How to Make a Pump Drill

[@TheAdvertisement]

10 years later, I'm pretty much solely using this video to make a pump drill for my research project haha, thanks Jim.

[@paleomanjim]

You are welcome, glad it helped and thanks for watching

[@johnwilkinson5718]

Jim, are you still making videos and paleo weapons? I really enjoy your videos. Isn't there other people that pressure flake off blades with a device that has a longhandle with a pivot at the end to press down on the core to flake off blades? Your method is superb but I use a wheelchair and wondered if I could make something with a lever to press down on the point to flake off blades.

[@psychoguy1017]

I've been dying to find a channel that focuses on nothing but primitive tools, and so far this is the one. I applaud you for keeping the old ways alive.

[@paleomanjim]

We survived for tens of thousands of years with primitive tools! Modern tools and technology make life comfortable, but they come with plenty of drawbacks! thanks....

[@danielgandara5102]

At 4 minutes he uses a power drill to make his pump dril

[@sunnyray7819]

paleomanjim No more videos? I have seen drill bits in a private collection that looked just like a modern one....

[@81stickum]

psychoguy1017 primitive pathways is a good channel for primitive

[@gamingwithross410]

paleomanjim, Please do more videos, we all love them.

[@jeragen]

First, I very much enjoyed this. Second, it's kinda funny to see someone use a power drill to make a hand drill! Cool video regardless :]

[@Terry853]

Thanks for this. i have always enjoyed your vids and learned a lot.

[@opalprestonshirley1700]

Awesome Pump Drill. Never saw one before but a great tool. Thanks for sharing.

[@shanek6582]

I sure do miss you buddy

[@gyanhawkins3585]

what wood should i use for a fireboard

[@zolton9358]

+Anima Football You should use the softest wood you can find. Some common ones are pine and willow

[@hansenator5000]

i like how you've been posting many videos lately. Always looking forward to the next.

[@PolInHM]

Excellent piece, Jim!

[@paleomanjim]

thanks!

[@levi7173]

please make more video’s i loved them!

[@KCKayceeKaraoke]

Jim come back. We miss you!

[@johnh8493]

kay cee he has a rc airplane channel now that is active!

[@thefeatheredfrontiersman8135]

February 2021.... We miss him!

[@ando_1250]

Great video. Thank you, sir.

[@MountainSurvival]

Does anyone know why jim stopped making videos. they are the best , every single one of them.

[@sooperpork391]

He might've died tbh

[@williamwhite9481]

@@sooperpork391 he has a second channel that he still uploads on. Paleomanjim2

[@davidleasure9138]

Great demonstration

[@davidbolduc828]

Great videos Jim. Hope to see some new ones.

[@mrbluenun]

Hi, And many thanks for the upload, great stuff and skill.

[@spammerwhammer5526]

I just stumbled upon your channel and am highly impressed with the pump drill. I watch many bushcraft/survival videos in the hope of learning how man discovered tool making, fire, shelters etc. but the problem I find is that all of them rely upon modern tools to replicate ancient facsimiles. For example, and I'm not pointing fingers, you use electric drills and a Leatherman multitool. What would be great is to step back and answer "so how did our ancestors prepare flat sandstone discs without any modern kit?"

[@joohop]

very nice work jim you got yourself a new subscriber

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks

[@BelnapCustomKnives]

great video

[@buckmaster131]

Awesome video sir youve got another subscriber keep the good work up thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@paleomanjim]

seth hansen You are welcome, glad you like the vids....

[@inumangalover]

Is there anything else you can use for the drill tip besides what you’re using?

[@northerntraditions5842]

Is anyone else what happened to this gifted craftsman and artist? I have watched him since the beginning and have been coming back and back hoping for a new video upload.

[@j.shorter4716]

I don’t think he does as much flint knapping anymore. He has another channel where he uploads other stuff unrelated to this. I think the channel is called the curious nomad. You can also search paleomanjim2.

[@paulandrulis4672]

paleomanjim, a thought. For extremely deep holes consider an inset drill tip just wider than the drill shaft. The back of the point slightly smaller than the shaft. Use your knife to cut a groove in the drill to inset the cordage into the shaft and secure the point. Theoretically, your drilling depth at that point would be your available drill shaft length. You can also make your point shorter and stronger. Basically, the point would look like the long ones you are making, but without that huge T shape at the back.

[@paleomanjim]

Paul Andrulis Thanks for the tip Paul, I hope to give it another try soon.....

[@paulandrulis4672]

paleomanjim Be sure to post a video. I really appreciate the quality information you provide. I have learned a lot from you concerning flint.

[@NWIPrepper19113]

Very cool.

