Mix & Match Bow Drill with Natural Cordage

The vast majority of the time, I end up using the same wood for both the hearth and spindle, but this experiment showed me the value of being flexible.

Western red cedar branches are an excellent friction fire material, but they have a continuous curve which makes it difficult to get a good spindle out of one.

Western hemlock saplings are abundant and perfectly sized for nice straight spindles, but are often times too hard or too rotten to ideal for a hearth.

Because these two species often grow side by side, it makes sense to get a nice dry hearth from the cedar branches, and an easy spindle from the hemlock sapling.

I also experimented with a new natural cordage material that I am very excited about. I have been playing with cedar withies (twisted branches) a lot lately and noticed that the bark on the branches comes off very easily and is both strong and flexible.

I have used bark from the trunks of mature cedars, and the withies themselves, but this was the first time I’ve tried using bark from the branches as bow drill cordage.

I am excited about this both because this bark is much easier to access, and because it yields great material without the need to scar the mature trees by taking bark from the trunk.

Bow Drill Set: Western hemlock spindle on western red cedar branch hearth, with a fatwood bearing block and cedar branch bark braided cordage and a moss tinder bundle.

Knife: ESEE 6

Music:

Jebase: Relax https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiMHMhqUDYo
Nowe: Horizon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g845F6ORCOc
Luca Strangoli: Last of the Mohicans Theme (Guitar) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kbv1OpIpaA