Supercharge Your Ember: Venturi Hearth Modification

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

Interesting concept that i had never heard of before.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks for checking this out Lonnie. It's an idea that I had last winter that seemed to make a real difference for me and I've been using it ever since. Let me know if you get a chance to try it out.

[@patrickgermond2750]

Far North Bushcraft And Survival omg are you still alive:) Just kidding. You have a great channel too!

[@keithcronk7980]

NW Primate BROTHER DOES IT MATTER WHAT KIND OF WOOD U USE AS THE HEARTH. I DON'T KNOW THAT'S WHY IAM ASKING. ANYTHING I GET MY HANDS ON IN THE WOODS WILL DO FOR THE HEARTH? THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING BROTHER. KEEP THEM COMING.

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

Keith Cronk - Yep ... It matters . Hearth should be dry for the most part and pass the "thumbnail test" . If your thumbnail can make an indentation in the hearth wood , you are on the right track . Hearth wood such as willow , cotton wood , bass wood , very dry and old pine , old spruce , many many different species . Me ... personally - I stay away from resinous species if they are not older and not completely dry . In many cases , A spindle and hearth made from the same species work very well . Dry pine would be an example as would bass wood , cotton wood , sumac , honey suckle , cedar and many other species . A hearth doesn't have to be made from a solid piece of wood . It can be made from 2 sticks tied on each end and a compatible spindle from the same species can be used . Experiment and have fun Mr. Cronk .

[@fire_x_friction8820]

That technique is what allowed me the first ember with my bowdrill. No doubt after learning that part of process from you probably speeded up my learning curve by a month or so. Moving forward, I would do it like that every time. What's puzzling, I don't see anyone else suggesting that.

[@nwprimate6416]

That is awesome to hear Gary! It's something I found through experimentation, but if other people find it as helpful as I have, I think it will catch on.

[@nlloyd6845]

gary calvert also I have found not making notch into a v but squiring it of a little makes a huge difference.

[@charlesdang2557]

Ingenious! I would think this has been tried before but not widely shared until the age of the internet. I will try for myself. Like another commenter said, if it is dry and hot, perhaps no need, but for less than a minute more of work to improve success, why not? Your suggestion could very well be part of the SOP. Thanks for sharing!

[@philippsonnemann2003]

Thanks for your interesting videos. Cause of them, now I'm able to start fire without lighter or somthing. Great...

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Nice, it has me curious now. Makes me want to see if using one those powder wind indicators you use during bow season for deer would allow us to watch it draw in. Innovative and interesting as usual my friend

[@nwprimate6416]

That is a cool idea!

[@GetUrPhil]

Great, Looks like I'm not the only one that's thought of this but I haven't thought about the notch in the back, just the groove on the bottom.

[@nwprimate6416]

Nice! 👍

[@Zelleram55]

I tried this technique for the first time tonight with hand drill. It definitely seemed to help and accelerate how fast i got an ember. I was using Cattail on pine. Thanks for the tip, i will be using it again.

[@nwprimate6416]

Great to hear!

[@arheru]

I love you. Your annotations and insights have helped me really understand the process of friction fire. Mitch Mitchell drew me in; Lonnie of Far North Bushcraft further widened my horizons; David West explained and demonstrated many different helpful techniques, and you made me finally understand the finer points. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. /A Swedish biologist and teacher.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks arheru! 🙂

[@Peregalooduses]

Great advice! I have used the same trick with hand drill sets and it really helps. Also little pice of cordage tied to the lower part of spindle helps ventilate goal with fresh oxygen, especially when there is no wind.

[@nwprimate6416]

Cool! I like the idea of the little piece of string to provide more air. I have seen this effect when doing a poor job trimming a hand drill spindle and have had fibers come loose. They act like a little fan blowing on the dust pile while you drill. I usually stop and trim them because they can sometimes knock the pile over, but it is cool to hear that you're taking advantage of this on purpose.

[@charlesdang2557]

Guys, those are all great suggestions. The intentional loose fiber - pow! like the OG Batman. I will try carving up a strand the size of a blade of grass or smaller, position it so it doesn't disrupt the dust pile, and tilt the "blade" at an angle to improve the fanning effect.

[@TheScoundrel70]

Very clever! I'll give this a try. Any such tricks to improve my chances of success are most appreciated. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Sean!

[@branni6538]

This is sheer genius! Great effort and thanx for sharing. I think most failed embers when everything is in order kit and technique wise is down to the problem this tunnel solves! Air flow/choked embers. Man this is awesome.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Brann!

[@patrickgermond2750]

That knife looks like the one in a video you just made lol. I love this video. You really gave the world a gift.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Patrick! 🙂

[@davidmashburn9243]

Great innovation. Seems like things like this are staring us in the face. Experimentation is the key. David Mashburn

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks David! It's exciting to think that with more and more people getting into these hobbies that there is a lot of potential for more "innovation." I put innovation in quotes because people have been working with these skills forever have probably already tried anything that we might think of. It is fun to think about rediscovering things that ancient people may have known but were lost to history.

