Thank you Stag. Sorry I didn't see your post earlier.


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.

Yesterday, I was using a way too long and way too stiff bow, so I thought that was the problem. Tonight, I went back to the old bow and am still having trouble. The drills that I've been using are only about 8 inches long, while the first drill is closer to 18 inches. Is the drill too short? I'm having trouble figuring out what I'm doing wrong.

Oh yeah, I've been using good form, bracing my support wrist against my upright shin.

What am I doing wrong?


I also couldn't start a fire using a Light My Fire thing I bought. I could light toilet paper, but when I got some dry kindling from out back, I couldn't get it to stay lit. Starting a fire is hard work. I can't imagine how many calories I've burned trying this over the past few days.