In the Eastern Woodlands of the United States, selecting the right wood is critical for successfully making a primitive fire using a bow drill. Among the various options, tulip poplar and cedar are my go-to choices for creating friction fire with a bow drill due to their superior performance.
There are five key factors to consider when choosing bow drill wood in the Eastern Woodlands:
- Softwood: Opt for softwoods. Refer to the list below for the most suitable types of wood for bow drills.
- Dry Wood: Ensure the wood is dry. Seek out dead branches hanging from trees, wood from dead standing trees that have been exposed to the elements for extended periods, or baton a section of wood to access the dry core. The latter is especially effective in wet conditions, such as during rain.
- Availability: Familiarize yourself with the local tree species and their uses. Understand the resources available in your specific forest area. For example, in the forests of Michigan, where my survival school is located in West Michigan, tulip poplar is rare, but poplar and cedar are common and effective choices. Interestingly, I once found a tulip poplar along Wildcat Creek, south of Whitehall, Michigan, which was surprising since this tree is generally more prevalent in southern regions.
- Non-resinous Wood: Avoid pine, as the resin can hinder friction when using a bow drill. Pine can contain up to 20% resin, which can be found in branches, needles, cones, stems, and roots. While some success has been reported with white pine, it is not my preferred choice for a bow drill set.
- Consistency: Typically, using the same wood for both your hearth board and spindle yields the best results, although exceptions exist. For instance, pairing a poplar hearth board with a willow spindle can be effective.
Below is an alphabetical list of the best types of wood for a bow drill:
- Aspen
- Basswood
- Cedar
- Cottonwood
- Juniper
- Poplar (known as “popple” in Michigan)
- Staghorn Sumac
- Tulip Poplar
- Willow
- Yucca Stalk (referred to as Adam’s Nettle in Michigan)
Discover the art of primitive fire-making with a bow drill, and much more, at Arcturus Primitive Skills Institute. Join us for a transformative course—visit our website at survivalschoolmichigan.com to learn more. See you in the wild!
