How To Make Bow Drill Cordage from Nettles (Twist Braided for Extra Strength)

If you want to try your hand at a natural cordage bow drill fire, stinging nettles are tough to beat. They take a bit of work to process down into fibers, but once you do, you have one of the strongest and most flexible materials available in the woods.
They are usable as early as late spring in the Pacific Northwest, but the fibers don’t seem to really get strong until the time they flower in the summer.
I use gloves to harvest them initially and running them through my gloved fingers knocks off the leaves and stinging hairs at the same time, which allows you to handle them bare-handed after that.
To make the best cordage possible, it is ideal if you can hang the fibers up to dry once they are separated from the woody section of the stalks. An hour or two in the sun is all it takes. They will shrink a lot during this initial drying stage and will become a bit stiff. At that point they can be soaked in water to rehydrate.
Unfortunately there was no sun on this day so I opted to braid them up in their raw, un-dried state. The fibers are still very strong and flexible like this, but they will eventually shrink when they dry out, making for a looser weave. This isn’t ideal for long term-use, but it is still a very viable option for times when drying isn’t possible, or you just need a piece of rope right now.
I have really come to prefer braid over reverse-wrapped (two-strand twist) cordage for a number of reasons, but when working with flexible fibers like nettles, giving them a quick twist with each pass while I’m braiding keeps everything nice and tidy and results in a tighter weave and more durable cordage. Be careful doing this with less flexible fibers like bark though. It can still be beneficial, but more attention needs to be paid to avoid over-twisting them.
For the set I chose red alder, which is not the ideal wood as it has a strong tendency to soak up moisture. For that reason, I took down a dead sapling and used the wood from higher up on the tree. The difference in dryness from the top to the bottom of trees this size can be dramatic, so keeping the phrase “the higher the drier” in mind can be very useful.
This wood really responds well to light pressure when drilling. Pressing down too hard will grind out sawdust or over-char the powder depending on speed. Slow and steady seems to the be the key for this material.
In the wet season , I really prefer conifers like firs and cedars, but alder (Alnus rubra) is easy to work with and very common, so knowing how to use it can be a big advantage.
I used some dead sword ferns for a hasty bundle. They work OK when they’re dry, but they’re not my favorite option as they have a tendency to smolder out, so it is a good idea to make sure that the next stage of your kindling is suitably to catch the short lived flames.
Materials Used
Cordage: Stinging Nettle (urtica Dioica)
Bow Drill Set: Red Alder (Alnus rubra)
Bearing Block: Douglas fir fatwood (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Tinder Bundle: Sword fern (Polystichum munitum) wrapped in Trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus)
Knife: Mora Garberg (Stainless)
Music
Ikson- Reflect: • Video
Luca Stricagnoli - The Last of the Mohicans (Guitar) www.youtube.co....

[@lettingthebearout7528]

Your dogs ear is always inside out. I love him. Such a character. As a bushcrafter, you got it going on. Great stuff.

[@johnearhart8811]

Nicely done. Love the vegetation of your part of the US. John

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks John! 🙂

[@alexxela3950]

What a really great demonstration and like the way you hold the end of your cordage while making . Thanks again .

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Alex! 🙂

[@MarkYoungBushcraft]

Will definitely try this method for natural cordage. Thanks for sharing

[@nwprimate6416]

Let me know how it works for you. 👍

[@WayneTheSeine]

As always....a thing of simple beauty. Mankind.....surviving in an inhospitable world on his wits alone.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Wayne! 🙂

[@Woodsman_wildcamper]

Cheers Brian, your demonstration of making the cordage was great, made it easy to remember. Thanks for sharing bud. Take care.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Andy! 🙂

[@mikeboone4425]

Glad to see as usual your not selling flash lights today as are the others but you skill level is so fare above the normal you tuber other than the a few . ZERO BS just does it, I hope some are learning from you have a lot to give .Happy Trails

[@nwprimate6416]

Selling flashlights! 😅 Thanks Mike!