[@Mr1SUPERdoodle]

THIS WOULD ALSO MAKE A GOOD FIRE STARTER WITH A DIFFERENT SPINDLE, INTERESTING VIDEO, THANX

[@oneeyejoe6909]

Cool video! Just subscribed.

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks

[@C.Hawkshaw]

How cool is that?!

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks

[@charleschristopher9178]

Thanks for the video. I doubt that I'll need to build such a drill, but I like having a clue about how to do so. It occurs to me that a lighter weight flywheel might increase the efficiency of the bit's cutting. I'm thinking of my experience with using jewelers' saws and drilling with very thin bits. Generally pushing down on the drill is counter-productive as the bits dull quicker and are much more prone to breakage and the same applies to cutting with a wire blade saw extra force just breaks the blades. The hardest thing I had to learn was to let the tool do the work. The drill you're using must exert force downward as part of its design, but it may be that a smaller flywheel will extend point life. IDK,just a random thought that popped up.

[@paleomanjim]

Good thoughts, thanks for sharing. The pump drill is a simple machine, but optimizing the components, including counterweight diameter and mass along with the intended use involve a lot of experimentation. And then the shape of the drill bit pays a big role also. A lot more testing needs to be done along with comparisons with stone age tools believed to be drill bits. It would be a great study project for an experimental archeologist.....

[@kevinbradleygardeningandou9767]

Great video. could you use a grinding wheel of a bench grinder for your fly wheel. Then use the drill sideways, so that another person could sharpen a knife or abrade a stone blade. just a thought. thanks for sharing.

[@paleomanjim]

Yes, a grinding wheel would work great, but the arbor hole is large and would need a bushing to reduce its size down to the spindle. Good idea, thanks for sharing....

[@makmax1018]

hello from ohio, my name is patrick .I love work with wood and stone and lately i've been making Maquahuitl , but i have not been able to make those long obsidian blades. I was wondering if i could get a set of those obsidian blades.

[@tomlawer3885]

Wow this actually helped me other vids are such bad quality

[@paleomanjim]

Great, glad it was helpful

[@devonauker7743]

Nice I like that

[@RasaelX]

Egyptians drilled in sandstone using a stick as a drill, fine sand poured into the resulting hole. Sand hammering the stick, and because it is relatively hard, fairly effectively gnawed at most stones. :)

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks for the tip. I had briefly tried that before but the sand kept pushing out resulting in just wood against stone. I got another tip to try using river cane filled with flint chips attached to the tip of the stick. I'll continue to experiment, thanks..

[@tonygray3787]

Yes come back please

[@MythicGuitarCompany]

I heard the word Pedernales, and also heard a specific type of bird. Are you in Central Texas?

[@hansenator5000]

Hahaha. Wow, I was just watching your videos!

[@w00tklumpWn]

i wonder how the wheel is attached to the spindle. Is there a horizontal pin underneath it? Couldn't figure it out in the vid. You put it on and the it's fixed to the spindle. So, why doesn't the wheel come off?^^

[@paleomanjim]

The spindle shaft is tapered and a bit thicker at the base than the top. The wheel is placed onto the top of the spindle and slides down until the spindle thickness is greater than the wheel hole diameter. At that point the wheel needs to be pushed down another couple inches to get a good tight fit. No pins needed, just a good compression fit.

[@backyard_bowman3338]

could you use just a nail or something like that for the "drill bit"

[@paleomanjim]

Yes, a nail with a flattened head will drill into wood just fine. You can also use a flake of chert or flint, preferably a triangular flake thin enough to be able to haft to the spindle. Be sure to align the tip of the flake or nail with the center of the spindle so that it does not wobble. Hope you give it a try, it is a great weekend project.....

[@backyard_bowman3338]

paleomanjim Okay, thanks

[@bogus_not_me]

Any new videos coming? Looks like over 2 years since the last one. One question - how do you clean up the tiny very sharp flakes from making a point? Looks like it would be a hazard for people and animals to leave them on the ground...

[@paleomanjim]

Have a couple ideas for some new videos, not sure when I will find the time to do them, too many hobbies, not enough time! Yes, the tiny flakes can be a problem, I usually leave them on the tarp and dump them into a bucket when finished.....the bad news is tiny ones that usually find their way into the house and into my wife feet!

[@bogus_not_me]

paleomanjim Thanks. I watched almost every one you posted and now need to start making little pieces of rock. Would a shopvac work to clean up the tarp? I will try it...

[@paleomanjim]

It should work. Happy chipping!

[@1911BIGDOG]

Excellent video! thank you for sharing! could this be used for primitive fire making also? and would a stone grinding wheel work as a flywheel? or do you need the weight of the mortar?

[@paleomanjim]

Ron Banks I have a video showing how to make fire using the pump drill, it works very well. Yes, a grinding wheel will make an excellent flywheel, almost anything will work. Some folks use a short length of wood such as a branch as a fly wheel and that works also....jim

[@1911BIGDOG]

Awesome! Thanks Jim! I'm going to look for the fire starting video.

