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!
From one friction fire practitioner to another, I agree with this comment. While I'm all about being prepared I also appreciate the skills necessary to create fire from sourced material. Being too dependent on modern technology can be fallible. Please, continue to make quality videos and ignore the trolls.
The Gray Bearded Green Beret I really would love to take a good survival course. You would think Alabama would offer a lot of these courses , but I can’t find anything. What would you recommend? Thanks I’m a new subscriber to your channel “ Great information “
@@Aceinthehole1179 I am partnered with a school called American Survival Co, they have a venue in SW MO/NW AR that may be close to you, they are great and are probably fairly close to you: flintsteelcsg.com/organizer/american-survival-co/
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!
I particularly like that he doesn't do this in his backyard. I can't stand videos of people acting like experts when they only demonstrate fire making skills at home. Such a refreshing change.
Agreed! The attention to detail and the video quality-including close-ups with the secondary camera-make this bow drill video second to none. Well worth the 35min viewing. Thank you, GBGB.
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.
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!
Imo, the hardest part of making a friction fire is stoking the ember. At first my tendency was always to try and stoke it too quickly. I've found the biggest secret to a bow drill fire is patience. If you try to rush it, you'll probably fail. Also, don't think because you've made friction fire many times that there isn't anything more to learn from videos like this! Great video! Thank you sir!
Hi from England, that was a great piece of knowledge, I doubt if I could copy it as kneeling is hard for me but in a situation the know how is invaluable, thankyou for sharing hope you are doing well in these bad times
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
What an excellent video man. I have never seen the bow drill explained in that much detail. I have learned so much from your channel. Please keep them coming!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Steven! It was a risk leaving it this long but the reality is it takes a long time to actually teach it. I want people to be able to do it, not just watch it. That was more important than the view count for me.
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 RU-vid! Keep up the great work mate! All the best from the UK
I appreciate the feedback, I was using resin-infused pine (fatwood) which is self-lubricating, but this particular chunk of cedar was exceptionally hard since I had to use mostly heartwood (I don't mind the challenge). One of the squeakiest sets I ever used and it was boring into that fatwood for sure
Excellent!!!! Best tutorial video I've seen yet to learn how to make and use bow drills! Anyone can "show" (and many do) how to make fire with a bow drill set. Not many if any at all have been able to do what you have done. You have answered/addressed many of the questions I've had for troubleshooting and difficulties during the use of a bow drill set. Thank you so much for this video! Keep up the awesome work!!!!
Great video. Followed instructions to the letter using tulip poplar set and a fat wood bearing block. Got a fire going with my first ever attempt with a bow drill.
Extremely thorough demonstration brother! I enjoyed seeing how you did your bow. Slightly different from how I tend to do mine but I am definitely interested to try your method. Especially on the back end with the elongated saddle notch and drilling the hole through. I also noticed you had your board positioned with the notch at the top. I started doing this a while back when I realized I could watch the notch better for cues and see when the notch was full. Looking forward to the next one!
Right on brother! Yeah for me I started doing the both on the far side so students could see it fill better. The hidden benefit I found to that was at my height, it was easier for me to see it as well!
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.
Thank you for level of detail that you verbally add. So many things that would go un-noticed, you verbalize. An example is how you lock your armpit over your knee. Love the verbalized detail. I'm glad I connected with your channel and I'm Really happy to see your growth in subscribers. Good luck and God bless.
What I like about your videos, you’re never into rush with survival techniques, the person already in a tough situation why the rush I see in other survival video guides? Amazing videos keep it up 👍
Thank you for making probably the best bow drill tutorial on youtube. The detail you go into and trouble shooting faults will help many folks I am sure. I have made several bow drill fires inspired from youtube instructional vids made by others but it was a frustrating and slow learning process with far more failures than successes, without all of the secrets laid out so transparently and thoroughly as you have taken the time to show us. I would fail repeatedly without understanding why and what to correct. I learned a new way to tension the bow string from this tutorial. You deserve 10 million views! Very well done sir! Subscribed.
Thanks, Woodsmoke, I appreciate that. This footage was originally over an hour and it was hard to narrow it down to a long but hopefully digestible video. Glad to hear it came across how I wanted it to and might have helped someone else.
Wow lucky me! the first video and I hit pay dirt, Gold! Needn't go any further. Engineering in the outdoors. I tried this once as a 16yr old. Had no idea how to do but I did burn some hols and make smock. I respect the way you took your time throughout the entire process as an artist. Been watching the experts on Naked and afraid and most pay little attention to crafting their tooling. Absolut killer Video .... The only criticism I have is the narrated word at the bottom as I could not see some of the prosses. Congrats on your excellent work can't say enough, makes me eager to get at it.
