Bow drill / fire drill

Bow Drill / Fire Drill Kit

Get a good start on friction fire! 

It is the golden standard to be able to create your own ember from materials found in nature. Many start trying, but few actually see results. 

At survivalstore, we know how difficult it is, so we want to help you as best we can. 

It’s not just about willpower and muscle strength to create an ember with a bow drill / fire drill. You need to know the dimensions of the materials you will use and understand the mechanisms involved in constructing your own set. 

This bow drill starter kit can help with that. 

The bow drill kit includes: 

- A bow to which you can attach the accompanying cord

- A board with a notch where the friction and ember will come from

- The spindle, which is the stick that creates friction with the board

- A handhold, which goes on the end of the spindle so you can press and control the process

- Easily ignitable tinder material

- A ball bearing for the handhold 

So, what do you do?  

It’s important to note that the bow drill kit does not create fire or flames, but an ember. The ember comes from the friction between the spindle and the board.

Here, as with all natural-material fires, preparation is key. You need to have enough dry, fibrous material ready to use with your ember. You have plenty of time once the ember is made with your fire drill / bow drill, but not so much that you can run around like a headless chicken looking for dry material. 

The friction first serves as a tool to get material (wood dust) into the board’s notch, after which you apply greater pressure on the spindle to create enough friction between the spindle and the board so the wood dust ignites and smolders into an ember. 

Note: Before you start, find a dry surface for your ember to land on from the board. We use an old piece of leather, but a thin piece of wood, a dry leaf, or bark can also be used. As long as it’s dry. 

When you need wood dust, experiment a bit. As you learn the method, you can hear when the spindle “bites” into the material and produces wood dust. When you have enough material in your notch, you can focus on the friction that will heat your material. It will smoke, first a little, then thick smoke. You’re on the right track. 

When you get an ember, take your time. The ember can smolder for 3-4 minutes. So catch your breath, shake your arms, and prepare your material. 

Now you can carefully transfer your ember into the bird’s nest of material you prepared beforehand, gently squeeze around the ember, and blow it warmer and bigger until your material ignites. You have now made fire with sticks! Build up with small twigs and then larger pieces of wood until your fire can burn. 

The bow drill kit can give you a taste of what it takes and inspire you to make your own kit. 

It’s a fantastic process that we warmly recommend :-) 

Specifications for Bow Drill / Fire Drill Starter Kit