Big Fat Bow Drill Spindles, why you should stop using them!

Check Out My 100s Of Fire Making Videos... Big Fat Bow Drill Spindles will sap your energy, wear you out, and make getting the ember much more difficult than it has to be!...a thorough explanation within.
I actually have a Big Fat Spindle in my collection from the Hatchet Made Beech Bow Drill Set video that I just made, (Link Below) I must tell you though, I've been anxious to get ahold of it with my Mora and whittle it down to the right size. TODAY'S THE DAY! It was only today that I noticed how VERY hard this wood is to whittle. Now, I know that Beech, American Beech, is a very hard wood, but I thought this specimen well degraded.. LOL! not so much. Now, I see why I struggled so much to make this set with a hatchet. Anyways, the stainless steel Mora did an exceptional job on it. If I had tried to use my carbon steel Mora, the edge would have folded right over on it like it has so many times in the past with such hard woods.
The last thing I wanted to draw your attention too is all the moisture that's in my breath. It's easy to see now in this cold whether! It's also easy to see how it could absolutely extinguish a weak ember when going for the flames.
Please SUBSCRIBE at the end of the video. Thanks!
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Hatchet Made Beech Bow Drill Set, Fatwood Bearing Block, Leaves Tinder Bundle
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The Best Bow Drill Tutorial I've Ever Made.... Red Maple, Bark Tinder Bundle, Fatwood Bearing Block
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[@richardsolomon8076]

Love the pine tar strip :-) another great video, I've noticed in the last few videos that you don't thumb the leaves as much as you used to. Is it not as important or are you getting better at it :-)

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Good eye! My technique is evolving. Now I get a big hand full of leaves, find the ideal place, within that particular handful, to drop the coal into, and if that happens to be too close to the side... add more leaves to that side. All the while aerating, squeezing in on the bundle to keep it tight against the coals, figuring where the flames are going to flare up so my hands can be out of the way, trying to decide when and if I'm going to start waving the tinder bundle and if that bundle can hold together for the one handed waving or if the ember will stay put within and not get slung out... etc. It is providing ongoing, immediate, and fluid responses to the needs of a growing ember. SO much fun to coax flames out of a difficult tinder!!!

[@starlingblack814]

David your knowledge is extraordinary. I keep going back to watch your older videos and keep learning from you. Thank you!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thanks Starling.

[@carllevingston6022]

I have never tried starting a fire this but think I'll give it a try Thanks!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Check out my Bow Drill Playlist. Thanks!

[@radagast6682]

Thank you David, if you double the diameter of your spindle, you increase the area by four. I'm old, and can't push that hard.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

You're the 2nd person to tell me those stats. I believe it too! Thanks!

[@Aaron-ud6wk]

I’ve never been a fan of large diameter spindles. I like about a hair over half an inch and long. New to your channel and I must say you have an incredible amount of skill and knowledge on friction fire making. Very interesting.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Yep, same as you, a thin spindle and because I'm 6' 3" about a 12" spindle when I can.

[@Bardmusic66]

I’ve always wondered why some people use fat spindles. I’ve been using pinky diameter spindles mostly.

[@harrisquicksilver6595]

Also when the amount of mass that is causing friction is greater, then the force to move it must also be greater. U are absolutely right my friend.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Also slower RPMs and more drag on the bearing block... Some people use 1" and larger diameter spindles. You have to be very very strong physically to make that work.

[@forrestsecord7743]

As a long time woodsman, thank you for your honesty and integrity to woodcraft and your art

[@briargoatkilla]

I got a grand daddy Beech in my back yard I've made a bunch of kits out of. It's good wood. I use a thumb size spindle with a long pointy top just like you. It really makes a difference when you're making a coal with hardwood.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Hardwoods make great embers that stick together tightly and ember for a very long time.Thanks friend!

[@Carlos-hs8zo]

I have an American Indian artifact collection and some stones that I picked up years ago were modified to have divots in them and I couldn't figure out what they were used for but I kept them anyway. After watching your videos and giving them another look over, I feel like a couple of them could have actually been used as bearing blocks. As always, Great video!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Interesting!

[@stevesidare2493]

Bigger circumference means less (and slower) spins per length of bow cord.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

True! Thank you!