[@thomasgold-1000]

Fantastic video!!! Hope everybody paid attention to the alternating twists (clockwise/counterclockwise) of the strings while braiding. Thank you so much for sharing this. One day it probably makes the difference between life and ... 👌👏

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Thomas! I hope nobody ever "needs" these skills, but they do have potential to be very useful in an unlikely but serious situation. Plus, they're a lot of fun to practice! 🙂

[@Nerding4Nature]

That's pretty darn awesome! When I was a camp counselor, I used to make nettle bracelets for all my campers. We had a big batch of nettles on our out-trip destination, so I got to teach all about it. Turning it into a bow drill though, that just takes ot to a new level of awesomeness!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Carley! 🙂 Coincidentally, my wife likes making bracelets and I happened to bring home some fibers for her to play with. She seems a bit skeptical, but hopefully she starts playing with it.

[@tallcedars2310]

Am looking forward to working with stinging nettle cordage this summer & was glad to see this video. We transplanted it in the garden, ya, I know, so pulled a plant & was able to practice processing the 1/4" stem after watching your video. It didn't peel well, but was able to braid almost 3" & was impressed with how it looked. Did have trouble with a lot of breakage and can see why you would let it dry first then re-hydrate to braid. On another note, in your description it was interesting about moisture in dead standing soft wood saplings. That might be why our trial bd's in the rain were failures. We used aspen, specifically near the bottom.... Next outing will look for spruce/pine, willow or alder after a good downpour. Your assistant did some fine work there:), thanks NW Primate!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks TC! Something I should mention is that in my experience, the fibers aren't nearly as strong until the plant flowers. I don't know why, but when I have tried using them in the spring they were very easy to break. Being north of me, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that your plants are not as developed yet. I haven't made nettles cordage before this batch this year because I was waiting for the stalks to toughen up, so keep that in mind.

[@keithklassen5320]

I love how your doggo went for the remaining stick, but made sure to check if it was ok with you.

[@kylewilshusen9898]

Very nicely done! I recently came across the idea of using some vines I’ve seen around my house to use as cordage for a bow drill. Inspiration struck when I saw two vines wrapped around each other and realized they could work well for a bow drill. I might give it a try soon!

[@nwprimate6416]

Nice! 👍 That's what it's all about for me; noticing what is around and trying to figure out how to put it to good use. Keep me posted on those vines!

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

Awesome job on the friction fire using natural cordage. I have never used the braid technique but it does look like it might have merit for friction fire use.

[@bushcraftnorthof6012]

Far North Bushcraft And Survival I was thinking the same thing, Lonnie! I wonder how it would work with willow bark, or some other local stuff I have here. Time to experiment!

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

Bushcraft North of 60 I have used willow bark successfully for friction fire but I used just the straight plain bark straight off the tree. It was about 5/8ths of an inch wide.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Lonnie! 🙂 I think you'll be impressed if you remember to try it. It's obviously more work than using unprocessed willow bark, but I find it a lot easier to make consistent cordage this way than via the two-strand twist.

[@patrickgermond2750]

Ha, Lonnie you could start practicing braiding by starting with your beard. Lol just kidding. Love your channel too:) summers here. Time for you to start cranking out some videos:) I look forward to watching them

[@TheScoundrel70]

Awesome! I credit you with what I've learned on making friction fire, now think I need to give making natural cordage a shot! 👍🏻

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Sean! 🙂 It can be very frustrating as it adds a lot more complications to the process, but that's part of what makes it so rewarding. Keep me posted and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions that you think I might be able to help with. 👍🏻

[@TheScoundrel70]

I actually got this! Not as even or consistent, but I watched this video about a dozen times while getting about 8" started. Then the repetition finally clicked in and I got some confidence going. I ended up with about 7'2" with what I processed. It seems to shrink the loose strands to about 60% of their "raw" length for me, maybe even a tad shorter, but once it's started, I think it went really well, and had I processed more, I could have just kept going. Thank you!

[@nwprimate6416]

Nice work Sean! 👍

[@pacificbushcraftandfirecra6358]

Thanks so much for the instructional on making nettle cordage. This will be tried soon as one area I go is all nettles! lol... I also really like the twist while braiding technique...Pro. Thanks so much for sharing your awesome knowledge with us all! Cheers

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks TSP! I'm looking forward to hearing how you make out it with it! 👍

[@gus1911]

Nice twist added to the braid. Looks strong.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Gus! 🙂 It really seems to do a good job locking all of the fibers together to keep them from fraying out.

