for this purpose, but I like a piece of rock with a small indentation knocked
into it, where the spindle can sit.
You might also consider using a piece of bone; the kneeknuckle bones
of a deer or other ungulate work well. Travelers often use a piece of wood as
the bearing block, but if you do so, lubricate the point where the spindle con
tacts the bearing block so that it doesn’t grab. Beeswax, ear wax, pine pitch, or
oil from your skin or hair can all serve as lubricants in a pinch.
My friend and fellow survival instructor Doug Getgood was once
using a piece of wood as his bearing block and accidentally got the ember
forming in the bearing block instead of the baseboard, likely because the
bearing block was softer than the baseboard. Accepting the circumstances,
he turned the whole set upside down and got his fire going that way.
The bow ties your entire fire bow drill together. It can be any kind of
wood, as long as it’s strong and has a slight bend to it. Hopefully you’ve got
some kind of parachute cord or other strong rope, shoelace, or string on hand.
If you don’t, you may have to resort to making your own, which is an extremely
slow and laborious process (see “Essential Survival Skills,” Chapter 14).
The Fire Bow
bearing block
spindle
fire bowbaseboard
tinder(^122) | Survive!