Artic Mouth Drill Friction Fire


redmech

redmech

Guide
Lifetime Supporter
Bushclass I
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Messages
3,657
Likes
730
Location
Missouri
Here is a short video I shot playing with the Artic Mouth Drill method of friction fire. Real simple setup, used sycamore, mullein, and cottonwood bark. I tied a piece of leather lace in the middle of the mullein stalk with a simple overhand knot, then wrap each end three times around the spindle. Apply downward force through the mouth held bearing block, and twisting motion with leather cord and hands working back and forth. Scooter showed me his setup last year, and finally got around to trying it untill I had success. Thanks for looking guys

[video]Artic Mouth Drill Friction Fire - YouTube[/video]
 
Last edited:
Very cool Ross....that's using your nogin. Or mouth. Lol
 
The egyptian method will limit making real long strokes, but it adds much more life to your cordage due to it not slipping on the spindle and will even let the bow be a bit looser when using on a bow style friction fire. As far as having the bearing block in your mouth, one needs to carve the top side a bit rounded to keep drool from leaking out, kinda gross but its true.
 
Like the way you elevated the whole process, nice job.
 
I am happy that you had success with this method. Every new skill you add just gives you more options. Al Cornell helped me put together my set, it is a seep willow [mulefat] spindle, cottonwood root hearth and birch mouthpiece.
 
Wow, pretty cool! :dblthumb: Smart to use a platform so you don't have to become one with the ground, ha ha. I'll have to give this concept a try. Thanks for sharing!
 
After Scooter saying who he learned from, I found the guy and there is a neat trick in his video how he keeps his hearth board stationary. This is Al Cornell.

Thanks again Scooter

Arctic Strap Drill - YouTube
 
Good stuff. Now Jclmd is gonna go tie some trash backs together for cordage and do this method. heh.
 
An instructor at Wintercount used walmart bag double twist cordage with the egyptian bow drill method and got several coals before breakage.
 
Scooter said:
An instructor at Wintercount used walmart bag double twist cordage with the egyptian bow drill method and got several coals before breakage.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah. You should check out all the hooha Jclmd has been using for cord lately. He's been going cord nuts lately.
 
Yeah he has been on fire lately[pardon the pun], its interesting to see how little is required for good results with knowledge and proper technique.
 
Iz said:
Good stuff. Now Jclmd is gonna go tie some trash backs together for cordage and do this method. heh.
Click to expand...

It's funny you say that, one of my big fears yesterday was trying to get this put up before JCL-MD did it before me. He is quickly using up all the different methods. I do really enjoy seeing all the different ways to do friction fire.
 
foxfire said:
Great stuff. Thanks for sharing it with us. Now I have another way to try out. Just have to get some parts for it.
Click to expand...

You'll have to share with us, even if you can just share some of that scenery with us.
 
I just tried this method a few times today. I used a spindle that wasn't completely straight and I don't know what rattled more, my teeth or my brain, ha ha. A pretty cool method, though. Could be a good alternative using natural cordage or if the hand drill isn't an option.
 
LetsRock said:
I just tried this method a few times today. I used a spindle that wasn't completely straight and I don't know what rattled more, my teeth or my brain, ha ha. A pretty cool method, though. Could be a good alternative using natural cordage or if the hand drill isn't an option.
Click to expand...

My first attempt at this was last fall, I was using osage orange (hedge) as the bearing block. This is a very hard and dense wood, made my teeth rattle a bunch, I know exactly what you mean. This time using cottonwood bark, it is much softer, and much less friction, the softness of the bark allowed my teeth to sink in much better, and was more comfortable. I think any thing that works well with a traditional bow drill method would work for this, with a bit more thought to what you want to use for the bearing block (give your teeth and skull a bit more life). Good on you for trying it out. I gave three or four different trys before I came up with the way I did it on the video. The elevated platform worked kinda nice. The other video shows a good method of holding the hearth board down while doing it on the ground.

Thanks
 
Ross have you worked anymore on the fire plow we played with last fall at the bearded lady camp?
 
Nope, I was getting good smoke then, but I was getting worn out before the coal got started. I've thought about it, and that's about it.
 
Congrats. I know how difficult it is. Al showed me how to do this too. Al's set is so small it looks like a toy. Downside: For anyone else that wants to try this, you better be able to hold your breath for awhile. Otherwise, you are a smoker.
 
Hey Scooter, could you post a pic of your setup. I remember your set being very compact.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top