[@branni6538]

You twist and braid in one go. Nice. I have been doing double ply twists x3 lengths then whacking a knot in the end and braiding. My nettle corps are bombproof but thrice the effort you are using. I may cry if my cord ever snaps again. Lol........ great work dude

[@nwprimate6416]

Nice!

[@kirkha100]

I’ve come here from the “no notch” fireboard video. Been using fireweed for my cordage, doubling the double wrap, so to speak, to get more strength. I notice the blisters. I’ve used yucca baccata for cordage, the calcium oxylate tears up your hand something awful, but it’s strong. Anyway...I’m kind of in awe of your skills. Thanks so much for making these vids.

[@TheSoapThatCan]

Beautiful video and great demonstration! Nothing but love to you!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks RP! 🙂

[@samuelpope7798]

Thanks. I want to try making some cordage. I have a ton of those growing in my back yard, never knew what they were....next video: "big black dog makes fire with bow drill!"

[@GrumpyGrunt]

Man, Lupo the Fire Dog breaks down his own kindling too?!?! He seems a bit possessive of it, though. 🤣

[@nwprimate6416]

He is both a joy and a pain in the butt! 🙂

[@enopio_O]

your dog is brilliant.

[@rokhnroll]

great video loved it, that is the same weave I use to make my balearic slings from jute twine makes a nice strong cordage.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks R&R! 🙂

[@catawba7cherokee]

great job natural cordage

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks PL! 🙂

[@bushcraftnorthof6012]

That worked very well! You’ve inspired me to try it on some plants that grow up here. Seemed to hold up great. Take care.

[@nwprimate6416]

Awesome! I'll watch for a video from you, but keep me posted if I miss it. 👍

[@tarasb.ukrainian1947]

Nice! Nettles are good to eat too..

[@nwprimate6416]

Agreed! 👍

[@jacquiblanchard3131]

Very cool, Brian. Thank you! I'm working on making my own set and really want to use natural cordage too. I sure do appreciate these videos. They're tremendously helpful!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Jacqui! I was hoping you were still playing with friction fire. 🙂

[@jacquiblanchard3131]

I am, just in really small doses. The kiddos Summer vacation is in full swing so it's all kids all the time around here right now, and finding time is a challenge. ;)

[@bushcraftsurvivalslovenia5241]

Splendid work. I love making rope from stinging nettles it is quite easy and relatively fast. I have jet to try getting a fire from bow string made from stinging nettles, I have tried only once but it broke right away - I made it too thin and didn't use the double wrap on the spindle. Very nice again.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks buddy! 🙂 It is definitely good to err on the side of too thick when it comes to bow drill cordage, but keep in mind that nettles also vary in strength through the year. If I pick them too early in the spring, the fibers aren't nearly as strong, so I wonder if that contributed to the issue you had as well. They seem like they are best after the plants flower, and stay strong until they start to rot in winter.

[@bushcraftsurvivalslovenia5241]

well thanks, I'll take that tip into account. I think now is like the last chance to try, since they are done flowering and at some places, I've seen them already drying away.

[@BlackthornBushcraft]

Very good demonstration

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks BB! 🙂

[@kullcraven]

Well done and another good video, thanks for sharing. Awesome job.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Wayne! 🙂

[@MysMystery13]

Love Your Pal Helps! 😁

[@nwprimate6416]

Isn't he great!? It's almost cheating. 🙂

[@MysMystery13]

NW Primate YES He Is!!! 🐶 💋💖💋

[@jabohabo3821]

I love that the dog was helpin

[@TheLostBijou]

Earned my subscription in one video ! Thanks!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Dr. Jones! 👍😄

[@fire_x_friction8820]

My next level bowdrill technique for sure. Great cordage making footage. Leaving my para cord and other materials behind next time I'm in the woods.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Gary! Don't leave it behind...just leave it in your pack. 🙂

[@FoodForestPermaculture]

Wonderful . Thank you kindly for sharing .

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks FFP! 🙂

[@relicreapers571]

Excellent finally somebody not using a shoe lace

[@nwprimate6416]

Shoelaces work great, but it's more fun working with as many natural materials as possible.

[@relicreapers571]

NW Primate agreed

[@auroraborealisknives4019]

Bowdrill finesse!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks BMA! 🙂

[@odelloutdoors3424]

Very cool. Thanks for making this video.

