Uploaded October 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I am a beginner in hand drill fire making, and making slow making progress (maybe). In part 2 of my beginner hand drill series, I am working on improving floating hand technique, and using more of the hand surface, trying to smooth it out. This time it worked. Species: mullein plug on a balsam fir (Abies balsamea) hearth board. Overall: I am failing at least half of the time, and so the progress is slow and inconsistent. I tend to drill right through the hearth board, making lots of smoke and dust, but no ember.
I am a beginner in hand drill fire making, and making slow making progress (maybe). In part 2 of my beginner hand drill series, I am working on improving floating hand technique, and using more of the hand surface, trying to smooth it out. This time it worked. Species: mullein plug on a balsam fir (Abies balsamea) hearth board. Overall: I am failing at least half of the time, and so the progress is slow and inconsistent. I tend to drill right through the hearth board, making lots of smoke and dust, but no ember.
