Quote Originally Posted by Stuart View Post
Ranger, I need your help. I'm on day three of failure at generating a coal with a fire bow and drill. When I first started, I was using a perfectly straight pressed wood dowel as the drill. Now, after two days of using stuff I found in the back yard, I can NOT keep the drill from popping out of place and flipping out of the bow. I'm even using the same hearth, same top piece, and same bow.
Fire bows are tricky to say the least! On your base board you need a couple of things, one is that you need to use your knife to cut a bit of an impression for your stick to fit into, then you need air, so I usually crack the base board so I can get air to the coal I'm generating. I also make a handle that has an impression in it for me to apply plenty of downward pressure without losing grip or chewing up my hand.

I'm doing some camping this weekend, maybe I'll do a set up and take some pics for you if I have time.