in on 60 years of age and I am preparing myself for old age by trying to find methods of performing tasks with far less effort. So when I watch you perform task you adapted in a way that allows you to perform with an excellent result. I think your knife is well thought out and hope to buy one soon.

Dog still looks around whenever Lilly speaks. "I just....wha.........who is she talking to?" 0:05

I’ve watched so many “man” bowdrill tutorials… and still this one showed me something new… very nice knowledge and energy 👏🏼👏🏼

Awww the puppy has gotten so big ❤️

🔥Too much power !! dear Lilly

Wow! THANK YOU. Yours is the only one I've found that addresses my wimpy abilities, and lets me know that it isn't a hopeless "dream" to be able to do for myself. Thanks again.

Super erklärt liebe Lilly! Tolle Techniken und sehr gut demonstriert! Das links, rechts gefällt mir außerordentlich gut! Viele Grüße Sepp

Hey Lily, That was the best description of how to start a bow drill fire that I have seen. Cheers from Juneau Alaska, Greg Chaney

Since you mentioned corporals corner, he usually recommend a spindle no bigger than your thumb. Probably for the same reason you stated. That was an awesome Tinder bundle you had! I enjoy watching your videos and have learned a lot from you.

Very informative video, thanks Lily

You’ve shared good and important info. Thank you!

Love the fingernail test tip.

Great instructional video Lilly. Thanks and well done.

A great informational video. Love seeing Amy, glad she is well again.

Great information! Mr West also recommends the smaller spindle, I'm working on it. Mostly I have a bunch of black walnut, pecan , ash and oak. Rather than bushcrafting I probably should take up fine wood working. 😃 Up north I have pine but it's always either sappy or punky. I have learned to identify Cottonwood but haven't found one I can access properly seasoned wood from yet. Other possible options for my area might be cedar and crepe myrtle. The search continues...

3:40 ish...the thicker the stick, the less rotations per stroke back and forth. Less rotations is less friction no matter a person's strength. Although Lily has proven the thicker the stick, you need to Rambo to hope to make it work. Meanwhile, more rotations per stroke is a big key. Because, the smaller the stick, it appears you get a much smaller weaker ember. Rotations per stroke sure seems a key. And she found the best balance.

Great educational video on bow drill using. Lilly I have pretty good luck with the wooden stems of the yucca plant. Nice job on explaining the differences between the woods and size of the drill. For my base I use cottonwood.

Great skill to have Lilly. Thank you for showing us how to. 👍😁

I just entered my seventies. Although all of us (or maybe I should just speak for myself) find things a bit more difficult as time goes on or that is the fact for me. I don't plan on stopping my outdoor activities any time soon. This is a very useful video for people that have to face harsh reality. Thanks Lily.

Thank you Lily, i will try it just for my outside fireplace....have a great weekend jou 2😍

Great explanation and demonstration ! I have tried to explain this to other people , but you have it down clear as a bell . Well done !

Lilly: So sorry to learn of the flooding around Salzburg. I hope it is not lasting very long, and that there is help for those who have lost homes, property, and loved ones.

I have watched a lot of fire drill tutorials but none as good and detailed as this. You went into so many finer details that others think we have assumed knowledge about. Love your realistic survival videos too, keep them up awesome job.

Excellent video. Really well explained with some great tips

This is by far the best video I’ve ever seen on the bow drill technique. I finally see where I was making mistakes.

2:28 *Corporal's Corner = Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rambo & a BEAR!*

Really enjoyed your video Lilly have a great weekend. 😉👍👍

Lily I’ve seen a lot of people in the past use the bow drill. But I’ve never heard anyone explain it so concisely as you have. What a great job. I tried bow drilling a couple of times. And failed. No one ever mentioned about cleaning the point with your knife to give it a fresh start. Also placing your knee up againstYour hand. To keep it steady. Also the longer stick for your bow drill seem to help immensely. But I did find it amusing that you put a hole in the handle of your knife. Where I live if you carried that knife on your hip everywhere you went just in case there was an emergency. I probably get arrested for it being over 3 1/2 inch blade. LOL 😃 people get very nervous today about stuff like that. When I was a kid you could carry a knife in your pocket at all times even in school. And no one blinked an Eye. That is not the story today. They would have the police at your school and you probably get suspended. Actually you would Get Suspended. Again great job with the demonstration. I wish I had the time to do what you do every day

Really enjoyed this, Lilly! Love the primal implications of being able to ‘create fire’…and your steps are superb! Several years ago I excitedly bought a bow drill off Amazon to show my daughter but never got the chance… Good job!