I have seen many videos on this topic. I know it has been said many times, but this is the best and most thorough instructions. You have a talent on this, but You also have quite a talent for tutorials. Good Job Brother, already liked and gonna subscribe to your channel. Thanks Man
I love how you don't rush anything. Well done. Although I'm still enjoying the "screwing things up" phase of learning this skill, I look forward to putting your tutorial to use.
I agree, this was the best and most complete bow drill video I’ve seen! I’ve been teaching children survival skills at Natureversity in Austin, Texas and just watched this to review my bow drill skills for class tomorrow. Thank you for going so in depth, it was nice meeting you at Winter Count in Florence, Arizona. Keep doing it for the 10 percent of people who take these skills to heart:)
@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret I will. I learned that my hearth board was too thin, my spindle placement needed to be on the outside, why my spindle would fly out due to my bow not being parallel, and the constant squeaks. Oh and the bees waxed paracord... I can see the fire in my mind now
Thank you for such a great tutorial video. Been obsessed with friction fire since growing up on Ray Mears, but never been successful. Your tutorial took me back to the basics, I am now creating fire 🔥
VERY Well done!! This is the first video I have ever seen that goes from the very start, all the way to a fire, and does every single step correctly. From the form, to the construction of the parts. You even got the small jeweled point for the hand hold correct (like NO ONE ever gets that detail) You hit all of the points of correction right on the money! This was presented almost exactly the way my teacher taught me. Highly detailed, no mistakes. The only difference is that the guy who taught me was really big into not wearing shoes. Its easier to keep the spindle straight that way. I have to wonder if you run in the same circles?
I am not sure. My bow drill was actually "self-taught". I learned it through trial and error and making every mistake possible several times. It was a bit of a scientific approach to the whole thing. I used references of course, but didn't have a teacher for it. Just tried different things and kept track of what worked best. It was a long and frustrating process, but then I applied what I learned to the hand drill which took a little less time to learn. Then I actually had someone (Alan Kay) teach me the bamboo fire saw which applied some of the same principles
Just an idea if you are in the wild and need some sort of cord or something, your shoelace is excellent replacement for Paracord of anything like that.
that striker/scraper/drill socket is epic, trying to get the guy to make me one! what about this idea for the hardened tips of your spindle: score crosshatches across the tip of the spindle where it marries to the hearth board to generate more friction?
I would have to try it to say for sure if it was necessary. I have had success leaving the tip and the accompanying divot that I am trying to marry it up with pretty gnarly and rough, it tends to break the grain and start producing better dust quicker.
Thorough and well done; clearly you have done this many times. Glad to have found you, and will be looking at many of your other works. Having experienced and taught outdoor survival, this is the best I've seen, It also speaks of the quality of people in our special forces.
Sir, looks great. I apologize in advance. I am amazing at making smoke with a bow drill. Not an ember to be found anywhere. 😨 Heck I even used a cordless drill to experiment with speed and pressure. I'm sure a one on one might give me the results you get. With my luck, in Northern Alberta, Canada, I think I would get better results watching a roll of Hay, self combust.... and end up looking like an icicle. My preference is the magnesium block with the attached ferro rod and I upgrade mine with a 4" hacksaw blade piece. Due to the carbon content, great sparks etc. And if you grind an edge to the back of the piece then a tiny knife. Attached to the block with paracord wrapped around them to be used as a bowstring etc. Makes for a small compact non destructable kit in a breast pocket etc. In my experience, survival is making do with what you can salvage or find.... otherwise it's camping. Sorry I haven't mastered the art of the bow drill.
I've done bow drill in scouts and as an adult with professional instructors. This video covers everything concisely but with everything you need to know. Great video.
Great video, glad I found the channel took your bow drill class at the gathering and been working slowly to get consistent. had a few good embers but still not enough to say I own the skill.
Absolutely great demo! My success rate is usually about 50%,, with better success using white poplar, so I definitely appreciate the very fine detail you included here. Really helpful!
Thanks for the video I saw that my hands were tilting but also I found that the wood that I was using was harder wood so thanks again and this was one of the best bow drill videos I have seen
I've watched a lot of bow drill videos and this is the best I've seen. I've made fire by reflector with horse's hoof but have yet to bow drill. Maybe with this info in hand I might do it. Where I am in CT/RI/MA Aspen isn't exactly all that common. Cedar is more common, so good to see that it's possible with it. Is it possible with Pine, Maple Oak which is all over the place, and to a lesser degree, birch. The reality is if you're trying to make fire with bow drill, in modern times, you've probably gotten into a bad spot for some reason and you probably don't have the time to look around for rare trees. So it's interesting to me what's possible with other varieties.
