Mini Bow Drill Fire Starter Kit Primitive Friction Fire Kit Complete with Written Instructions! - Handmade Mini Oak Bow treated with boiled linseed oil - The bow drill is an ancient tool used to make friction fire. It's a primitive method of starting fire without matches or a lighter. It’s a method that applies friction to generate heat and the heat eventually produces an ember in the burnt wood dust. The ember produced is tiny and fragile. Once it is formed it must be carefully placed into a "tinder bundle" or "nest" where it is carefully nurtured and coaxed into flame. Once the tinder bundle bursts into flame, it is placed into the fuel that has already been assembled ready for ignition. Bow drills were used between the 4th and 5th millennium BC. The bow drill consists of a bearing block or handhold, a spindle or drill, a hearth or fireboard, and a simple bow. Your Mini Bow Drill Primitive Fire Kit: As the word mini suggests, this mini bow drill is shorter than a regular sized bow drill. It is about 13 inches when measured straight across for tip to tip. It is light and can easily be carried in a backpack. You can even fit and carry the entire kit in the pocket of your cargo shorts or pants! Since each mini bow drill is unique on its own, each bow will vary in length. Some might be shorter, and some might longer in length. The bow, handhold, fire board and spindle are all harvested from nature and then handcrafted. They won't look like you bought them from a store. The bow and handhold are treated with boiled linseed oil to help protect them from the elements.I recommend that you have some experience using a bow drill when you use this mini bow drill. Since it is smaller than a regular size bow drill, it takes some bow drill proficiency to use it. Video Link: Copy and paste the following link on YouTube to see a comparison between the mini bow drill versus a regular size bow drill and see how it holds up: https://youtu.be/LYCy3tznAYU Directions on how to coil the bow string around the bow to carry or pack easier:The bow string is tied on one end with a slip knot. Loosen the slip knot and slip the loop down towards the handle.Turn the bow to coil the string around the bow.Tighten the slip knot to secure it.Parts description:The Mini Oak Bow is simple, strong, and stiff yet has some flex. It is hand harvested, hand crafted, and hand shaped. It is treated with boiled linseed oil. The bearing block or handhold is made from either Oak or Ash. Each handhold is treated with linseed oil and has a handmade steel plate insert for the spindle to spin on that is virtually frictionless. The steel plate insert is shiny enough to use as a signal like a mirror in an emergency situation.The bow string is made of parachute cord which is rot resistant and tough. As seen on the photos, I use one long piece of paracord string. Half of the string is already tied to the bow and the other half is wrapped around the handle to be used as a quick back up just in case the other one breaks. Since the back-up string is already tied on the handle end of the bow all you need to do is tie the other end for a fast transition. You can of course take the whole string from the bow and use it as cordage if the need arises.The spindle is made from sotol. It is cut by hand, sun dried then hand-crafted to make sure that it is as straight as possible so that it will rotate nicely with very little or no wobble when spinning. Each spindle has been tested and burned in to make sure that it will work properly when used to make a coal ember.The fireboard is also made from sotol. It is already burnt-in with a /-notch cutout. The /-notch is carved slightly wider on its underside in order to have more room to collect ember.The ember catcher that comes with your mini bow drill kit is made of genuine leather. The leather is big enough to use as a sling shot pouch if you have the other parts to make one.The jute rope used for nesting material with your coal ember is made of thick natural jute fiber. Pull on the loose end of the rope to get the length of rope you need. You don't need to unravel the entire coiled rope. Cut a short piece and fluff up the fibers thoroughly and form a nest. You can also easily ignite the fluffed-up jute with a ferrocerium rod to make a quick fire if you have to. You can also use it as cordage to tie things if the need arises. Click on the following link to see the video: Jute rope eBay item number 302428073570 or paste this link on YouTube: https://youtu.be/coWixlOz_ec What you will receive with your purchase:Handmade mini Oak Bow treated with boiled linseed oil with paracord bow string and back-up string.Bearing block or handhold made from oak or ash treated with boiled linseed oil with a metal plate insert that is virtually frictionless. (Ash is harder than oak).Sotol fireboard with a /-notch cutout and already burnt in.Sotol spindle that is already burnt in.Genuine leather coal ember catcher (may vary in size and color).10 ft. thick jute rope as a nesting material. Just pull on the loose end to get the length of rope you need. You do not need to unravel the coiled rope. Written instruction on how to use your bow drill. If you don't know how to use a bow drill yet there are plenty of videos on YouTube that you can watch on how to use one.Video Link: Copy and paste the following link on YouTube to see a comparison between the mini bow drill versus a regular size bow drill and see how it holds up: https://youtu.be/LYCy3tznAYUThis is my guarantee to you: If you are not satisfied with your Mini Bow Drill Primitive Fire Strater Kit you can return it to me within 30 days so long as it's unused for a full refund minus the cost of shipping and handling. Check out my other items: Click here to see all of my e-Bay items