Thanks for the props, but this is one skill where it's easy to get over-confident one minute then completely humbled the next. Lotsa practice and some tricks-to-the-trade can help keep a good success rate (and a level head). When I was editing my last video, I wanted to include all the failed attempts and still keep the video length reasonably short (tough to do). It can be very misleading when all the 2 minute videos we see out there only show the successful attempt (usually making it seem like it was the first and only attempt) yet not show the 10 failed attempts beforehand. Realistically, it's rare for me to find materials, fashion the set, and get success the first time out. Usually it's after several attempts to work out the bugs before finally getting a coal. Then there's the mistake factor or chances of something going wrong. I often have butterfingers where I was successful getting the ember, but somehow mess up getting it into the tinder bundle (like dropping the ember on the ground).
Yesterday, I went out and tried with on-the-spot Sabal Palm & Palmetto bowstring. I've been successful with Sabal Palm many times before, but I'm still trying to factor working in high-humidity into my technique. It works great when I take it home and let it dry first, ha ha. Also, the Saw Palmetto I used was more woody and I had a tougher time making it into cordage for the bowstring. I tried another frond stem and it was a little better. Surprisingly, it still worked, but it looked like a rats nest when I was using it, ha ha. I had to use a little more finesse to keep the smooth action. It held up better than I expected, though despite how it looked.
I found a different type of Pine tree. Normally, I'm only surrounded by Longleaf Yellow Pine, but this Pine was a shortleaf. Not sure which species. Perhaps, Sand Pine or Slash Pine. Surprisingly, it worked very well as I've not had good success with other types of Pine trees in the past. My Palmetto bowstring finally broke so I used paracord. It was about as easy as using Yellow Pine. I'll revisit the area again and learn more.
Believe it or not, I often chalk this up to exercise. I need a good reason to get my butt off the computer chair; Get outside, get some fresh air, and sunshine, ha ha. What do they recommend? 30 minutes to an hour a day of some sort of physical activity. So, when I don't feel like getting all dirty & sweaty I'll ask myself if I got in my daily physical activity today. So, I try to plan it into my daily routine somehow. So, anybody else who suffers from Sedentary Rationalization Syndrome (SRS) like me needs to get out there and learn this skill, ha ha. So, even if you don't get success you still got exercise, ha ha.