[@keithcronk7980]

NW Primate AMEN.

[@tallcedars2310]

Have been doing the odd attempt at bow drill with successes and mainly failures. Your technique has given me hope there is hope for more embers, cheers.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Tall Cedars. I failed countless times and took months to get my first ember. Just let me know if you have any questions or if there's anything else I can do to help.

[@tallcedars2310]

You progressed quickly! Am getting back into bow drilling after a wrist injury, not sure am able to apply right mount of pressure yet. In the meantime am getting organized to use your method here. Thank you for the offer to help with bow drilling & lets hope I have some measure of progress from here, all the best.

[@user-zg1qz8oz2u]

Now that is a game changer! Thank you.

[@Woodswalker1965]

Always learning. Im trying this for sure. Thank you.

[@nwprimate6416]

Let me know how it works for you Woodswalker 1965!

[@garyminick1050]

You've got me hooked I do that to all my notches now .

[@nwprimate6416]

Awesome! 👍

[@gus1911]

I can't wait to give this a try! Thanks for sharing!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Gus!

[@shanejustice7307]

That little bit, will save a life.

[@petertaillaert7559]

Gonna try this next weekend ! Thanks for sharing !

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Peter. I hope it is helpful for you.

[@robvegart]

Totally agree with this one. As Tom Hanks said to Wilson in Castaway, as he was trying to make fire 'The air got to it'...

[@2manysigns]

Your videos are great . Fluid mind .

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Geoffrey!

[@garyminick1050]

You've converted me I carve that notch on the bottom every time now !

[@nwprimate6416]

It can't hurt!

[@clippertalk]

Great video thanks for the tip. what wood did you use in the demo?

[@nwprimate6416]

I hope it's helpful for you. This was Western Red Cedar...one of the most reliable options in the Pacific Northwest.

[@PJ_Grateful]

Big thanks for the insight! Great tip👍👍👍

[@nwprimate6416]

You're very welcome MrSharp. Thanks for taking the time to check this out.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Seems logical. Would be easy to prove to myself. Follow one of my many fails or difficult ignitions with a venturi cut and see the difference... Thanks!

[@nwprimate6416]

It can be hard to rule out other variables, but it really seems to help me, and I expect you'll see similar benefits. I hope you'll keep me posted either way.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

I've been in a Hand drilling mood lately... I may try tomorrow. Are you saying that as the ember draws air through the restriction it causes a low pressure on the ember side so more air is drawn to the ember? Why does an ignited ember cause a reverse of air flow as smoke is then exhausted through what was the air intake?

[@nwprimate6416]

I probably should have been more clear about this. My impression of what is going on is that the ember draws in oxygen through the tunnel from the far side of the hearth just like a wood stove. This continues and accelerates as the ember grows, and only reverses when I blow on it or fan it with my hand. At that point, the notch side of the hearth becomes the forced intake, and the far side becomes the exhaust. I hope that makes better sense.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

I see what you're saying. Fanning is what reverses the in and the out. WOW, think of all the factors that play into the success of that scenario... permeability of the dust of different species, saps,moisture, how fast the spindle is boring through.... there's probably a lot of difference between how you spin up a coal and I spin up a coal if we used the same set. Can't wait to try it.

[@MrSrtman18]

Do u do this on all bowdrill? Also the hand drill I'm guessing. Thanks awesome

[@nwprimate6416]

Yes, I use this almost all the time for both hand drill and bow drill hearths. In the summer time when everything is bone dry, I might not bother with it, but if I have any doubt about whether I'll get an ember, I take the extra minute to carve the tunnel.

[@brianhouseholder1074]

Great info I may need to try this method for the first time. Lol I just got the char method down so far but you make this look interesting thanks for sharing.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Brian :)

[@jerrytalley802]

That seems logical and appears to help. I’ve seen other very competent bow drillers say “the undercut notch isn’t necessary,” but this not only goes a step further to do it but seems to prove that wrong?

[@chloedemeter5473]

Well it is true, it's not usually necessary if you're skilled. But it does make things easier. If you're really good with ideal conditions and materials it's probably not needed and while it's quick to do it's still just a waste of the time and effort. Less skilled/worse conditions/subpar materials and it can make the difference between getting an ember or not. While not always necessary it's useful to know how to maximize your odds should you ever find that the usual methods aren't working out satisfactorily.

[@SoerenGraves]

Thanks for sharing, I will definately try this out next time

[@nwprimate6416]

I hope it helps! 🙂

[@GetUrPhil]

I recently thought of this and was wondering why no one else had thought of it, I guess I wasn't the only one.

[@nwprimate6416]

That's happened to me quite a few times too. 🙂 People have been playing with these skills for untold thousands of years, so there's bound to be lots of independently converging ideas, and anything we discover is likely to actually be a re-discovery.

[@johnadams8902]

Im definitely gonna go try it Thank you my friend.👍

[@willieneckbone5035]

That's a good idea. Thanks for the video

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Willie!