Great tutorial! I have used a bow drill for 30 plus years and unless it is super cold and I want a “fast fire” I start all my fires this way. I did make a special bearing block with a walnut section that fits my hand and a sealed bearing counter sunk and mounted in it. I keep this, short 10” fire board, 4” square leather pad to catch the ember and tinder in my fire bag and always in my pack along with flint and steel with char cloth I make. If I have dry wood handy, I will make a fire wood with my tomahawk or knife. I do build the occasional fire with a piece of wood for a bearing block, but just to stay in practice. Making fire goes back to the dawn of our species. Thank you for all the good videos.

Quick tip; yes, use soft wood for the fire board, but use a hard wood for the spindle. Works better.

Good stuff!!! I have medical problems that caused right sided weakness. Having skills and thought processes to help with that is always a good thing. Thank you!!!

I've changed my boots' laces to paracord, so that in an emergency I'll still have two 1.5m pieces of good string even if I forget or lose my bundle.

I think it is important to mention that when making the spindle, if you want more traction from the bow string to the spindle cut 4 flats on the spindle. Each corner of the flat's will grip the string better and reduce any slippage that may occur. This trick actually helped me to create fire using this bow drill method.

Hi Lilly, oh your are amazing and knowledgeable. Thank you for your teachings. Blessings

Very good demonstration! I'm almost 70 years old and I need to practice. Thank you!

This is a remarkable presentation Lily. Much Respect to you. Keep doing what you do because it is outstanding.

Awesome! I'll use these tips for when I teach my niece the bow drill. She is also very tiny.

Thanks Lilly for the info.

If the floor is reasonably dry, you can place the tinder right underneath the notch. That way you don't risk losing it or breaking it as you transfer it.

Good info, and cool to see your doggie again. Corporal Kelly is awesome at bowdrill. Love to watch him at it.

You made that look soooo easy!!! A lot of great tips, and very well done. Thanks for the demo

Lilly, this was the best bow drill video I've seen! (The next best on is from Connie & Lonnie from Up North Bushcraft.)

excellent bow drill article,.. Lilly. I am definitely going to practice bow drill fire starting this summer; you gave so many important technical points,.. thank you.

Reminder tip of the day one dowel rod of oak one block of white pine cut in half and another small piece of oak with small holes in it only quarter inch deep enough to insert one end of dowel rod which is the top side of oak dowel rod bottom of oak dowel rod goes onto white pine block the hole premade in oak block put small amount vaseline to lubricate so bow can turn dowel high speed works good practice heats up fast enough to make hot ember have your tinder ready you only have 6 seconds to fuel ember or start over

Survival tips: keep your knife handy, paracord on your person, laces in your shoes, find the right kind of sticks... and oh, keep a lighter in your pocket!

Very good info thanks for sharing.

Great as always. I realize how much work making videos is.

I hope you are safe from all of the flooding going on in the area!

Hello Lilly, for bowdrill cord i use always the inner bark from elm tree or from black locust they work the best. The best wood for bowtrill i think is bass wood. Gruß Felix

Great video Lilly!

When Lilly first started making her videos It seemed to me she was learning some things on the fly. After watching this video I believe Lilly has become an expert on making fire with the bow drill. She gave the best class I have seen on making a bow drill kit in my opinion. I think when Lilly is walking on a street in her home town and a stranger walks up with an unlit cigarette and says "Haben sie feur bitte? " she says " Ja " and takes her bow drill kit out of her pocket and in under a minute she has lit his cigarette.