[@jdobaj]

can i ask you which wood did you use?? thanks

[@jeffherberger7156]

Hay Jim try a finer grain sandstone to try and drill through it should work u use Texas flint to drill my sandstone but its very fine grain and won't go through the course stuff

[@jhippl]

do you have a method for doing this in the field with out a rock as a counter weight?

[@paleomanjim]

This pump drill is probably best suited for the camp or village settlements. In the field I would place the drill bit directly onto a hand drill and spin it by hand. The counter weight is essential but can be made from anything, including a short tree branch....

[@seb8881]

Why don't you make videos anymore

[@davidbraut7051]

Jim hasn't posted in 8 years? I hope you're ok. Thanks for all the great videos!

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks for the concern! I'm still here and kicking! Good for another 8 years at least!

[@deepseaknight416]

Is there any way for me to get one of your stone blades. Do u sell them ir have a website

[@paleomanjim]

Sorry, I do not sell blades anymore.....It is a hobby

[@KLD2929]

I wander if the fly wheel could be made from clay instead of cement?

[@paleomanjim]

Yes, I am sure clay would work well and was probably used in the past. It would probably be best to fire the clay under a camp fire or kiln to harden it. Kenneth Davenport

[@jamespfp]

Very cool video, and it earned you another subscriber. I have one question though -- how long did it take in each test sample of wood you used? Mostly for curiosity's sake that I ask, because I am likely going to be replicating the drill. I also thought the choice of flywheel size was a nice touch.

[@paleomanjim]

With a stone bit the pump drill reaches depths of 1" or so in wood in less than a minute. Drilling deeper holes would require a longer bit, a more secure hafting and perhaps a heavier flywheel to keep it going. I was surprised that it drills better on harder woods than softer woods, probably because the harder woods have less drag on the bit and thus less torque on the spindle. I will experiment more with it later in the year when the weather cools down a bit! thanks....

[@michaelrussell346]

I got rocks could you tell me wht thay are

[@mkaberli]

As far as drilling a hole in stone is concerned, prehistoric Native Americans probably used hollow reeds for drilling. Experimental archaeology has demonstrated that this method works well. It has also been demonstrated that ground up debitage might have been used in the hole to help in drilling.

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks, several people have suggested using cane filled with gravel or debitage. I gave it a quick try on flat sandstone but the bit wandered too much. It may require starting the hole by some other means, perhaps pecking. Once a pilot hole is started large enough to keep the cane centered I believe it should work so long as the debitage does not spill out. As far as I know no one has video'd the process and it seems like a worthwhile effort. thanks again......jim

[@mkaberli]

Years ago, I found an unfinished bannerstone. The hole was never completed. looking inside the hole, one can see a nipple where the stone fit inside the hollow of the reed. I also found another unfinished bannerstone, where the maker had pitted the surface of the prospective hole, but never started drilling. Unfortunately, I don't have either artifact in my possession, but I do have a fragment from the side of a bannerstone that shows each drilling episode with a reed. I can send you a photo, if you like, and assuming I can relocate the artifact.

[@arctictimberwolf]

Hi Jim, I was just thinkin' that another easy and Free Way people can make the weight for the Spindle would be to drill a Hole in the Bottom of a Large Tuna Can or other shallow but wide diameter scrap metal food container and then simply fill it with Pebbles and Sand and Clay or things like Stuff😃

[@paleomanjim]

Should work, thanks!

[@dsrM]

@@paleomanjim hi are you uploading on any other channels?

[@robknott1597]

miss your videos still where are you jim!

[@TheReaperHunter]

Hi just found your channel. Subscribed. Have you make a video on how to make a Native American Bow?

[@PaudinsDrawings]

How does the concrete hang in there?

[@Katalowins]

+Armando G. there is a taper to the dowel that keeps the concrete locked in place. you would need to scrape a slight taper into a dowel you would get at the hardware store.

[@blueelectricfusion]

if you are interested look at some old colonial drill bits for wood. there is some similar patterns as to what you are doing.

[@MythicGuitarCompany]

I'll bet you can make fire with something like this...

[@MythicGuitarCompany]

only thing is, you are making a drill, so how do you drill holes in the drill before you made the drill? catch 22

[@blueelectricfusion]

use a knife

[@MythicGuitarCompany]

Haha

[@LionsDenGaming1]

ThinkSpore .com the native Americans used a hand drill similar to this drill but with out a fly wheal and a bow

[@chaoschashiro]

they would use boiling viniger pour it on the sand stone and it would sorta go to town on however they wanted,some chemical reaction,idk science class was 15 years ago

[@kevinbradleygardeningandou9767]

Was there a primitive grinder ?

