TroubleShooting

The Usual Problems

Spindle flies out of string

Bowing technique. Ensure your bow remains parallel to the ground--Often people will let the tip of the bow rise at the end of their stroke and fall upon recoiling.

Spindle may be too short--less than 5 inches makes bowing more difficult.

Circular groove in base board or hand piece is not large enough--make it a little deeper.

When the wood heats up, more friction occurs causing spindle to escape--ease up and keep speed going.

Spindle is not being held perpendicular to base board. Re-check your form.

String slips on spindle

Tighten the string to the point where it does not slip.

Apply tension to the string with your thumb and index digits while bowing.

Apply evergreen sap to string or area of slipage.

Roughen the spindle with knife (hexagon shape).

Spindle wobbles
Noticable by the un-circular pattern it leaves on base board. This slows your bowing and usually has poor results.

Replace spindle with a straight one. It may be possible to carve crooked part of spindle out.

Spindle burns thru base quickly

Either find a base that is harder or a spindle that is softer.

Are you keeping good form while bowing?

No smoke

Keep trying--concentrate on long even strokes, get speed up, and then apply more pressure slowly. Sometimes it takes a while initially for smoke to appear. Even wet wood will smoke.

Spindle smokes, but at the top end
Lubricate the top after each use. Do not let the top notch or groove become too deep.

Little dust made--your notch does not fill with dust.

Apply more downward pressure.

Spindle and/or base board is too hard. Switch to softer wood.

You are not bowing long enough (you may need to last one to two minutes). Increase your endurance and strength. Not to rub it in, but it is possible to get a coal in under 15 seconds and a flame in under 40 seconds once you are very well practiced.

Black dust: brittle little pieces of charred dust-not a lot of dust

You are bowing fast enough causing good heat--consider applying more downward pressure.

Your wood is too hard--try softer wood.

Look at your spindle at point of contact. Is is 'glassy' and polished looking? If so, try roughening this surface. If problem returns, consider the two points listed above.

Brown dust: light fluffy brown colour-plenty of dust

Not enough heat being produced. Ease off on downward pressure and increase bow speed.

Wood is too soft--replace with harder wood.

Coal forms (smokes) but then goes out
Congradulations-you're getting close.

Consider the amount of dust and the colour/texture or it. Re-read the above info on dust.

Try an extra dozen strokes (after you get really good smoke).

After your notch fills, concentrate on more on speed and form with less pressure.

Coal does not spread into tinder

Tinder loosely packed or damp. Try igniting with a match-blow out any flame and see it it spreads into a coal now. If it does, maybe your coal was not big enough or broke upon placing into tinder.

Remember, it is the downy material that holds a good coal--the fibrous part makes flame.

Tinder should be density of a cotton ball or pink insulation to work well.