How to make cordage for the bow drill

My success in making cordage, especially using it for the bow drill lies in very very gradually adding (splicing) the material, and this can take considerably longer to make cordage that can be used for friction fire.

In this video I have made some cordage for the use of the bow drill using the Spiny Headed Matrush.

Although I have been using this plant to make cordage for a few years now, I only recently have been scraping off the outside flesh and fibres, to get to the inner long fibres, which are good for cordage making. This little journey started when I just couldn’t use cordage made from this plant to get an ember going using the bow drill, 2 reasons, 1st, the cordage was too slippery (due to the plant leaf being shiny) and 2nd it doesn’t seem to last the friction and breaks well before and ember arrives.

So I decided to strip back the outside layer, which is made up of watery flesh and some small fibres, left of which is long thin fibres.

The cordage has a lot more grip and is tougher just using the inner fibres, but takes a lot lot lot longer to make.

I have also been using bullrush (Typha) in the same way, which is more applicable for a lot of people because it grows in many areas around the world.

I suspect that a lot of plants can be used in a similar way. I hope this helps you.

Have fun and stay safe out there!
M-J Australian Bushcraft Warrior

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