Hand Drill Friction Fire: Complete Step by Step

[@brutalbrital]

Best hand drill tutorial I have ever seen, 45 years of bushcraft and I just learned my technique was wrong, see an old dog can learn new tricks thank you very much for sharing cheers

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

If it works, it aint wrong! I just found this way much easier.

[@brutalbrital]

I went out and tried your way mate and it was much easier thank you

[@futuresonex]

That was easily the best hand drill how-to video I've ever seen, no contest. A concise, detailed explanation combined with a superb demonstration and excellent camera work, very well done! Hand drills are a technique that I've never quite mastered myself; this will help I think. One thing I might add just as general advice to anyone who's just learning this stuff is that there is a common mistake that I have seen other people make and have even made myself with friction fires of all kinds-hand drill, bow drill & pump drill. We sometimes don't seem to realize that the coal will usually last quite some time before going out, get too excited at successfully making the coal, and then get in way too big of a rush to get it into the tinder bundle. More than once I've seen people accidentally kick the fire board while trying to get up too fast (I've done it too...once) or lift the fire board too fast & throw the coal away in the process (never done that one though). Either way it means having to do it again.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Or blow the cherry all over the forest floor. I've done that!

[@adams9604]

By far, one of the most mature, prepared, deliberate, thoughtful, and comprehensive bushcraft (or any) tutorials I've ever seen. Not all teachers can teach (and not all youtube video creators can keep the camera still and everything in frame), but you are superb in every category. Dude, open a school - start small and slowly, but if you love this do it - you will be really good at it. Thanks for the work. I live in Manhattan, but I'm going to work on this this weekend in the Catskills.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up* Thanks for the comment Sid! Glad you liked the video

[@feuerbussard]

Simply the best hand drill tutorial I have ever seen, thank you!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

+BirdmannTutorials / Feuerbussard Glad you find the information useful. Hope it helps!

[@skytan4394]

What a great tutorial, other bushcraft KZbinrs aren't as precise.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks!!

[@jksurvivalbushcraft]

The best instructional video on hand drill … ever… well done, great job!

[@smith951]

super well done. it is refreshing to see someone who actually knows what he is talking about. I learned a lot

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Glad you were able to take good info from it. Take care out there- Andy

[@futuresonex]

Still by far the best hand drill instruction video I've ever seen!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks brother!!

[@OutdoorAlchemy]

Dude I am stoked! After watching your video I tried it with a yucca set. I almost had it! I knocked the cherry off when I took my foot away. Thank you for your video!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Awesome, Tom! You'll be making cherries with ease in no time.

[@Borat711]

First video I have seen that actually explains how to prepare the board. Thank you!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@zoltanvonsomogyi7272]

Thanks to your excellent instruction, I have mastered the hand drill. Cutting the hollow in the end of the spindle is very important for success!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@scarz1951]

I went out the other day to find some mullein to use as spindles. I found some along with horseweed and teasel. Was using a yucca hearth and it worked like a charm. When I first started learning I could not get enough downward pressure to do much. Now I have to be careful because I'm breaking spindles. Looks like learned how to get the pressure I needed. Teasel works like a charm too.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@ADKwarriors]

This is the single best hand drill video I have ever seen. Amazing job with this tutorial. Thank you.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@slowrydelong4770]

Hand drill Hey Andy, went outside today and all I could find was a 15 inch stalk of an unidentified plant 1/4 inch in diameter ( had a pith ) and used a shim like you buy from Home Depot for a hearth board. About as downsized as you can get, lol. Managed to get a fairly good sized dust pile and smoke, considering what I was using, so needless to say my confidence level is through the roof. I managed to find some pine crystals too and that made it possible to work that skinny drill. You helped make a great day for me...so thank you for sharing your knowledge. I now understand about the bruising. Greg

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

+Greg Long Awesome Greg, glad our little chat helped you out. It took me a long time to dial this technique in, so keep at it :)

[@Cavemantraining]

Thank you for posting Andy.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Hope it helped!

[@dylanm.9859]

That was absolutely incredible. What an awesome and informative tutorial.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Go forth and light things on fire 🔥

[@foopadr9076]

I got it. Your technique of standing on one knee helped because it helps you put more weight into it without getting exausted rather than sitting down. nice vid.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

I'm no cardio guy so I make it work the best way I can

[@foopadr9076]

@@innerbarkoutdoors same bro same.