[@MJGEGB]

I've been wandering about this. I've found myself thinning out the tips of my spindles if they aren't already thin. I'm going to try just thinning out the whole thing from now on. My thinnest successful spindle is one of my easiest sets. Managed an ember with a 6" bow. It goes with my compact bow drill set. BTW I'm pretty sure your hatchet head is hung upside down.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

You're right. When I bought it for a dollar from the flea market the handle to head was pretty rotted. Didn't take long for the head to break off. I cleaned out the hole and epoxied the shorter handle back into the head. As you see, I put the head back on upside down. LOL!

[@rad4627]

Dr fire your teachings are priceless, learned a lot thank you much!! You should author a book on FIRE,

[@jeffsmith6441]

You make it look so easy!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

It would be a whole lot easier if I wasn't trying to get it all on video. Still, I enjoy it Greatly! Thank you!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Check Out My 100s Of Fire Making Videos... Big Fat Bow Drill Spindles will sap your energy, wear you out, and make getting the ember much more difficult than it has to be!...a thorough explanation within. I actually have a Big Fat Spindle in my collection from the Hatchet Made Beech Bow Drill Set video that I just made, (Link Below) I must tell you though, I've been anxious to get ahold of it with my Mora and whittle it down to the right size. TODAY'S THE DAY! It was only today that I noticed how VERY hard this wood is to whittle. Now, I know that Beech, American Beech, is a very hard wood, but I thought this specimen well degraded.. LOL! not so much. Now, I see why I struggled so much to make this set with a hatchet. Anyways, the stainless steel Mora did an exceptional job on it. If I had tried to use my carbon steel Mora, the edge would have folded right over on it like it has so many times in the past with such hard woods. The last thing I wanted to draw your attention too is all the moisture that's in my breath. It's easy to see now in this cold whether! It's also easy to see how it could absolutely extinguish a weak ember when going for the flames. Please SUBSCRIBE at the end of the video. Thanks! OTHER BOW DRILL VIDEOS YOU WILL ENJOY: Hatchet Made Beech Bow Drill Set, Fatwood Bearing Block, Leaves Tinder Bundle kzbin.info/www/bejne/goSnZmeXjb5-n9E Hatchet-Made Bow Drill Set And Fire From Damp River Birch kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2bSgaCHl9OljNk The Best Bow Drill Tutorial I've Ever Made.... Red Maple, Bark Tinder Bundle, Fatwood Bearing Block kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5rUoohjet6taKc Make your first Bow Drill ember using as many cheats as you need to... then improve your skills. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJ-ZdYWmnN2XkK8 Frustrated and Given Up on Bow Drill??? Try a 2x4 and Cheat Bearing Block kzbin.info/www/bejne/mp7SiKJnipyamqM How To Bow Drill, For intermediately skilled enthusiasts. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2OZfqhvfsqnq8U Bow Drill, My Little EDC Stanley Pocket Knife, EVERYTHING "On The Spot" Made kzbin.info/www/bejne/eauceoSipcydjJY Bow Drill, I Only used a Victorinox Fieldmaster, Swiss Army Knife and Freshly Found Materials kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXjaZKOCmKalpq8 Bow Drill is Easier With a Smaller Diameter Spindle And a Looser Bowstring! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZjWlIWkod96jMk

[@mikehopper9516]

Very good information Dave. Once again I've learned another pearl from you. Thank you.:)

[@thomasgold-1000]

Excellent teaching as always, very informative - thanks David! 👍

[@haidagwaiisurvivalguy7112]

I like the fat wood bearing block!

[@jimmiddleton5093]

Excellent video and explanation. 👍

[@TheLionsDen72]

Nice one David. I’m still trying to learn this skill. Haven’t had luck yet but not giving up.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Please check out my how to videos in my bow drill playlist.

[@olalabamahillbilly9677]

Point well taken brother David! Very good information! 🇺🇸👍🙏

[@BrosephRussell]

Great denomination

[@Woodswalker1965]

Makes sense, well done!🔥

[@louhandberry6017]

Thanks again for the info.. I enjoyed the video. 🔥

[@daveintheshed4870]

I was watching that movie Castaway with Tom Hank's in it and thought of you when he made that friction fire. You've likely been asked before but does this method really work and have you tried it?

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

The fire plow is the most difficult technique in the world if you don't use the right woods. I don't know what those woods are. Google fire plow.

[@prairiefirewildernessskills]

Dave Holiday was an advisor on that movie and taught Tom Hanks how to do it for real. His reaction when he got a coal was 100% real.

[@dontall71]

Son of a Beech this is a cool video!