[@vancouverislandbushcraft4879]

ok that is freaking brilliant

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks! I think it is especially helpful with less than ideally dried materials, so given your location I think you'll find it useful as well.

[@garyharmon1155]

Awesome video, thank you.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks for watching Gary!

[@gco40gray82]

Do you use pine most of the time for your bow drill sets? White pine?

[@MegaWoodswalker]

Thumbs up brother!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Woods Walker!

[@markirish7599]

Brilliant video thanks for sharing

[@SWheatleyOutdoors]

Thats an awesome idea

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks buddy!

[@patrickgermond2750]

Great video

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Patrick!

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

Time to generate a CAD program the ancients would approve of . Making a bow drill fire in complete darkness using a thermal imaging camera might be really awesome . I need to look into this . ATB

[@nwprimate6416]

😅 This one really bugs you doesn't? It could be all in my head, but it sure seems like it helps me.

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

I'm not remotely bugged and if it works for you = Go for it . My "CAD" comment is a bit sarcy / sarcasm , but not meant to be an insult . One can appreciate the laws of thermodynamics . Bernoullis' work as I recall deals more with fluids and a venturi effect involving liquids as well as gaseous properties . Just an over opinionated SOB here who leaves advanced science in the lab and doesn't take it with me to the woods . You will understand ... or you wont . I like primitive because it is an escape from modern . There is a type of sacredness about "primitive" . In regards to using a thermal imaging camera , I'm completely serious . It would be interesting to see the heat on the drill and the hearth as well as body heat increase during the process / caloric heat . You always get my RESPECT . I can unsub and leave you be .

[@nwprimate6416]

I sure hope you don't! I was just ribbing you back. Your comments are always among my favorites and I have nothing but respect for your reverence when it comes to the traditional skills that got us here.

[@linklesstennessee2078]

Good information

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Linkless Tennessee!

[@RickTOutdoorAdventure1969]

Thankyou for sharing 🖒🔥

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks for watching Rick! I hope it's helpful for you. 🙂

[@1980Baldeagle]

I like it. like I tell everyone about everything, "It's all just math".

[@nwprimate6416]

It's funny how some people view the world as being "all math" and some people view it as being "all physics"....and they're both right. 😉

[@steveedges1108]

What is the best wood for the harth board and the spindle

[@darrelllee7946]

Great idea, thnks

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Darrell!

[@HeriadyPoeloetDomo]

Thanks

[@weedeater64]

Pretty sure you won't be getting any venturi effect there, or if you do it'll be so negligible as to be nil. You'll certainly get more air to the ember though.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks weedeater64. I think the tunnel is what provides the majority of the benefits; the venturi chamber is just a little extra insurance. This stuff is hard to test scientifically, but it is fun to speculate and I don't think it's hurting anything.

[@rooster4669]

What wood is that

[@nwprimate6416]

Western red cedar

[@rooster4669]

@@nwprimate6416 ty

[@michaelalvarado597]

Makes sense to me..

[@nwprimate6416]

Me too!

[@andremus5190]

Why does your punch bowl of innovative bushcraft, skilled videography and excellent journalism have a turd floating in it? Ditch the synthesised elevator schlock. I love your videos NW! Keep them coming! ..and help your viewers watch them unmuted!

[@nwprimate6416]

Your point is very well received sir! 😆 The music is my least favorite part of making these videos. The way I understand it, I either have to choose from a very limited selection of royalty free "turds" or use copyrighted music at the expense of KZbin running ads on the videos. Skipping the music altogether seems like an obvious choice, but I speed up a lot of footage so there would be long awkward sections of no audio there. I am definitely open to suggestions. I'm still cracking up at the way you put this, and it's right up there with my favorite KZbin comments of all time.

[@andremus5190]

You are magnanimous in the extreme, a scholar and a gentleman. Have you watched -I'm sure you must have- "Primitive Technology"? One of the key elements of his 17-million-plus-views channel is total absence of background music and voice-over. Why? Nothing can beat the sound of a bubbling brook, the sputter of ignited kindling and open birdsong. He refuses to use sped-up footage for this reason. Do the same NW, and Prim Tech will have to watch his back! You have an outstanding channel!

[@craigmooring2091]

Nevertheless, if the Venturi effect works in the lab but not in the wild, it is of little use to the outdoorsman. If it can be show to work in the wild

[@craigmooring2091]

[COMMENT CONT'D} ...in the wild but cannot be duplicated in the lab, who cares?!! You have shown that it works in the woods of the NW, which is good to know.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Craig. I'm pretty confident that it helps me, so I hope you find it useful.

[@pplrstrange]

I do that while driving my car to add airflow

[@nwprimate6416]

😆

[@kurjifotr5325]

You could just put small stick under, no need for notch on bottom.

[@kurjifotr5325]

Love your trying and experimenting.

[@drowssapma]

Every single video I have seen accelerates the most important step.....WHY???????????

[@nwprimate6416]

Which step? What do you mean?

[@jean-pierrefrancofievez3328]

Great video! Much thanks!