[@joelking7509]

This is, hands down, the best hand drill friction fire video tutorial I have ever seen.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Glad you enjoyed Joel, thanks for the sub!

[@jdryak]

Excellent, intelligently conceived videos! Thanks so much!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks! Hope you stuck around

[@kastone1976]

Pine pitch idea was new for me, thanks.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@kennethstanley9146]

I tried to do it for a while and finally it worked your awsome.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@bluehill1275]

This is far and away, the very best tutorial that I have ever seen on this subject. Cinematography and sound were top notch, as is the explanation. I can see now where I was going wrong. Thanks a TON!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@mesijania]

Awesome...this has given me a lot of confidence. I made fire with a bow drill last week and now i am looking forward to perfecting this technique as well. Thank you. x

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Sweet, share the skill with anyone willing to learn :)

[@iruwild]

dane, you are a true master.. very good video of hand drill, and some very good pointers on adding pine pitch..aka rosin.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@markc3314]

i wish this was the first hand drill video i ever watched it would've saved me from watching a dozen pointless ones. this guy is good and this video showed me all the tiny details every other video left that are equally important to know. now i know why i was never successful

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@nutthrower]

well done - and was nice to see the Tahoma being used, looked right at home it did

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@WanderingTheWild]

Great video! This just helped me to improve my technique and get my first ember with the hand drill! Bill

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Congrats! Glad the video helped :)

[@gmonkey808]

I domed / rounded the tip of my spindle. This guy says the edges do most work so thats where I think I went wrong. Good video.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@MuvoTX]

Wow... You make it look so easy.thanks for sharing this knowledge.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

haha thanks!

[@brucerestrepo9206]

I found your quality of explanation and demonstration to be fantastic. Really great job. Thank you.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@tekpatlizkalotekatl530]

Good presentation. Concise, accurate, best I've seen yet. Out in the Sonoran Desert, we use some other materials that work equally as well.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@Onward4x4]

Thanks. I always wanted to know how this is done... Very nicely explained!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lopakarootz420]

Mahalo for the excellent tip about using Hibiscus wood.your skills and aloha are unique and very much appreciated. From one part native Hawaiian indigenous person to another steward of the "aina" or the land thank you for connecting me to my ancestors and how we had to work for fire...and earn it...aloha LopakaRootZ

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@chriscowlan3603]

Wonderful video! Very educational and well produced!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@krypto808_]

This was the most explainable hand drill video I have ever watched, it gives me hope that I can make my first ember. I tried this hand drill a lot of times had smoke but no coal. After a while I got tired of doing this technique and went to my culture fire making the hawaiian friction fire (fire plough as everyone knows it by) but that way is way harder then any other friction fire that is all muscle. But I'm going to try the hand drill once more and see if it works mahalo for the video.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

david wells Good luck with your ember!

[@JimKernix]

david wells I agree - absolutely excellent! Can't wait to give it a try.

[@krypto808_]

I know it's a stupid question but duz any one know good hand drill and fire board wood out in Hawaii??

[@JimKernix]

any soft wood should be good if I understand it correctly

[@1cont]

Great video. Loved it. Thanks for posting this gem.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks for watching. Go forth and make fire 🔥

[@1cont]

@@innerbarkoutdoors I shall. Your video really was top notch. My ten year old son is making friction fires now. A bit of pine resin and he is following your technique.

[@kevinkweetniet]

Great video! I do wonder though how you would do this if you don't have the perfect shaped fireboard and spindle, but you have to find and create it in nature?

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Without a doubt that would be harder, not impossible but yes hard. Maybe i'll make a new video without using this tool. Good idea.

[@lloydja007]

Thanks! This is the best video I've found for the hand drill. Keep up the great videos!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@andrewauman40]

Thanx for the input on the horse weed I harvested some way to early I presume the pith was not present and the sun dried them much smaller then when I harvested them making the spindle useless due to size I'll wait another month or so and try again thx.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@slowrydelong4770]

Excellent video Andy. Thanks for your advise

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@Micromad-ux3pz]

Best video ive watched about friction fire keep making videos😊

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks, will do!