[@charleschristopher9178]

Look up "metate." Is that the kind of grinder your referring to?

[@kevinbradleygardeningandou9767]

Charles Christopher Hi Charles and Jim, I was thinking of the evolution of the pump drill, did it lead to the treadle mechanism. You answered my question with the Metate which is a primitive grinder for milling , thanks for that. I think my question should have been, powered grinder for milling. An example of the Metate would have been a saddle Quern, would the next evolution be the rotary hand Quern and was there a treadle milling machine or did the development go straight to water then wind power. Sorry for so many questions but my interest is piqued. The pump drill must have been revolutionary the first Black and Decker.

[@charleschristopher9178]

I've seen some old grinding wheels equipped with a short crank-shaft which is attached to a foot pedal that are effectively the precursor to a modern bench grinder. Is that what you're referring to?

[@paleomanjim]

Charles Christopher My dad had a small hand crank double grinding wheel in the garage for knife sharpening when I was a kid, brought back some memories....

[@bigfootbeliever6985]

What happened to you posting videos???

[@icenesiswayons9962]

Jim? Do you still answer your comments? Having a real hard time finding flint or obsidian. Can you help?

[@angelus_solus]

He hasn't uploaded anything for the last two years. I seriously doubt he's around to make comment replies.

[@animalzamzam]

Plz come back we miss you

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks, I do appreciate that and glad you like the video's, Jim

[@cronkthecrunk]

7 years ago? Are you still alive or just give up making videos? Hoping for the latter already found out one great flint knappers I follow on KZbin passed away.

[@paleomanjim]

Yep, still going strong, just doing different hobbies but may get back into primitive skills again next summer, thanks

[@cronkthecrunk]

@@paleomanjim glade to hear it 🧡

[@greenmagic8ball198]

5:23 looks more like an isosceles to me JK☺ It's all good.

[@JVANDNETO]

meu amigo voce deveria ir para o largados e pelados kkkkkk very goooooood

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks

[@user-gv9uw7sr2x]

How can I make this in the woods with no electric? You should have showed being made with out electric.

[@paleomanjim]

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 The pump drill is really not a survival method to make fire, the bow or hand drill would be much better for that. The pump drill was more of a tool used by settled cultures for various purposes. Once made it probably remained in the camp or workshop for easy use.

[@paulandrulis4672]

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Make a bowdrill (think friction fire) with a drill point. Doesn't work as good as a pump drill, but works to make the holes necessary for a pump drill.

[@eightbitbrits4129]

Why don't you upload anymore?

[@eightbitbrits4129]

KID PERFECT are you serious?? if so I'm so sorry for him

[@Fjasjdnwsussj]

1:44 25 what inches, feet, cm, I don’t know what ya mean

[@Dougarrowhead]

" is the symbol for inches dont they still teach that in school

[@philipselman2564]

The only things is if you are in the forest ( woods ) where are you going to find a drill string or flint lol

[@paleomanjim]

How about shoes laces? This is ot a survival method, more of something that may have been used by tribal folks who settled down and were not on the move all the time

[@devwasinhton9180]

Screw power drills! Let's do it the stone age style.

[@jasonhoward3899]

that would make a good fire starter drill just pack the pieces up in your camping pack and use it instead of a bow drill

[@paleomanjim]

JASON HOWARD I would prefer to carry the hand drill, much lighter, but of course the pump drill would be easier.....

[@SigynsHope]

I cringed at your using the blade of the knife to smooth the spindle by raking across. 😢 The square back edge would have done it just as well. Sharpening trauma i suppose 😅 making a concrete flywheel is clever simple and cheap though 😊

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks

[@fitofight8540]

Using modern tools to make an ancient tool. I would have been impressed if he used primitive tools.

[@isaaccarranza1039]

I should of got sand paper an sand the stick

[@ethanjamesgarcia3914]

You look like James Hetfield😂

[@paleomanjim]

???

[@ethanjamesgarcia3914]

@ the singer from Metallica

[@Борд-и8и]

Only you can from the pile of things to do today ..... prehistoric one can start making motors for space launch themselves !? ( Exceptional nation) rather than mindless barbarians we buy ?

[@Mikeocxlong]

He died

[@paleomanjim]

Who died? Still alive and kicking here

[@Xguy890]

thee pumpdrill is to much work...i just stick with my own method friction fire....and its called Fire Plow Hawaiian,Samoan Polynesian Style Baby O0O0OWWWW!!!! Hahaha And It's Easy And It's Fast And It Works....Rubb 2 Sticks Together It Works Hahaha....

[@angelus_solus]

Yeah, try drilling a hole with that method and tell us how it went.

[@markhaywood7307]

Great demonstration.

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks