The bow drill is an ancient and primitive method of starting fire without matches or a lighter. It consists of a bearing block or handhold, a spindle, a hearth board or fire board, and a simple bow. It’s a method that applies friction to generate heat. The heat eventually produces an ember in the burnt wood dust. The ember is tiny and fragile.  Once it is formed it is carefully placed into a "tinder bundle" where it is carefully nurtured and coaxed into flame. Once the tinder bundle bursts into flame, it is placed into the fuel that has been assembled ready for ignition.

Sotol and cottonwood are both light and easy to use. Having one of the lowest ember ignition points, sotol fire board and cottonwood spindle is an outstanding "magical" combination. They prove to be fast and easy in creating coal dust ember when using bow drill friction fire technique. With an ignition point of just 200 degrees, sotol has one of the lowest ignition points and like sotol, cottonwood also has a low ignition point resulting in fewer bow strokes to create a coal ember for your nesting material. This translates to faster and less work which means fewer calories spent!

If you have access to these two types of wood: sotol and cottonwood, consider yourself both lucky and blessed and prepare for success! This combination of sotol and cottonwood will spoil you!

About your Fire Board and Spindle