[@atruthbetoldproduction]

A sure skill, so nice of you to share this, 1

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thank you!

[@atruthbetoldproduction]

@@innerbarkoutdoors A THANK YOU 👍👍1

[@SurvivalSherpa]

Great tutorial! Hand drill has eluded me. You make it look easy, brother, and rekindled my hand drill practice. Thanks!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@AlexReyes-zb8jf]

Hands down the Absolute BEST vid I've seen Teaching this skill!! Everything about your reviews/videos are abundantly informative, detailed, and professional! ! It's far more appreciated than you may realize Andy!! A HUGE Thanks and keep up the Great work! Alex

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks Alex!

[@rnott632]

One of the best hand drill explanations I have seen. Thank you!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@UltimateSurvivalTips]

Nicely Done Andy! Heard a lot of good things about you from Dan @ Dogwood. Looking forward to meeting one day! ~David

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@schlaznger8049]

This is about the best most informative video I have every seen on hand drill's and what type of wood to use for both of them. Subscibed and thanks!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks! Hope you are still rocking with me!

[@travisbitters7964]

NOTES for Hand Drill Practice: CHERRY:1.13'' PASSES: 10 -- avg 7'' a pass POWDER: note how black and fine it is. ATTITUDE: calm and confident -- pleased the fire gods. Take away: thx for the tip on callouses and the right angle on the back knee while doing the kneeling position.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks for stopping by!

[@Spirit0Selvaggi0]

You Simplified my life, thanks man!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@selenepickins4874]

Hey Andy-just subscribed. Am really impressed by how you go through ALL the important steps us newbs need to know (esp. all the info about the hand drill friction fire--loved it!) Even though I'm a mature woman, I love the outdoors & bushcraft so I'm always on the hunt for good instructors. And here you are. Looking forward to learning more, practicing more & being sure I can survive in the wilderness if need be. I live on 25 acres in the deep South US so there's plenty of places to roam, look & learn. Thanks again--Selene

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks for sticking around, and stay safe!

[@cadrician]

Awesome! Nice job!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@Hanklerfishies]

This is a great and simple video! I hope I can pull it off in a pinch.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@MACROPARTICLE]

Great video.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@getsmart3701]

Andy, you make the best videos mate. Thank you for the knowledge and inspiration. Respect.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks for sticking around!

[@getsmart3701]

Good pun :-)

[@brandonsilvers5404]

If u want a ember in like 5 seconds use a yucca spindle and a cedar harth board bow drill or hand drill it is very easy.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@MrPatagonicus]

Great video Andy. Body mechanics are very important when you're doing anything out in the woods. Tweaking your body in even the slightest of ways can affect your ability to do anything further, and in this case, threaten your comfort and possibly survival. Very in-depth look at an often overlooked skill, and one that I definitely need to work on.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks. The body mechanics stuff is what finally made it possible for me to get a cherry going, and made it possible for me to get 12 or 15 cherries during filming

[@MrPatagonicus]

InnerBark Outdoors Wow, that many? That's impressive! If you can make fire strictly from natural materials in Western Washington state, you definitely have talent.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

patience to build up your body to making friction fires is the main thing for being able to do so many in a day. You could easily bruise your hands starting out

[@michaelperkins9936]

great video brother!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@PrestonGladd]

Great video, production, format. Very informative! It show's that you know what your doing vs. reading it in a book and then hoping on KZbin and acting like an expert! Thanks for the time, effort and energy you put into these videos!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

I'd never call myself an expert, but I know a little bit :)

[@IsleofWightBushcraft]

Really good tutorial, many thanks.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@R.B.Bricks]

Great video close up on how to get a coal, thanks for sharing the video!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@jjeanpierre38]

Your video was really helpful, keep it up.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Glad you found it informative. Please share!

[@Mc__Shane]

Amazing tutorial

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thank you Shane!!

[@Atkrdu]

Hand Drill Trick: Push down harder instead of spinning faster & maintain that downward force while switching hands (thumb trapping the spindle against the open hand, so you don't have to unscrunch one hand out from under the other & loose that heat). Useful for getting a coal, even with less than optimum materials.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up* Good trick!