That's a great explanation that should up my success rate and make bow drill fires less frustrating. You're a great instructor. I hope to take one of your classes sometime. Too bad you're not still in NC!
nice tutorial thank you for the detailed explanations. i think i will get one of those roller ball bearing (bearing blocks) to keep in my fire kit. that way there wont be any friction on top and i dont have to worry about the shoulder on the top. should make the rest a little easier. of course in my fire kit i keep a tin with charred cloth, a tin with pine sap, two new bic lighters, 2 ferro rods with strikers, 2 magnesium fire starters, an evermatch and a good magnifying glass. the magnifying glass being my first choice if i can , as it uses no resources. but no matter what eventually something cant be used or it runs out so i needed to know how to do this. again thank you
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.
It's a great multi-function tool. There are a couple of commercial versions I have tested, both really good. The "ESEE Fire Steel" is good, and the "Pathfinder Multi Fire Tool" is great (I give it an advantage on being able to dissipate the heat that you feel on your hand better). Patrick may make some of the custom ones he made me available if you connect with him at Valley Forge (@PatricksValleyForge) on Facebook
just started learning this the past couple days. getting a lot of smoke but no ember yet and im pretty obsessed. these details are absolutely killer. thank you. using sycamore and redwood i believe. #norcal haha.. with some adjustments im confident ill get it soon
Also, pretty good tip: get a hard wood stick, about 3"dia, cut off the top 2" or so so you have a sort of puck. Carve the edges smooth, then practice your spoon and bowl game by carving a divot with flat walls in the center of your puck, about an inch in diameter. Next, go in the kitchen and find that one oddball spoon that everyones got laying around, and use a Dremel to cut about an inch out of the middle of the spoon, then lay it over that divot you carved in your puck and beat it down in there with a ball pein hammer. Youll definitely want to keep that around, bearing blocks always suck to make.
Wow I've been trying to do a bow drill for a couple years with no success do you want to use green wood for spindle and board or dead wood? Guess I will continue trying hopefully get some success. Great information thank you for taking the time to explain all this I've yet to see such an in depth explanation of this. Thank you again sir
now THAT is a bow!.. and THAT is some proper bow drill instruction.. i am going to memorize every point. what is subtle is that you show and correct common mistakes we all make .. well done...
Thank you for a great reminder of ALL the skills of this kit! Back when I was in Scouting, I learned this skill set at summer camp what a blast it was to get a fire started in this manner!..
a very nice demo as always. I now know something new I didnt before. i did have 2 questions. feel free to send an internet forehead flick if they seem too dumb lol. First is it possible to use this method to touch off a man made fire starter like a tinder quick or greased cotton ball? If so at what step and how would you go about it? Second is there a bow drill posture that would work with one or both legs being less then 100% functional? say a leg in a splint or otherwise unable to kneel properly. a fleshed out scenario might be a hiker takes a bad fall, looses most of his gear and breaks a leg, splints it himself but needs fire for signaling or to keep predators at bay and this is the only method. I know its a 'what if' but the leg issue hampers alot of outdoors enthusiasts like myself who are maybe 50-80% functional. I can walk limited distance but still cant kneel properly.
Not likely and Yes! You would not be able to light a fire tab or greased cotton ball with this method UNTIL you blew a tinder bundle to flame with it (at that point you would no longer need the emergency tinder). For either of those to work, the oil/wax needs to be heated to the point of turning back to a liquid before it can ignite, and that would likely snuff your ember out. I suppose it would be possible to use the ember to get either of those smoldering and introduce air into them and possibly get then to ignite, but then you would have to transfer that to a tinder bundle to get that going so it could then transfer to your kindling and on to your sustaining fuel, which the ember will do by itself, making the man-made tinder just an extra step that isn't needed. For folks that are not comfortable kneeling or have injuries that prevent comfortable kneeling or applying downward pressure, I teach two techniques: one is called "Sit-busting" that allows you to do this from a seated position ( I will have to do another video on that one) and also rigging up an apparatus similar to a Siberian Deadfall, but modified to use as a bow drill (yet another video). Both have worked for folks that have been taught the techniques.
"...that wont work well, especially for a beginner." 😂🤣🤣 Youre a trip dude. For me, the worst part of getting the bowdrill down, the only bad part really, was constantly flinging my spindle until I learned to steady myself the right way. There was cuss words. Lots.