[@nwprimate6416]

🙂👍

[@HalfQ]

Awesome, love it. Nice dog trick too lol

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks HalfQ! 🙂

[@davidharvey5672]

This is a way used over here in England. Must have been used in pre history i imagine. We have an abundance of stinging nettles here. I wonder how long the cordage will keep and if some could be preserved for winter. I am told embers were kept alive with fungus we call King Alfreds Cakes found on birch. Another method was flint and pyrite but it's far from plentiful and sparks are barely hot enough. Thanks enjoyed the video.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks David! I love thinking about the times when these skills were a part of everyday life. 🙂

[@nicolaspeyret-forcade4445]

Beautiful! 😍 Thank you so much

[@BushCraftBums]

Awesome stuff as always! Nettle is a truly amazing plant! Thanks for another great vid! Blessings Bcb

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks BCB! 🙂

[@linklesstennessee2078]

Good video NWP that made some strong cordage

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks LT! 🙂

[@SmooreMC85]

I just stumbled upon your channel, and really like the content. From one PNWer to another, i love the rain in your videos. Could you possibly add subtitles? You have an EXCELLENT video description, cliff notes of those as subtitles in your videos would be superb. Also, thumbs up for the doggo!!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks SmoorMC85! Always great to hear from the locals! 🙂 That idea of using the subtitles is a good one. 👍

[@kommanderklotz7316]

Great Job. I am learning at each new Clip! And i also enjoy the amazing nature in all your Videos and your dog is absolutely nice. And last things... I was looking for the Soundtrack and now i have an abo on him. Thanks for all and go on!!!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Andreas! 🙂

[@SurvivorMetalMan]

Excellent video and demonstration!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks buddy! 👍

[@dabberty]

Very nicely executed, great job Mr Primate!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Dabberty! 🙂

[@davidf5603]

Another useful video, thank you. How is that Garberg working out for you now?

[@mfavia620]

Very well done and enjoyable to watch your knowledge and expertise in action Brian. Thanks for sharing and ATB Mike!!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Mike! 🙂

[@gonagain]

Sweet!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks buddy!

[@CrimsonEsso]

What a good boy that dog is! :3 Ruffle his scruff from me.

[@nwprimate6416]

Done! 🙂👍

[@RickTOutdoorAdventure1969]

Fantastic job as always 🖒. What's your dogs name ? Loved it when they snapped the branch around the tree for your bow drill ☺ a perfectly opportunistic bit of film not to be missed 😁. Great stuff 🖒🔥☺

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Rick! I was trying to get a shot of the dry wood in my hand and almost missed it. 🙂

[@20p65s]

Strong work as usual. 'Bout how many nettle plants did it take?

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks! 🙂 It think it was about ten stalks to make close to six feet of cordage.a

[@jacquiblanchard3131]

Question: Why not do the two hole method if you're going to burn two holes initially anyway? More effort for the same result with good materials, maybe? I have to get back to BCUSA! ;))

[@nwprimate6416]

Great question Jacqui! Some people swear by the two-hole method, but for me it is not nearly as reliable as the v-notch. I don't know if it is my materials or the environment, but my failure rate with that method is much higher; especially using it right off the bat. It is still valuable and worth playing with though. The way I use it most often is as a last ditch effort to make one more try to get an ember from a difficult set when I don't feel like doing another burn-in and notch carving. I have ended up getting quite a few bonus embers this way, but it only seems to work about 25% of the time when I set out to practice it specifically.

[@SurvivalSherpa]

You're inspiring me to branch out on my cordage. Question: While bowing, you don't keep the bow horizontal to the hearth. Is that beneficial when using natural cordage? Less stress on the cord? Thanks in advance for the help!

[@nwprimate6416]

Great question. The tilt in the bow keeps the cordage from running up against itself with each rotation. With paracord or bankline, this really isn't much of a problem, but that rubbing can really eat up delicate fibers like bark or nettles.

[@SurvivalSherpa]

Thanks for taking time to answer my question. Makes perfect sense. We tried some braided tulip poplar bark yesterday with our middle school students and it broke. We bowed horizontally. Go figure. Thanks again!

