I think this video and video 8 are probably the best videos on the bow drill I have ever seen. The way you break it down step by step in detail is phenomenal. Thank you very much.
Dave, I've been watching you videos for a good while, you taught me how to make my first primitive fire, and I have learned very much from you. I think I've taken your videos for granted. It just hit me how.. vital these videos are. Its the information that god willing you should never have to use, but god forbid you don't know. Thank you man. If I have to protect my family one day, I won't forget who taught me how to.
what's interesting to me is your patience. whenever i get an ember, i try to rush it into my bird's nest and try to immediately blow it into a flame. you really take your time and don't rush the process. great video, learned a lot.
Dave, that is the first time i´ve seen a "proper" bow drill explanation...Thank you so much for making it so clear and for doing such a good job. We watch you from Spain and always enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work!!
Absolutely agree with the stopping to think, rest and calm down part. Thanks for all you do for us Brother, you've made life better and more enjoyable for me and my family. Hope you stay mativated to do this stuff for a long time to come
Great video Dave. I like the follow up with the damp materials and the explanation as to the changes that need to be made from the way you did it when they were dry!
Some things you just can't teach, it comes from experience, like telling when the wood has gotten damp, ect. There is absolutely no substitute for experience. Get out in the woods, your yard, whatever, and practice, practice, practice those skills, then when you think you have it mastered, practice some more. You will not just remember what Dave and others taught in a video, but you will remember after you have done it 10,000 times. Thanks again Dave.
I appreciate the time that you take to share your knowledge with us strangers Dave. I will absolutley be purchasing some of your Pathfinder branded products as thanks. I pay a hundred bucks a month for satellite TV, which provides me nothing of interest, yet youtube channels like yours take up 75% of my after work lounge time, and I learn as well. It's only fair that I contribute back to you...Thanks.
Nice job Dave. Just watching this now. I seen the 1st one a couple of weeks ago but somehow missed this one. You are right, form... Practice, practice, practice. Gotta love the outdoors, primitive skills living & spending time in the dirt brother. Again thanks.
I responded to Part-1 but it doesn't show: So, Thank God & Kudos for doing the very best demo of a real world bow drill scenario. Knowledge, Skills & Attitude to show how its really done. Other people have their pre-made kits but are fooling themselves when they get caught in life & death situations. Many thanks Dave on the best fire making video on you tube.
great vid. Dave, I always make my notches small so as it will not eat my board up for 1 and 2 for the very reason you showed here that you can do it in damp conditions. But you hit the nail on the head when you said that proper form is 95% of getting a coal. Most peole rip into it hard an fast. Until the dust gets built up in the notch take your time.
Well Dave, I think that confirmed my comment on the previous bow drill video about having the notch close to the center of the burn. It seemed to have worked the first and second time for you even with damp wood. Great video's
Excellent demo, I can literary go through the mistakes that I have been making and say "ahh that's what I need to do differently" . Thank you for the step by step process
I Love all your vid's Dave and think your the best. I find when I work with a harder wood that if I put just a few grains of sand in the socket on the fire board, it helps a ton getting more dust and increases the heat with less work on my end. Just something that works for me that you might want to play around with. Keep up the great work bro. Mark
Dear Dave, I first "met" you on Netflix's Dual Survival with Cody. After now watching several youtube videos, I feel like I know you. Almost like we're good friends. It's due to your kindly, affable personality. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
Dave, this is a great comparison to yesterday's video. The point of wetness, in the air/material, is really driven home. I still would like to see a review of the 2 headed hatchet & hawk. Thank for the training!
Dave I have an idea for you after watching this. You were absolutely correct in sheathing your knife when using it as a spindle block, but one thing I noticed is that the divot in the G-10 is on the INSIDE of the knife when sheathed forcing you to bend the leather out of the way in order to use it properly. In future versions of this knife have the manufacturer place the divot on the outside. In this way you no longer fold the sheath, preserving the structural integrity for a longer life.
