Thanks Ranger. I've got the proper cut in my hearth (base board). The problem I've been having the last few days is that my drill keeps popping out of the bow and off the hearth, no matter how many different kinds of top holds I try.

As far as I've gotten is lots of smoke and a pile of black dust that I couldn't quite get to form a coal. At that point I suspected that maybe it was the wood that was the problem. I think I've just got a lot more practice to do.