And now I understand the details of how to properly use a bow drill. Thank you Lilly. ❤️👌 Furthermore, I had thought of it, and now I will be wrapping my APO 1S sheath with paracord.

Thank you for making this video. I will be using this method from now on. Keep up the wonderful videos please😁

I like the fact that you are always trying to share practical knowledge with people... very good lesson in the basics of the bow drill, you covered all the important parts as well as type of wood choice. great video!!

Wonderful to see you again my lady. Some hobbies do not have the luxury of simplicity related to the availability and production of materials (i.e. large regular & magnum rifle primers) The availability of raw material like willow, is convenient and available for use to outdoor hobbyists, trappers and hunters. Fortunately, my colleagues and I have been blessed with an abundance, including a preferred location where we can shoot at any distance safely, securely and at our own pace (usually a quick and productive pace!)

Good instructions Lilly, great to see Amy again :)

When watching Ray mears he uses a sharper point on the end that connects to the bearing block to reduce friction and uses leaves to act as a lubricant. Love the videos 👍

Great tips, This is one of the more thorough tutorials I’ve seen. 👍

Excellent video again Lilly, one of the best bow drill videos I've seen on RU-vid, simplified and to the point but with good detail that's often skipped over. Good idea with the knife handle btw! Thanks from London England 👍❤️💪😎🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I saw on another channel where he fed the ember powdery dried rotten wood. You never have to rush. You just feed the ember, blow on it a little until you have a large ember to work with. This seemed to work well. Thanks for sharing. Stay well and be safe.

Are you OK Lilly? I was just watching a video of the flooding in Germany and it said Austria was affected too. I really hope you are ok please take care ok-Mechelle

Not crushing the ember is vitally important as well! Great teaching video on this subject!

:50, your springer spaniel looks mighty thirsty. Your Thanks for the insight on making a bow fire starter.

Good information and demonstration. Thank you.

Excellent tutorial! Thanks for showing us how to do it! 👍

Completely agree with you. Ray M. taught us on large spindle with sycamore and after a week I still couldn't do it. He gave me his ivy one with the small spindle and I could do it. I then went and made one with willow and taught some boy scouts with it... and it worked! We used leaves and spit in the wood bearing block.

Some really good information on the bow drill. I got me some small rimmed ball bearings, 12mm outside with an 8mm hole, and inserted them into each knife, sunk the rim too to avoid hot spots. A smaller diameter of the spindle gives it more speed = more heat. Making the bow as long as your arm allows for long strokes = more heat, less effort. Paracord is quite slick, so it isn't the best choice. Polyester cord is much more grippy, bankline too, due to the tar, or cotton. Haven't tried it yet, but Felix Immler doesn't fix the second end to the bow, he puts a loop in the end and puts his thumb in. To tension the string he slides his hand back on the bow. Making the notch with a saw is a lot safer, the saw of Victorinox knifes is just perfect in size. Stay safe and take care

Thank you for this video! This is a very intimidating skill for me. Now I know a better way to try it! Kudos Lilly!!

Puppy : Mom !!! What are you stomping on ??? Let me save you !!!

Lilly ... just once I'd like to see you make a video on the Rudiger Roll technique. Do it with cotton balls and pour a little wood ash on the spread out cotton ball before rolling it up. It's a very easy and low effort technique for getting a viable ember to light a fire with. You only need a flat surface, like a flat rock to roll on and a piece of split log with a flat side to hold and use to roll the fire roll. Once you master the basic technique using cotton balls, you can expand to using jute twine fibers which are a little harder but closer to what you could find as natural fiber sources in nature. Yucca fibers separated and wadded up can be fire rolled. Besides wood ashes you can use rust scraped off of a rusty piece of metal as an "accelerant". The powder out of an expended hand warmer packet works well too. Mind you I've learned how to make a bow drill set as well ... the more ways you know how to make a fire the better. But the Rudiger Roll technique seems to require less prep and resources and less energy to get an ember, at least IMO.

Great information!