Tulip poplar is also difficult here in Southern Il. Out of curiosity I set my spindle into my 24V drill and got nothing but dust and smoke at the highest torque setting. Murphy is indeed awesome. Anything that can go wrong....
Tulip poplar is easily the hardest wood I've ever coaxed an ember out of. It's listed in all the books as being easy/medium but that's definitely not the case. Everything has to be cut just right and you really have to exert yourself to make this wood work. I've NEVER gotten it to work on the first go. The whisker punk produced is notorious for looking great then petering out. I don't like using it, but I love recommending it to people who are cocky with the bow drill...
Love the videos man, Bow drill fires always looked/seemed so difficult. Im not saying its not but atleast you explain it to the point to where its easily understandable. Thanks again.
Once again another great video thanks again my girls are looking forward to the lesson and have tried this on their own with little success they about took over the PC when they saw this video.
@MyLineagell Dave uses a Bahco folding sawthat was used in the first video. I can't remember what type of multi tool he uses and used in this video but Gerber is a good brand.
Hey, if anyone is watching this and you live in California, use standing dead California Buckeye. It's my favorite bow drill wood. It's non-resinous, medium density wood, which is what you're looking for. Also, I have better luck when the notch ends just shy of half the diameter of the fire board's spindle hole (i.e. almost to the middle of the hole).
That large flat rock acted as a heat sink when the first ember went out. Better if there was a bit of wood on the rock with the bow drill set upon the wood. Good patience with the second ember. Again, great camera positioning at 23:00 Good job.
IMO I think you are purposely failing on the first try like most of us would do just to show us how to fix it. After watching every episode of Dual Survival a few times, you are just too damn good and experienced to make our common man mistakes. And I do thank-you much.
Thanks! That's very helpful. If I may impose further, how would you apply the same advice with regard to the hand drill? Many claim mullein makes a great hand drill, but I keep crumbling them to bits without ever really getting dark dust.
Great vid, Dave. Thinking like this is why my fire kit has multiple ways to construct fire; ferro rod, fire piston/char cloth, waterproof matches. All can fit in a pocket. The knowledge of the primitive friction fires is additional but not my primary means because of environmental conditions ie rain. Thanks for all the work ya do, bro. Can I use my GI bill for your school?
Just a thought. Granted most people are right handed and would grab the knife handle with the hand socket away from their palm but wouldn't the hand socket be more user friendly on the right hand side or the outer side of the handle when the Pathfinder knife is in the sheath for safety sake? I noticed you had to fold the sheath over. Things to keep in mind if you create a Kydex sheath for the Pathfinder.
i like the spindle on the outside better because when it is on the inside, the spindle hits the bow at the end of the strokes causing the spindle to "flip out"
I have a question. Why couldn't you place the fire board on top of the bird nest and as you are working the bow and drill. the embers are falling right on the bird nest.instead of picking up the ember.It would already be falling right on to the nest
I've found placing it on the tinder flattens and compresses the tinder when you need it airy in order to get O2 into the tinder so that is from what I have experienced a bad idea.
Would love to see a review on the wood beast on your site. I like the knife looks great but there's no pic of the sheath. Is it the same as the pathfinder knife ? It is described as leather and kydex mix like the pathfinder knife. I like the bushtool also continplating on which one I would like to get.
Great vid Dave. Would making a braid with your bankline (3 separate strands of bankline braided into 1) give you better bite and lessen your chance of snapping a single strand of bankline? Or would that cause your spindle to slip more?
This is good info, might save a persons life one day if they should find themselves stranded in the wild. It is time consuming and labor intensive so I hope and pray I never forget my flint and mag stick. That thing throws a virtual flame. But if I should get caught without it, I'll stir the old gray matter to remember what I saw on that awesome video that Dave put up for all of us. Thanks a bunch.
Would you say the amount of downward pressure is more than you would use to mash a softball size ball of clay flat? More than you would use to help yourself up from a kneeling position? Is there a good comparison you can describe for the amount of downward pressure to achieve a coal?
