This is an old thread, but just to share for any passerbys. This is what helped me. Hope it helps you.
I remember the first time i made fire with the bow drill in my drive way. Took me about 4 or 5 months to figure out what i was doing wrong.
The easiest wood to find and use for the drill and hearth is willow. Make sure its dead and dry(it snaps easily). I've used poplar and alder and these work but you have to drill longer and harder.
Tips I wish someone had told me:
Start easy and slow with less pressure until it starts to smoke a good bit. Then give it all you got drilling as fast as you can and as hard as you can while still being able to keep your form. Don't stop drilling until you are worn out. This is what ensures me a good coal. With willow, though, its usually much easier and you don't really have to kill yourself to do it. But with poplar and alder, this is what i had to do.
Don't drill at an angle, Drill straight down! This was my biggest problem when i started. I would make a depression and cut the notch, then i wouldn't even know the drill was at a slight angle and the depression would start angling toward the notch(You may figure this out on your own-hard to explain) and a coal would not form this way because there wasn't enough friction. So what i did was cut the notch on the opposite side of the board than the side i was on. This solved this problem for me. I've never seen this problem with anyone else's videos so this is just something i do.
If you're having trouble at the beginning, try using a shot glass as your handhold, because this alleviates friction at the handhold. Once you get better, you can try using a hardwood as your handhold or if you can find a rock with a depression or an antler,bone,etc. Whatevevr alleviates friction up there will allow you to make a coal easier and faster. I've used oak as a handhold without lubricating it before, so its not completely necessary.Also i'd just use a nylon cord when you start. I still use one when i need a fire because my cordage making skills aren't too great
Its all about form and wood selection(dry dead softwoods)! Choose the right wood for the drill and board, then it all comes down to you getting comfortable enough to be able to do it.
Drill fast, this creates a lot more friction(I started off moving the bow back and forth way too slow, which didn't create enough friction).
Also i've read pine doesn't work too well ,its too resionous. I've never tried it before, but thats what i've read in most of the books. You decide.
I use cedar inner bark and poplar inner bark for the tinder bundle. Fluff them up by rubbing the bundles in between your hands and breaking them apart. Make this bundle in to like a birds next, so its like a depression in the middle but don't let it get too thin at the bottom of the depression. The coal will be smoking. Fan it some until it starts to smolder a bit(you see red in the coal) Put the coal in it, close the sides around it(not too tight though). And
BLOW GENTLY! haha i've blown soo many away its ridiculous. Blow gently at first until it starts to heat up and catch the tinder bundle, then you can start blowing with more force till it ignites.
There are many books out there. Try your local library. I've got
tom brown's field guide, and
ultimate guide to wilderness living. I don't really use these for many other skills because i haven't really dove into all of the multitude of skills out there to learn, but these got me on track. The key really is though, if you do or don't get a book(Not completely necessary), form and wood selection(Just make sure the wood is soft and dead).
I've made a coal in about 11 seconds with willow before.Sometimes willow takes me 30 seconds. Its taken me 30-60 seconds with some others. So just drill as long and fast as you can. Keep trying, it took me forever to figure things out and i still have problems sometimes. feels good when you finally get it though.
Ok im finished, im in no way a pro, these are just things that have helped me. I'll let the other cavemen tell you whats really up.