[@paleoanonymous9026]

Another great video. I've been meaning to ask you...the chest rig in some of your videos how do you like it? I been wanting to get one but not sure if i would like it or not

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks buddy! 🙂 Mine is a Hill People Gear Original Kit Bag. It's pricey, but very well built. I have been wearing mine almost every day for a few years now, and it feels weird being in the woods without it.

[@theoutdoorsfamily9139]

Good natural alternative 👍 How long did it take to make that cordage?

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Alvar! 🙂 It took about twenty minutes to gather the plants and process them down, and another twenty to braid up the cordage. With the twisted tail it was just short of six feet.

[@theoutdoorsfamily9139]

Thanks ! I thought it must take hours to braid this string 😀 Never tried this one .

[@mrForestBeard]

WOW! Dat's HAWT! :3

[@nwprimate6416]

😅👍

[@CarolinaChrisOutdoors]

I'm still learning, so excuse my ignorance.... you didn't hold you bow parallel to the ground, but at a slight angle, and it looked like you were constantly adjusting to control the tension of the cordage on the spindle... is that intentional? I've tried always being parallel to the ground... maybe that's where I'm messing up, because as heat builds up on my cordage, it starts slipping... you looked like you increased tension by adjusting the angle of the bow. I'll try natural cordage one day, but I gotta get good with what I got first! Thanks!!!!!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@nwprimate6416]

No problem at all Chris! Ian did a great job answering. With the bow held parallel, the cordage is rubbing on the next loop down the spindle. If you are working with paracord, bankline, or some other synthetic cordage, this is not a big issue and likely won't damage the cord, but natural fibers are a lot more delicate and require just the right amount of tension and an angle that allows them to rotate the spindle without abraiding each other.

[@nwprimate6416]

Ian Vigus ....you nailed it! 👍

[@nutthrower4415]

Always enjoy, thanks, Am I correct in thinking once you strip the leaves and stems off the vine you no longer have to be concerned about handling? Never mind, remember asking this of you in an earlier vid 🤷‍♂️ thanks again

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks buddy! 👍 The stalks have spines too, but running them through my gloved fingers is enough to knock the majority of them off to the point where they can be handled with only minimal stings.

[@keithklassen5320]

@@nwprimate6416 Also, most if not all of the hairs are aimed upward towards the top of the plant. Plenty of people grasp the nettle at the bottom with bare hands and just swipe upward, breaking the stem hairs and removing the leaves in one swoop, no stings.

[@countsmyth]

Cool video. Would the cord work again when dry?

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

Yay

[@nwprimate6416]

🙂

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

??

[@nwprimate6416]

@@QuantumPyrite_88.9 Just responding to "yay" with a smile.

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

Smile back at ya Bro . Hope you are OK .

[@nwprimate6416]

Doing well. 🙂 I'll be making KZbin posts more frequently going forward so you'll see Lupo soon too.

[@elbowstrike]

Ideally is it better to dry the nettles before weaving?

[@williamwhite9481]

If you let them dry in the sun before you turn them into cord it will be stronger

[@nwprimate6416]

Very true 🙂👍

[@sambulate]

Instead of relegating him to stick-breaking all the time, perhaps you could let Lupo blow the next ember into flame. I mean, a dog needs some variety!

[@nwprimate6416]

😅 I'm not sure if he's ready for bundle duty just yet, but I'll try to find another way to incorporate this talents in the process you.

[@nwprimate6416]

*for you

[@elbowstrike]

How do you like your garburg?

[@user-bw5op6eh9q]

Что за раны у тебя на ладонях?

[@burstfireno1617]

When im pulling the bark, i always get short pieces, dunno what im doing wrong? Yours are very long wow

[@apple11117]

Awesome video! Is there a reason for using the braiding method over reverse wrap? Edit: Nevermind... I just looked at the title...

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks man.

[@bilakos1987]

Even the dog is better at bushcraft than me.

[@2adamast]

Now finding a few wild swans kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4G4aZJopZl2mrsm15s

[@nwprimate6416]

That was awesome! I knew that people had used the fibers for cordage forever but had no idea that it was woven into clothing. Now I want a nettles jacket! Thanks for sharing that Adamst 👍

[@2adamast]

Not sure there was much clothing but here we still call cheesecloth _neteldoek_ (nettelcloth)