I may watch each of your videos a second time. Keep them coming. Would like you to mention how you may go about doing things in an area other then Ohio, Indiana. Florida is a bit different.
Dave,I know your open to suggestions. What if you inserted a conical SS piece into the hole that's used to apply downward pressure on the spindle of a bow drill ? It would never wear out.
Hey Dave, This is interesting to me as i made 3 bow drill sets, willow,basswood, and silver maple. I got fire from all 3 sets in perfect conditions. I stored all 3 sets in an open debris shelter on a tarp. I dont believe any water actually touched any of the 3 sets but it rained that night. I thought Id try em when it was damp. The basswood and willow seemed to suck up the moisture, and the maple, while damp did create an ember. I guess its density made it resistant. Have u had this experience?
Outstanding AGAIN! This reminds me of the episode where you and Cody went into the river, you had a ferro rod and Cody tried to make a primitive fire and had to spend a cold, dark night alone. I always wanted to ask you which episode of Dual Survival was the physically hardest? I know they were all hard though you always seemed to be in total control.
dave, do you have an idea when this knife will become available again on your website? also, in one of your most recent videos, you stated that the old hickory butcher knife would do fine as the "one" tool for everything, should you lose everything else. my question is, how would you compare it to the tradeshow knife, considering the thickness is not as thick as the tradeshow, or at least, it doesn't seem to be.
Any plans for a kydex sheath for your trade knife? I really want it because it is more "Common Man" priced, but I want the kydex like the original pathfinder knife. What would that add to the price? 50-75?
Dave as I was watching this.I thought couldn't you put a peace of char cloth under the fire board to collect the ember to aid in keeping the ember going.That is if you had charcloth
Dave i don't think you will see this but if any one could answer it will be well appreciated what is the name of the song that opens your videos thanks Bobby
Hey Dave, how well does that watch work? Been thinking of getting one, but can't find any pictures/vids on how bright the light is. Anybody have a Casio Protrek?
I think this video and video 8 are probably the best videos on the bow drill I have ever seen. The way you break it down step by step in detail is phenomenal. Thank you very much.
Dave, I've been watching you videos for a good while, you taught me how to make my first primitive fire, and I have learned very much from you. I think I've taken your videos for granted. It just hit me how.. vital these videos are. Its the information that god willing you should never have to use, but god forbid you don't know. Thank you man. If I have to protect my family one day, I won't forget who taught me how to.
what's interesting to me is your patience. whenever i get an ember, i try to rush it into my bird's nest and try to immediately blow it into a flame. you really take your time and don't rush the process. great video, learned a lot.
Dave, that is the first time i´ve seen a "proper" bow drill explanation...Thank you so much for making it so clear and for doing such a good job. We watch you from Spain and always enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work!!
Absolutely agree with the stopping to think, rest and calm down part. Thanks for all you do for us Brother, you've made life better and more enjoyable for me and my family. Hope you stay mativated to do this stuff for a long time to come
I have learned more from you in a few hours than I have in my 49 years concerning making fire. Thank you.
Great video Dave. I like the follow up with the damp materials and the explanation as to the changes that need to be made from the way you did it when they were dry!
Some things you just can't teach, it comes from experience, like telling when the wood has gotten damp, ect. There is absolutely no substitute for experience. Get out in the woods, your yard, whatever, and practice, practice, practice those skills, then when you think you have it mastered, practice some more. You will not just remember what Dave and others taught in a video, but you will remember after you have done it 10,000 times. Thanks again Dave.
I appreciate the time that you take to share your knowledge with us strangers Dave. I will absolutley be purchasing some of your Pathfinder branded products as thanks. I pay a hundred bucks a month for satellite TV, which provides me nothing of interest, yet youtube channels like yours take up 75% of my after work lounge time, and I learn as well. It's only fair that I contribute back to you...Thanks.
"If it go out, we just gonna do it again," we can live a good productive life just by follow this one rule. Dave you are the Man.
