Elderberry

[dixieangler]

We have this here but it is a variation called an American Black Elderberry. I see it (a plant or bush shrub, not a tree) ever so often along roadsides in thick brush (not very abundant). I hear and read the stems make good spindles for the hand drill but would it make a good spindle for the firebow? No baseboard from this that I know of since I don't think there is enough wood on it for this. I think the stems and other parts of the plant are not thick enough to get a board so I guess an alternative must be used for the baseboard. I am guessing that an Elderberry spindle is hard and that most medium hardwoods (semi-soft or semi-hard depending on how you look at it) for a baseboard would work. Please correct me if I am wrong in this line of thinking. I have no intention of using it as a hand drill, no need to work myself hard when a firebow is less work.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?sym ... 04_avp.tif

[dixieangler]

I collected a six to eight inch spindle and a foot long board yesterday. Both are from the elderberry. I will have to let them dry out as all I could find was green wood for a straight spindle and board. I was just reading what Tom Brown Jr. had to say about hand drills (I am going to try this on the firebow) and he mentions using mullein and burdock, both of which have pith centers. It appears that this American Black Elderberry also has a pith (slightly soft and spongy) center with a hard outer shell. The pith has hardened in the dead and dry elderberry I am seeing. So maybe the pith will harden once the wood dries out. If I wait too long beyond usefulness, the pith may rot out leaving me with a hollow tube. McPherson talks about woody cattail stems also having soft centers and that he has to shave off some of the hard outer shell for it to work.

[dixieangler]

Now I know why when I see folks using Elderberry that they only use a stem for a spindle and any other board. LOL The outer wood shell (hollow part) is super hard. I threw the board away. Useless. The spindle was boring through my oak bearing block it was so hard (probably better to use an Elderberry spindle with a rock or other harder bearing block). I should have known better after cutting out the small board when it was so hard. But I had to give it a try. At least I know I can use a stem for a spindle along with any other medium hard board.

[Kingoftheflock]

wish i could but im pretty useless when it comes to bowdrills

[Kortoso]

wish i could but im pretty useless when it comes to bowdrills

For some people the simple fire drill is easier; fewer things to go wrong.

[dixieangler]

For some people the simple fire drill is easier; fewer things to go wrong.

Fire drill? Isn't that an emergency drill we had to practice in case of fire when we were in school? LOL The firebow is the easiest I know of. All the other friction methods are more labor intensive and harder to put it mildly. Well maybe except for the Pump Drill that is hard to build or maybe the Fire Thong (not the thong tied to the Hand Drill) that requires rattan or extremely hard natural cord or vine rubbed against softer wood to create friction.

Pump Drill
http://wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fi ... illNN.html

Fire Thong on this web page letter g. (Figure 16-10)
http://onlinebooks.110mb.com/af%2064-4/64-4-16.htm

[Kingoftheflock]

Fire Thong

that sounds incredibly painful.

[dixieangler]

When I was a kid, a pair of thongs meant what we call today a pair of flip flops. My goodness how folks can mess up the King's English language........usually for something nasty or perverted.

[Kingoftheflock]

yea you wouldnt believe how its changed. i cant say 4 words in a row without a "thats what she said"

[coon4492]

that's what she said

[Kingoftheflock]

see what i mean?