[@petejohnson6498]

Thanks for the thorough tutorial! Best one I've seen yet.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Glad it was helpful!

[@swnorcraft7971]

Thank you for one of the best hand drill tutorials I have seen. Kenton at ReWild does one of the same quality albeit twice as long. Great work. Keep it up!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@mikaelkallio9101]

Thank you for your well-composed, informative, inspiring and detailed instructions, a pleasure to see. I am a great fan of your knot- instructions.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@brandonsilvers5404]

Nice video! :) I love making hand drill and bow and drill fires. And u taught me many new techniques thx

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@fantaseepainter]

That was an awesome tutorial! Thanks for making it. I have gotten really good over the years at bow drill and I am just beginning to feel the need to learn the hand drill. I live in NM and use Yucca and/or Sotol for my fireboard and yucca for my drills. I have no idea where to find horseweed, but I know where there are some mullein flower stalks. Have you tried those? Do you have any more suggestions for drill material I might find in the high desert? Can't wait to start practicing. I love the fact that you can talk all the way through making your coal without getting out of breath!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

fantaseepainter Those materials you have mentioned are great for the hand drill. Just find a diameter suitable for your hands and body weight!

[@nucknuck123]

fantastic im a big fan

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Hope you are still a fan :)

[@EKonMaster]

thank you

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

No problem!

[@Scarz-iu3lr]

I've tried this many times and have never succeeded. I can't generate enough downward pressure. The best I've managed was smoke once. I'm great with the bow drill but if I had to depend on the hand drill for my fire I'd remain cold and in the dark. Bummer. Have you ever placed the end of the spindle on a scale and measured the pounds of downward pressure you generate while spinning your spindle on the scale? You may be surprised. A fellow named Storm (deceased now) was expert at the hand drill and in one of his articles he stated that he measured the pressure and was surprised. I found the article and here is the excerpt I was looking for. [Speaking of pressure, I performed hand drill (Mule Fat on Sotol) a few times on a doctor’s scale to measure the downward pressure necessary to generate an ember. Using the regular technique-7.8lbs. Using solely the floating method-4.4 lbs.]

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Try the pine pitch generously applied and really lean into the board

[@Scarz-iu3lr]

InnerBark Outdoors Thank you. I'll try that. I found Storms old website: stoneageskills.com/index.html More of his articles are available at Wildwood Survival website. I'm very impressed at your skill with the hand drill. I'm envious too but I can see that you worked hard to gain the skill. You earned it the hard way and that's usually how it's done, right? Blood, sweat and tears.

[@FreeKanal]

Nice tutorial ! Thanks

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@adamwalcott_official]

Dude you are a BADASS! Just subscribed...

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

I'm a gun loving bush hippie. That's it! Thanks for checking out the videos and subscribing :)

[@truenorthoutdoors7047]

Been super into primitive skills, and I've learned so much just from these few minutes!! Now to put it to use!! Thanks! Subbed!!!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Welcome aboard! Hope you enjoy the channel!

[@gus1911]

Outstanding instructional video! Thank you for taking the time to produce such a high-quality tutorial.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Glad you enjoyed, and liked it *thumbs up*

[@TedsOutdoors]

I want to try this.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Hope you got it down by now lol

[@ytubeanon]

Highly articulate. I just watched a Les Stroud video and he practices an "itsy bitsy spider" hand motion, pinky to thumb - thumb to index finger... makes sense if it's for that advanced A-V hand technique.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@renanvinhal6677]

i've just found this channeland i've watched some videos and im really glad i did so. really nice channel. congrats and thanks for the tips

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@henrypurcell653]

Excellent! Very informative. Thank you

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@deaton123able]

Awesome Instruction man! Thank You!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@richarddisney1664]

Will you make a video concerning the creation of various shelters using the materials only found in ones immediate environment?

