A Friction Fire Inquiry: Hand Drill
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| Kneeling Favored by hand
drill practitioners because it allows your upper-body weight to bear
down onto the spindle.
[Speaking of pressure, I performed hand drill (Mule Fat on Sotol) a
few times on a doctor’s scale to measure the downward pressure
necessary to generate an ember. Using the regular technique—7.8lbs.
Using solely the floating method—4.4 lbs.] |
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| Sitting Although it takes
more exertion to generate an ember in this position, some folks
(like myself) find this more comfortable. |
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| Contact Point Notice how the
“working end” of the spindle nestles into a pre-drilled socket
(carved by a stone knife or quartz crystal-tipped hand drill). The
removed wedge provides a place for the char, or disintegrated wood
powder, to accumulate. |
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| Floating These
two photos illustrate the fluid, alternating, U-shaped motions that
the hands perform in order to sustain spindle-rotation—which may
result in quicker ember formation. |
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| Ember The miracle
of friction fire reveals itself. Transfer this fire-egg to a tinder
nest and hatch it into flame. |
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