Nice job Dave. Just watching this now. I seen the 1st one a couple of weeks ago but somehow missed this one. You are right, form... Practice, practice, practice. Gotta love the outdoors, primitive skills living & spending time in the dirt brother. Again thanks.
I really appreciate your way of making videos.
Watched your video while cleaning my sons Trangia stove that he had been using with the scouts this weekend.Very informative,Good Job.
I responded to Part-1 but it doesn't show: So, Thank God & Kudos for doing the very best demo of a real world bow drill scenario. Knowledge, Skills & Attitude to show how its really done. Other people have their pre-made kits but are fooling themselves when they get caught in life & death situations. Many thanks Dave on the best fire making video on you tube.
Your point at the end is very apt...patience, and a cool head, can really make the difference.
great vid. Dave, I always make my notches small so as it will not eat my board up for 1 and 2 for the very reason you showed here that you can do it in damp conditions. But you hit the nail on the head when you said that proper form is 95% of getting a coal. Most peole rip into it hard an fast. Until the dust gets built up in the notch take your time.
Dave, thank you so much for all your videos. I have always wondered how things like this work, and your videos are very well done. Please keep it up!
Well Dave, I think that confirmed my comment on the previous bow drill video about having the notch close to the center of the burn. It seemed to have worked the first and second time for you even with damp wood. Great video's
Excellent demo, I can literary go through the mistakes that I have been making and say "ahh that's what I need to do differently" . Thank you for the step by step process
I Love all your vid's Dave and think your the best. I find when I work with a harder wood that if I put just a few grains of sand in the socket on the fire board, it helps a ton getting more dust and increases the heat with less work on my end. Just something that works for me that you might want to play around with. Keep up the great work bro.
Mark
Just want to say,you seem to be a very good and godly man,Dave! Thanks for sharing with us!
I love the amount of videos you are putting out these days.
Dear Dave,
I first "met" you on Netflix's Dual Survival with Cody. After now watching several youtube videos, I feel like I know you. Almost like we're good friends. It's due to your kindly, affable personality. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
I really enjoy this part of youtube, no idiots and lots of good info
Dave, this is a great comparison to yesterday's video. The point of wetness, in the air/material, is really driven home. I still would like to see a review of the 2 headed hatchet & hawk. Thank for the training!
Dave I have an idea for you after watching this. You were absolutely correct in sheathing your knife when using it as a spindle block, but one thing I noticed is that the divot in the G-10 is on the INSIDE of the knife when sheathed forcing you to bend the leather out of the way in order to use it properly. In future versions of this knife have the manufacturer place the divot on the outside. In this way you no longer fold the sheath, preserving the structural integrity for a longer life.
Tulip poplar is also difficult here in Southern Il. Out of curiosity I set my spindle into my 24V drill and got nothing but dust and smoke at the highest torque setting. Murphy is indeed awesome. Anything that can go wrong....
It's good to see that people can teach you things and that you are still learning!
Tulip poplar is easily the hardest wood I've ever coaxed an ember out of. It's listed in all the books as being easy/medium but that's definitely not the case. Everything has to be cut just right and you really have to exert yourself to make this wood work. I've NEVER gotten it to work on the first go. The whisker punk produced is notorious for looking great then petering out. I don't like using it, but I love recommending it to people who are cocky with the bow drill...
Awesome stuff and thanks for being such a good teacher Dave. I sent this video and yesterdays to my Brother.
Eric
Great video Dave! I can't believe how easy tulip poplar makes an ember.
Thanks for your patience and perseverance. That itself was as good lesson as well as the technique
Really great info. Thanks. Something we should all be learning, you never know whats around the corner.
it always lifts my spirit when i see those first flames from a starting fire
Love the videos man, Bow drill fires always looked/seemed so difficult. Im not saying its not but atleast you explain it to the point to where its easily understandable. Thanks again.