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@thomasnugent7602]

Very good. Thank you very much

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@ingotdearth]

This was awesome. Thanks!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Glad u are enjoyed

[@rappman3taken]

I've learned that the ideal spindle diameter is anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 an inch. I measured the spindle that I'm using and it's tapered. 3/4 of an inch at the top and 1/2 inch at the bottom, or working end. In your experience is it better to be closer to 1/4 inch in diameter at the bottom or working end? I'm wondering if maybe my spindle might be my problem with only achieving an ember intermittently. I'm really interested in becoming proficient at this in order to pay homage to our ancestors of tens of thousands of years ago and what they had to go through in order to make fire. We have smart phones and I pads but I don't want our ancestors to think we forgot about them. That's why I'm kind of passionate about learning this fire starting technique. I would also like to be able to share it with other folks as well.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

1/2 inch is the upper side of what I would do. The working end should be the wider part too. If you watch the part of the video with spindle size selection you'll see why you're probably not getting enough speed. The dust should be dark brown to black.

[@joshuastevens1200]

Your video is very informative and i can't wait to practice this myself. But what I'm still confused about is what is the best way to obtain a good spindle? Do I just make one from a branch or what?

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up* Thanks brother - what I am using is a cat tail "weed"

[@Clearly69]

Great tips, thanks!!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@schfithead7613]

Thank u 😊 great video. U look Indian 2 👍👍I wish I had bush craft skills like that

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@19RORABOUGH90]

Ultimate survivalist: what do (with deer ticks) is when me or my dog gets them is I put some type of gel substance(Vix vapor rub) on the butt of the tick and it makes the tick think they went in too far and back out to breathe (I guess the breathe out the back end of em) don't know if that's true but it's a truck my dad showed me when I was shooting in the fields when I was 10 and it has worked almost without a hitch. I'm sure there are other solution but if you pull it out be sure to get the head out as well.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@rappman3taken]

Great informative video. I've got several questions, but I will just offer one or two at a time. What is the distance between the hole and your foot hold on the the hearth or fire board? Also what part of your foot do you hold down the hearth with? The ball of your foot or the arch where the hearth would naturally fit into. I can get an ember or two in a row and then I can't get one for about 5 tries my hands get trashed and than I can't try again for about 10 days. I'm not giving up. To be able to create fire the way our ancestors did 10 of thousands of years ago is way to cool!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

The distance between the foothold and the hole is not important. It just needs to not move and you need enough room to move your arms in your center line. As with where your foot is planted, that will depend on where it is comfortable, the thickness of the board, and the evenness and softness of the ground. Ball of the foot works for me. During filming I must have made at least 10 cherries. Build up your hands to do it so you don't have to recover. Stop at 2, next day do 3, and so forth.

[@chriserickson3080]

thank you for a very informative and well presented video on primitive fire ive mastered the bow drill but i think the hand drill would be much more efficient in a survival situation because of its simplicity New Subscriber!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

I prefer the hand drill over the bow drill because I can use a smaller board and get more holes per length of board. Plus i feel like its about 10 times more hardcore

[@laurenmontgomery421]

Omygoodness so much information thank you so much!!!!!!!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@Stargazer131000]

Thank you for this excellent video on the hand drill. Yours is the best I have seen. I also subscribed to your channel.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@memeagain1594]

That was so cool!

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@michaelperkins9936]

you ever tried that trick were u notch the top of the spindle and take some cord and make 2 thumb loops so your hands ride in one place on the spindle? if so does that help reduce blistering?

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

I have not. I learned the floating hand technique instead. The thumb loop deal might make it hard for you to use the whole surface of your hand which could lead to blistering

[@ACDCRD]

Nice job!! Also loving the gun 😂😂👋👋

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@TyShep06]

What type of knife is that? Awesome video btw

[@sammyslavvu1981]

This was very informative thank you

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*

[@rahulsankar1998]

Nice one

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks!

[@eficio4225]

All the comments about this being the best tutorial are speaking the truth.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

Thanks *heart*

[@old_ben7473]

@@innerbarkoutdoors Hey Andy, do you still sell the black handle Tahoma on your website?

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

@@old_ben7473 yeah, I got a couple of them in stock right now.

[@old_ben7473]

@@innerbarkoutdoors Fantastic thanks for the reply. Btw you put out great content. Thanks for all you do.

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

@@old_ben7473 Thanks for watching! \m/

[@manwar999]

have you ever tried the (karam method) two stick baseboard hand drill technique? Could you try this (karam method) and see if its as easy for you to get an ember fire as it is for me…

[@innerbarkoutdoors]

*thumbs up*