How to Use a Bow Drill to Make Fire

Learn this primitive and low-tech way to kindle a flame for survival

Co-authored by Britt Edelen

Last Updated: March 5, 2024

Fire is essential for wilderness survival, but you may not always have a lighter or matchbook to get some sparks going. A bow drill is an old and time-tested device that takes much of the work out of starting a fire manually. We'll show you how to assemble and use one to get some heat in a pinch.

Bow Drill Fire Quick Guide

Create bow drill by tying a cord to either end of a bow-shaped stick, and wrap the cord around a straight stick. Hold the bow drill so that the straight stick is standing vertical in your kindling, then pump the bow stick back and forth until it produces a spark.

Steps

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Synthetic cord is the most suitable for this task, especially if you're new to the art of Friction Fire. 550 Parachute cord is commonly used due to its overall durability and resistance to wear. Other suitable options include: shoe lace, the roots and bark of certain trees, reverse wrapped plant fibers, and long strips of clothing that have either been braided or reversed wrapped.

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Hardwood is excellent, such as cedar, hemlock or oak. If you use a soft wood it will last a shorter time, although it will be easier to make a fire. It should be something you can hold down with your foot while kneeling. This will be what you drill into to make the ember that will start the fire. Make a small notch in the piece of wood where your drill piece can go. This drill piece is called the firebird.
Taking the bark off is better, but leaving it on is okay, if you lack a knife.
The best thing to use is a fist sized rock with a small hole drilled into it from a harder rock, this is called a top rock. The hole is used to hold your spindle in place.
Make sure the bow is not tight, but don't allow very much slack either. The string should not rebound if plucked.
A tinder bundle is a fine bundle of tinder, which can be found from poplar trees on the inner layer of bark. Other materials will work, such as dry grass. The tinder bundle should resemble a birds nest. Your kindling should be smaller than a standard pencil.
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Put the string around the spindle. This should make the string much tighter. Finally, to make the ember, vigorously spin the drill on the piece of wood by moving the bow back and forth. Use your top rock to hold down the drill and keep it in place.
- Protect your hands from getting cut or burned. You can use a pair of gloves or just put your sleeves over your hands.
Don't give up too soon. If it starts to smoke, do not stop. It will smoke before an ember is created.
BE CAREFUL! Blowing even slightly hard will disperse the punk, or the hot sawdust, ruining the ember. Then scoop the ember into the tinder bundle and blow into flame. Add kindling and work your way up to larger sticks.

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Question

Can I just use my hands instead of a bow?

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Your hands wouldn't generate enough friction, and you would burn your hand. There is another method using a stick instead of a bow to create fire.

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What items can I use to make a notch?

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You can use a pocketknife or multitool to cut the notch. If you don't have those, you could try to find a piece of wood that is naturally in the right shape, but this is nearly impossible.

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How big would the stones have to be to keep the fire contained?

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The rocks should be 2 - 4 times larger than your fist and the rocks should be placed in a small circle not a massive circle.

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Tips

For the ember to create a fire, you will need tinder.

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You will get more of a feel how to use it when you make it yourself. And remember, if you are a person who goes in the outdoors a lot, practice beforehand. The bow drill is a great primitive skill that can be made practically anywhere where there is wood.

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Use soft, non-resinous wood like yucca, basswood, aspen or cedar.

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Warnings

Make sure you are careful with the fire, always put stones around it and keep it contained.

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Fire is dangerous. Don't "play" with it.

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Do not light anything on fire without permission

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