Joshua Hamlin is an incredible wilderness instructor - highly underappreciated guy
Once again another great video thanks again my girls are looking forward to the lesson and have tried this on their own with little success they about took over the PC when they saw this video.
Another excellent learning session! Thanks Dave
Much better than the previous companion video. Should watch both together, which I didn't. You made all the corrections in tnis video, which is great.
@MyLineagell Dave uses a Bahco folding sawthat was used in the first video. I can't remember what type of multi tool he uses and used in this video but Gerber is a good brand.
Hey, if anyone is watching this and you live in California, use standing dead California Buckeye. It's my favorite bow drill wood. It's non-resinous, medium density wood, which is what you're looking for. Also, I have better luck when the notch ends just shy of half the diameter of the fire board's spindle hole (i.e. almost to the middle of the hole).
That large flat rock acted as a heat sink when the first ember went out. Better if there was a bit of wood on the rock with the bow drill set upon the wood. Good patience with the second ember. Again, great camera positioning at 23:00 Good job.
thanks for these two videos on a bow drill. i learned a bunch brother.
IMO I think you are purposely failing on the first try like most of us would do just to show us how to fix it. After watching every episode of Dual Survival a few times, you are just too damn good and experienced to make our common man mistakes. And I do thank-you much.
Dave I love all your videos. You are just great!
Thanks! That's very helpful. If I may impose further, how would you apply the same advice with regard to the hand drill? Many claim mullein makes a great hand drill, but I keep crumbling them to bits without ever really getting dark dust.
Very helpful! It's always wet here, so this may work better than yesterday's video. Thanks
I really agree with the advice near the end of this video. Thanks for the uploads!
Great vid, Dave. Thinking like this is why my fire kit has multiple ways to construct fire; ferro rod, fire piston/char cloth, waterproof matches. All can fit in a pocket. The knowledge of the primitive friction fires is additional but not my primary means because of environmental conditions ie rain. Thanks for all the work ya do, bro. Can I use my GI bill for your school?
Another excellent video and lesson. Please keep up the great work.
Just a thought. Granted most people are right handed and would grab the knife handle with the hand socket away from their palm but wouldn't the hand socket be more user friendly on the right hand side or the outer side of the handle when the Pathfinder knife is in the sheath for safety sake? I noticed you had to fold the sheath over. Things to keep in mind if you create a Kydex sheath for the Pathfinder.
i like the spindle on the outside better because when it is on the inside, the spindle hits the bow at the end of the strokes causing the spindle to "flip out"
Thanks for being honest at your attempts Dave.
Dave, try a little sand in the hole for friction. I think the sound you were hearing was from slick or polished wood rubbing together.
I have a question. Why couldn't you place the fire board on top of the bird nest and as you are working the bow and drill. the embers are falling right on the bird nest.instead of picking up the ember.It would already be falling right on to the nest
bear grill is full of it..... Dave take him on !!!
I've found placing it on the tinder flattens and compresses the tinder when you need it airy in order to get O2 into the tinder so that is from what I have experienced a bad idea.
great video ! thanks man ..
hey dave can ya show us where you set your arm on fire
You are right. If we lose our temper on the first try we don't get it and we can't survive
On real situation. Thanks for sharing it.
You aways get it.
Damn you outdone your self again. Thanks a lot Dave.
Would love to see a review on the wood beast on your site. I like the knife looks great but there's no pic of the sheath. Is it the same as the pathfinder knife ? It is described as leather and kydex mix like the pathfinder knife. I like the bushtool also continplating on which one I would like to get.
Great vid Dave. Would making a braid with your bankline (3 separate strands of bankline braided into 1) give you better bite and lessen your chance of snapping a single strand of bankline? Or would that cause your spindle to slip more?
once again a great video dave! im sure you saved a couple lives be demostrating this techinque
great video and info! probally the best on bow drills ive seen.
probably the best firebow videos that i have ever seen... :D
thanks dave!
This is good info, might save a persons life one day if they should find themselves stranded in the wild.
It is time consuming and labor intensive so I hope and pray I never forget my flint and mag stick. That thing throws a virtual flame.
But if I should get caught without it, I'll stir the old gray matter to remember what I saw on that awesome video that Dave put up for all of us.
Thanks a bunch.
Would you say the amount of downward pressure is more than you would use to mash a softball size ball of clay flat? More than you would use to help yourself up from a kneeling position? Is there a good comparison you can describe for the amount of downward pressure to achieve a coal?
thanks dave and pathfinder school.
I may watch each of your videos a second time. Keep them coming. Would like you to mention how you may go about doing things in an area other then Ohio, Indiana. Florida is a bit different.
Dave,I know your open to suggestions. What if you inserted a conical SS piece into the hole that's used to apply downward pressure on the spindle of a bow drill ? It would never wear out.
Great video Dave... bow drill is something I need to get out and try.
Thanks for all your hard work. =D
Dave can you do a quick one showing how to correctly make the handle to those of us that don't have a socket in our knife?
EXCELENTE HERMANO MIO GRACIAS POR TUS BUENOS CONSEJOS Y MUY BUENA CLASES ...
Hey Dave, This is interesting to me as i made 3 bow drill sets, willow,basswood, and silver maple. I got fire from all 3 sets in perfect conditions. I stored all 3 sets in an open debris shelter on a tarp. I dont believe any water actually touched any of the 3 sets but it rained that night. I thought Id try em when it was damp. The basswood and willow seemed to suck up the moisture, and the maple, while damp did create an ember. I guess its density made it resistant. Have u had this experience?
Thanks Dave. Another great video.
Outstanding AGAIN! This reminds me of the episode where you and Cody went into the river, you had a ferro rod and Cody tried to make a primitive fire and had to spend a cold, dark night alone. I always wanted to ask you which episode of Dual Survival was the physically hardest? I know they were all hard though you always seemed to be in total control.
Have you ever tried to place the fire board on the tender bundle? I have always wondered which way works best works best.
dave, do you have an idea when this knife will become available again on your website? also, in one of your most recent videos, you stated that the old hickory butcher knife would do fine as the "one" tool for everything, should you lose everything else. my question is, how would you compare it to the tradeshow knife, considering the thickness is not as thick as the tradeshow, or at least, it doesn't seem to be.
Any plans for a kydex sheath for your trade knife? I really want it because it is more "Common Man" priced, but I want the kydex like the original pathfinder knife. What would that add to the price? 50-75?
27:09 why are you always thanking us,we should be thanking you:]
awsome video Dave.
Dave as I was watching this.I thought couldn't you put a peace of char cloth under the fire board to collect the ember to aid in keeping the ember going.That is if you had charcloth
Another informative and clear vid. Just great! Thank You.
is there a multitool that you prefer or is it based on the tools it provides?
have you ever had trouble with the peice you use to apply pressure to the spindle smoking before your fireboard? :/
Dave i don't think you will see this but if any one could answer it will be well appreciated what is the name of the song that opens your videos thanks
Bobby
Back in the woods by Bad horse
Thanks allot brother song is awesome new ringtone!!!
Thanks a lot again, Dave.
What kind of cordage do you use for your bowdrill? It doesnt look like any paracord ive seen.
Now another ? could I use a Yucca steam as a spinal for the fire board, using It with the bow
Hey Dave, how well does that watch work? Been thinking of getting one, but can't find any pictures/vids on how bright the light is. Anybody have a Casio Protrek?
Thank god you put the sheath on that knife. I was expecting a fatality in yesterday's video.
You did a good job.
Same thing here. On the second attempt the dust was finer.
Great job!
please, dave or anybody could you please tell me the pants/jeans dave is wearing?
(and possibly the boots too) thanks.
Great job, Dave!
Where can we get that shirt you have been wearing?
Love my Knive, handle could be a thickerbut still good
Dave what is the intro music?
please reply.
great video Sir and the info as well
learned a lot of bow drills in wet weather, wish the camera angle's were better, good stuff